Alberta Geological Survey - Coal Geology: Coal Compilation Project - Beaver Mines: NTS 82G/8

The study area of mapsheet NTS 82G/8 (Beaver Mines) is located in the southwest corner of Alberta. There are no major population centers within the mapsheet area. Neighbouring communities are located north and east of the mapsheet. The southern boundary of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, containing the communities of Coleman, Blairmore, Frank, Bellevue and Hillcrest, is located some 5 air-kilometres north of the northern edge of the mapsheet. Pincher creek is located some 5 road-kilometres east of the northeast corner of the mapsheet.

Secondary Highway's 507, 774 and 775 are the main roads within the mapsheet area. Secondary Highway 507 connects to Highway 3 at both Burmis and Pincher Creek. Numerous all-weather roads also exist. Additional secondary access, in part, seasonal, is provided by a network of wellsite and logging roads, trails and seismic lines.

The area is serviced, from the Highway 3 corridor, by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The rail line has the capacity to accommodate coal unit trains. Vancouver, as a western port, is located some 1160 rail-kilometres Burmis. Burmis is located some 5 air-kilometres north of the northern mapsheet boundary.

Within the mapsheet 82G/8, coal measures are deposited within thick successions of sandstones, siltstones, mudstones and shales. Known coal-bearing sequences are contained primarily within the Mist Mountain Formation of the Upper Jurassic/Lower Cretaceous Kootenay Group, and to a much lesser extent, in the Upper Cretaceous Belly River and St. Mary River formations.