Summary:
The Xingtao, Fengxi and Chongsheng mine area is situated within the Pingshuo Coalfield, which constitutes the northern sector of the Ningwu Coal Deposit in Shanxi Province. The Ningwu Coal Deposit contains coal seams within both the Carboniferous-Permian and Jurassic systems; however, the northern sector, encompassing the Pingshuo Coalfield, hosts only Carboniferous-Permian coal seams.
The sedimentary formations occurring within the Xingtao mine area is the same as the regional Pingshuo coalfield and the Taiyuan Formation is the major coal-bearing formation as its coal seams being identified with mineable potential.
The three coal mines of the Shuozhou Projects are situated within a contiguous geological unit. The sedimentary sequence encountered across these three mines is consistent with the regional stratigraphy of the Pingshuo Coalfield. This sequence comprises the following formations: the Ordovician Shangmajiagou Formation (O1s), the Carboniferous Benxi Formation (C2b), the Taiyuan Formation (C3t), the Permian Shanxi Formation (P1s), and the Permian Shihezi Formation (P1x), overlain by Quaternary soils. The Taiyuan Formation is identified as the primary coal-bearing unit, with coal seams exhibiting mineable potential. Based on the geological map provided by the Client, the surface geology across the three mining areas is characterized by Quaternary Loess deposits.
The stratigraphy of the Xingtao Mine is generally influenced by gentle folding, resulting in a predominantly sub-horizontal disposition of the strata. Within the mine area, the dip angle of the strata is typically less than 10 degrees, with a general westerly dip direction. Based on the geological map provided by the Client, coal seams outcrop in the eastern valley area within the mining license boundary. 15 faults have been identified throughout the underground mining operation in the mine. All of these faults are normal and have a vertical displacement ranging from 0.6 m to 30 m.
Coal Seam Thickness and Structure
Historical exploration drilling within the Xingtao mine has intersected and correlated a total of seven coal seams. These coal seams are encountered at depths ranging from approximately 0 m to 300 m below the surface within the mining license area. It should be noted that Seams 4-1 and 4-2 represent the upper seams, which have been previously extracted and are included herein for comparative purposes only. Five coal seams have been identified as possessing mineable potential: Seams 4-1, 4-2, 9-1, 9-2, and 11. Of these, Seams 4-1, 4-2, 9-1, 9-2, and 11 are consistently well-developed throughout the mine area.
Xingtao Coal Mine Seams:
• Seam 4-1: Thickness 2.2-13.0 m (avg. 8.0), Parting numbers 0-9, Avg. parting thickness 0.5 m, Interburden n/a, Roof/Floor lithology Mudstone;
• Seam 4-2: Thickness 2.7-6.1 m (avg. 5.0), Parting numbers 0-3, Avg. parting thickness 0.3 m, Interburden 4.5 m, Roof/Floor lithology Mudstone, Siltstone;
• Seam 8: Thickness 0.7-2.3 m (avg. 1.2), Parting numbers 0, Avg. parting thickness 0 m, Interburden 11.9 m, Roof/Floor lithology Mudstone, Siltstone;
• Seam 9-1: Thickness 1.2-16.2 m (avg. 8.1), Parting numbers 1-6, Avg. parting thickness 0.4 m, Interburden 2.9 m, Roof/Floor lithology Mudstone, Siltstone;
• Seam 9-2: Thickness 0.0-9.5 m (avg. 4.2), Parting numbers 2-3, Avg. parting thickness 0.5 m, Interburden 8.6 m, Roof/Floor lithology Mudstone, Siltstone;
• Seam 10: Thickness 0.3-5.6 m (avg. 9.96), Parting numbers 0-3, Avg. parting thickness 0.2 m, Interburden 6.3 m, Roof/Floor lithology Siltstone;
• Seam 11: Thickness 0.5-5.5 m (avg. 3.4), Parting numbers 0-5, Avg. parting thickness 0.3 m, Interburden 4.4 m, Roof/Floor lithology Mudstone.