Storage of Coal Samples

Exploration for coal is often conducted in remote areas from which coal samples can only be obtained at high cost. Since all lands disturbed by an exploration program must nowadays be reclaimed on completion of the program unless almost immediate development is contemplated, re-sampling may be difficult as well as expensive. Having regard for the requirements of a comprehensive coal-testing program, it is therefore generally necessary to store coal samples for extended periods of time under conditions in which they suffer little or no quality deterioration.