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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  29-Jul-2010 by Sarah Meredith-Jones (SMJ)

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NMI
Name AUSTRALIAN CREEK COAL, AUSTRALIAN, AUSTRALIAN CREEK, WEST AUSTRALIAN CREEK, EAST AUSTRALIAN CREEK Mining Division Cariboo
BCGS Map 093B078
Status Developed Prospect NTS Map 093B09W
Latitude 052º 43' 35'' UTM 10 (NAD 83)
Longitude 122º 28' 05'' Northing 5841967
Easting 535924
Commodities Coal Deposit Types A03 : Sub-bituminous coal
Tectonic Belt Intermontane Terrane Overlap Assemblage
Capsule Geology

The Australian prospect is underlain by Oligocene sediments containing coal measures which were deposited in a basin developed over Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks of the Intermontane belt during the Tertiary Period. The present distribution of the sediments is mainly confined to the Fraser River valley, where the river has cut down through younger volcanic and sedimentary rocks.

Coal in the Australian Creek area is present in the Lower Fraser River Member (Lower Oligocene) interbedded with claystone, sandstone, and minor conglomerate and diatomite. The coal is sub-bituminous "B" and "C" and contains a number of rock partings and lenses. A coal zone 4.8 metres to 13.2 metres thick was encountered by drilling in the West Australian Creek area. The ratio of coal to total partings varies from 1.0 to 27.50 (average 75 per cent coal, 25 per cent clay partings). Two major coal zones were penetrated in the East Australian Creek area. The zones are 4.2 metres and 21.9 metres thick and also contain numerous clay partings. The coal contains 5.6 per cent to 18.8 per cent moisture, 30.0 per cent to 49.8 per cent volatile matter, 28.4 per cent to 52.2 per cent fixed carbon, 0.6 per cent to 29.4 per cent ash and 1.0 per cent to 1.6 per cent sulphur. The heat value ranges from 15,630 kilojoules per kilogram to 29,215 kilojoules per kilogram.

The structure in the West Australian Creek area consists of a northeast to southwest trending, southwest plunging syncline with dips on the limbs of approximately 10 degrees. Beds dip 15 degrees to 25 degrees northeast in the East Australian Creek area. Exposures on Australian Creek indicate the presence of an anticline with limbs dipping 25 to 45 degrees. A fault zone is postulated to cut through the area.

Reserve estimates are included with the Quesnel coal prospect (093B 036).

Bibliography
EMPR AR 1924-125-127
EMPR COAL ASS RPT *23, 24, 25, *36
EMPR PF (See 93G General File - Quesnel Area)
GSC MAP 12-1959; 1424A; 1538G
GSC P *78-1B; 89-4
EMPR PFD 880359, 883387

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