Alberta Geological Survey - Coal Geology: Coal Compilation Project - Bolton Creek: NTS83L/2

The study area of mapsheet NTS 83L/2 (Bolton Creek) is located in west-central Alberta between Latitudes 54° 00' and 54° 15' North, and Longitudes 118° 30' and 119° 00' West (between Townships 58 and 61 inclusive, and Ranges 4 to 7 inclusive, West of the 6th Meridian).

The community of Grande Cache (83E/14) is the primary population center near the study area.

Paved and improved access, to and within the area, is provided by Highway 40 and Secondary Highway 734. Numerous all-weather, gravelled wellsite and logging roads also exist. Additional secondary seasonal access is provided by a network of roads, trails and seismic lines.

The area is serviced by the Canadian National Railway and the Alberta Resources Railway. The rail lines have the capacity to accommodate coal unit trains. The coal terminal at Ridley Island, located at Prince Rupert, B.C., is located approximately 1300 rail-kilometres from Grande Cache; the Neptune Terminals at Vancouver, B.C. are located approximately 1150 rail-kilometres from Grande Cache.

Geological Setting

Within the mapsheet 83L/2, near-surface coal measures are deposited within thick successions of sandstones, siltstones, shales and conglomerates. Known coal-bearing sequences are contained within the Upper Cretaceous/Tertiary Wapiti Group.

The coal-bearing Luscar Group, while not present in surface exposures, occurs at depth. Within the mapsheet, the Luscar Group is intersected, in the subsurface, in the 2500 to 4000 meter-deep range.

Coal Rank

Within the mapsheet 83L/2, coals of both the Cutbank and Kakwa coal measures have a rank of high volatile bituminous C to B.

Future Work

In general, from a coal resource/exploration point of view, the map area has been only superficially examined. Additional coal exploration and coal quality data needs to be collected throughout the map area.

The coal-bearing Luscar Group, while not present in surface exposures, occurs at depth. Within the mapsheet, the Luscar Group is intersected, in the subsurface, in the 2500 to 4000 meter-deep range. If depth of burial is not a deterrent, the presence of (thick ?) coals of low to medium volatile bituminous rank could indicate the area has potential for coalbed methane. Much of the area shown as blank (white) on the accompanying map, RCM6, contain Luscar sediments at depth. Additional work is required to establish and evaluate coalbed methane resource potential of the Luscar Group in the area.

The mapsheet contains coals of the Cutbank and the Kakwa coal measures of the Wapiti Group. These coals should also be considered for their coalbed methane potential. The coals have a rank of high volatile bituminous C to B. Coalbed methane potential, while (probably) not as high as the Luscar Group coals, should not be excluded.

For most of the remaining map area, little data is available and the coal development potential is somewhat uncertain.