Coalbrookdale Coalfield
Encyclopedia
The Coalbrookdale Coalfield is a coalfield
in Shropshire
in the English Midlands
. It extends from Linley
in the south, northwards to the Boundary Fault which runs northeastwards from the vicinity of The Wrekin
. Coal-bearing strata are to be found across three syncline
s; the Donnington, Madeley and Coalport synclines whilst the majority of the coalfield is subject to intense faulting. The Coalfield produced coal from both deep pits and opencasts over a long period starting in Roman
times. Much of the field has however been exhausted and subsequently Telford
new town
was built on it.
The following coal seams are recognised:
Coalfield
A coalfield is an area of certain uniform characteristics where coal is mined. The criteria for determining the approximate boundary of a coalfield are geographical and cultural, in addition to geological...
in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
in the English Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
. It extends from Linley
Linley
Linley may refer toSurname*Cody Linley , American actor and singer*Elizabeth Ann Linley , English actress and singer*Eversley Linley , Saint Vincent and the Grenadines sprinter*George Linley , English songwriter...
in the south, northwards to the Boundary Fault which runs northeastwards from the vicinity of The Wrekin
The Wrekin
The Wrekin is a hill in east Shropshire, England. It is located some west of Telford, on the border between the unitary authorities of Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin. Rising to a height of above the Shropshire Plain, it is a prominent and well-known landmark, marking the entrance to Shropshire...
. Coal-bearing strata are to be found across three syncline
Syncline
In structural geology, a syncline is a fold, with younger layers closer to the center of the structure. A synclinorium is a large syncline with superimposed smaller folds. Synclines are typically a downward fold, termed a synformal syncline In structural geology, a syncline is a fold, with younger...
s; the Donnington, Madeley and Coalport synclines whilst the majority of the coalfield is subject to intense faulting. The Coalfield produced coal from both deep pits and opencasts over a long period starting in Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
times. Much of the field has however been exhausted and subsequently Telford
Telford
Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham...
new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
was built on it.
The following coal seams are recognised:
- Middle Coal Measures
- Top
- Double
- Flint
- Lower Coal Measures
- Best, Randle and Clod
- Lancashire Ladies