(Shanxi) Xishan Coalfield

1) Location
Taiyuan Xishan Coalfield is located in the west of Taiyuan in the middle Shanxi Province under the administration of both Taiyuan city and Jinzhong city. Xishan Coalfield is one of the important coking coal producing areas of Shanxi province. It spreads from northeast to southwest covering Jiancaoping district, Wanbailin district, Jinyuan district, Gujiao city, and Qingxu county of Taiyuan city and Jiaocheng county and Wenshui country of Jinzhong city. The geographic coordinates are: 110˚51΄49˝～112˚30΄00˝ east longitude and 37˚23΄51˝～38˚02΄12˝ north latitude. It is like an irregular rectangle in shape that is about 75km long and 20~50km wide with area around 1853km2. Xishan Coalfield is composed of four mine areas that are Gujiao (697km2), Xishan (223km2), Qingjiao (400km2) and Dongshe (533km2).

2) Coal Quality
Taiyuan Xishan Coalfield is not only abundant with coal reserves but also with varied coal types. It reserves most coal types from fat coal to anthracite but mostly is coking coal. Therefore, it is one of important coking coal producing areas in China.

The physical properties of all coal seams are much similar such as black and black-gray color and brown-black or black striation. The coal seams in Shanxi formation have strong vitreous luster with developed or well-developed endogenic fissures. The coal seams in Taiyuan formation have strong vitreous luster or adamantine luster with relatively developed endogenic fissures.

3) Geological Exploration
Taiyuan Xishan Coalfield is Chinese typical triphibian marine of late Paleozoic. The coal-bearing strata are regarded as the stratified cross section of the North China’s Carboniferous and Permian. The geologists both at home and aboard came here to research and study since the 1970s. They published a lot of well-known articles and books about Xishan Coalfield. The geological prospect started from 1956. The entire coalfield has been prospected in various degrees. 35 refined survey reports have been submitted successively that are Xiyu, Baijiazhuang, Guandi, Ximing, Du’erping, Tiemogou (Dongqu), Xiqu, Tunlan, Malan, Zhengchengdi, Suoyu, Jialequan, Nanyu, Houshan, etc. The refined survey area is 645.6km2, 34.21% of the whole prospected area. 1 detailed survey report (Qingxu) has been submitted whose area is 364km2. 2 preliminary survey reports (Suilaomu and Xingjiashe) have been submitted whose area is 295km2. Also a general survey report (Jiaocheng-Wenshui) with the area of 533km2. The total prospecting area is 1833.6km2. The refined survey reports of Gujiao and Xishan mine areas have been used by key state-owned coalmine. Some detailed and preliminary survey reports are used by township coalmines or by key state-owned coalmine as expansion area after being improved the prospecting degree. For instance, Suilaomu preliminary survey area is the expansion area of Ximing mine and the east and northeast parts of Qingxu detailed survey area is the expansion of Gudi Mine.