China Discovers 23 Billion-Metric-Ton Coalfield in Xinjiang

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--After more than a year of geological surveys, an extra-large coalfield with an expected reserve of 23 billion metric tons has been discovered in the Turpan Basin of northwestern China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region, the Land Resources Department of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region announced on November 19.

As reported, the coalfield is located in Sharhu, Shanshan County, covering an area of more than 300 square kilometers. The coalfield has 13 exploitable coal seams with a total exploitable thickness of 169.69 meters. The coal content factor of the coalfield is at about 29%, and the maximum thickness of a single coal seam is about 141.91 meters. The coalfield has low sulfur, low phosphor and low ash content, and is of extremely high value for development.

Another favorable condition is that the coalfield is next to the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway, allowing for convenient transportation. Compared to the Zhundong coalfield, currently the largest coal base in Xinjiang, the transportation distance from the new coalfield to central China is about 800 kilometers less, meaning lower costs. Meanwhile, a proposed national 750-kilovolt, ultra-high-voltage transmission line passes through Shanshan County. This also creates a favorable condition to convert the newly discovered coal resource into coal power.

In China, coalfields with reserves of more than 50 million metric tons are classified as extra-large. Shanshan County is rich in coal resources with an estimated resource reserve of 64.4 billion metric tons and a proven reserve of 10 billion metric tons. Of which, the estimated resource reserve in the Sharhu coalfield will be more than 23 billion metric tons. Presently, in order to accelerate the development of the coalfield, the regional government has listed the area as a key coal investigation zone to carry out united planning, deployment, survey and exploitation.

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