Northumberland Coalfield

British Coalfields

The Northumberland Coalfield is a coalfield in north-east England. It is continuous with the Durham Coalfield to its south.[1] It extends from Shilbottle in the north to the boundary with County Durham along the River Tyne in the south, beyond which is the Durham Coalfield.[2]

The two contiguous coalfield areas were often referred to as the Durham and Northumberland Coalfield(s) or as the Great Northern Coalfield.[3]

Coal seams[edit]

The following coal seams are recorded from the Northumberland Coalfield. They are listed here in stratigraphic order with the youngest at the top and the oldest/deepest at the bottom.[4] Not all seams are named and not all occur at any one locality.

Pennine Coal Measures Group[edit]

(Westphalian)

Upper Coal Measures

  • Killingworth
  • West Moor
  • Top Hebburn Fell
  • Bottom Hebburn Fell
  • Usworth

Middle Coal Measures

  • Burradon
  • Rowlington
  • Top Ryhope Five-Quarter
  • Bottom Ryhope Five-Quarter
  • Ryhope Little
  • Top Moorland
  • Bottom Moorland
  • Ashington
  • High Main
  • Metal
  • Five-Quarter
  • Bentinck
  • Yard
  • Top Bensham
  • Bottom Bensham
  • Top Durham Low Main
  • Bottom Durham Low Main
  • Northumberland Low Main
  • Broomhill Main
  • Top Plessey
  • Plessey
  • Bottom Plessey

Lower Coal Measures

  • Beaumont
  • Bottom Beaumont
  • Top Tilley
  • Tilley
  • Bottom Tilley
  • Top Busty
  • Bottom Busty
  • Three-Quarter
  • Stobswood New
  • Brockwell
  • Victoria
  • Stobswood
  • Marshall Green
  • Ganister Clay
  • Gubeon
  • Saltwick

Yoredale Group[edit]

Stainmore Formation (Namurian)

  • Stanton
  • Top Netherwitton
  • Bottom Netherwitton
  • Top Coatyards
  • Bottom Coatyards
  • Little Limestone

Alston Formation (Visean)

  • Parrot
  • Townhead
  • Shilbottle (Acre)
  • Beadnell
  • Greenses
  • Blackhill
  • Main

References[edit]

  1. ^ The NorthumberlandCoalfield, Coalmining History Research Centre, archived from the original on 19 July 2011, retrieved 5 December 2010
  2. ^ British Geological Survey 2007 Bedrock geology: UK North 1:625,000 scale geological map, BGS, Keyworth, Notts
  3. ^ "The Great Northern Coalfield: Mining Collections at Beamish Museum - Northumbria University, Newcastle UK". Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  4. ^ British Geological Survey 1:50,000 scale geological map sheet nos 6, 9, 10, 14 (England & Wales series) Alnwick, Rothbury, Newbiggin & Morpeth

55°09′32″N 1°36′09″W / 55.1589°N 1.6026°W / 55.1589; -1.6026