South Staffordshire Coalfield

The South Staffordshire Coalfield is one of several coalfields in the English Midlands. It stretches for 25 miles / 40km from the Lickey Hills in the south to Rugeley in the north. The coalfield is around 10 miles / 16km wide; its eastern and western margins are fault-bounded. Numerous coal seams are recognised within the coalfield - the following coal seams are recognised within the Cannock section of the coalfield - an area sometimes separately referred to as the Cannock Coalfield;[1]

Middle Coal Measures
  • Top Robins
  • Bottom Robins
  • Charles
  • Brooch
  • Benches
  • Eight Feet
  • Park
  • Upper/Top Heathen
  • Lower/Bottom Heathen
Lower Coal Measures
  • Yard
  • Bass
  • Cinder
  • Shallow
  • Deep
  • Mealy Greys

Within the southern part of the coalfield, fewer seams are recognised due to the 'Benches', 'Eight Feet' and 'Park' seams combining as the 'Thick' whilst the two 'Heathen' seams combine, the 'Yard' and 'Bass' seams combine as the 'New Mine' and the 'Cinder', 'Shallow' and 'Deep' combine as the 'Bottom';

Middle Coal Measures
  • Brooch
  • Thick
  • Heathen
Lower Coal Measures
  • New Mine
  • Bottom
  • ?Mealy Greys

See also

References

  1. Hains, B.A. & Horton, A., 1969 British Regional Geology: Central England (3rd edn), London, HMSO for British Geological Survey