Wyoming Coal EarthCache
Hidden : 8/12/2010
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


The coal beds of the region began to form about 60 million years ago when the land began rising from a shallow sea. The rise of the Black Hills uplift on the east and the Hartville uplift on the southeast side of the basin created the present outline of the Powder River Basin.

When the coal beds were forming, the climate in the area was subtropical, averaging about 120 inches (3,000 mm) of rainfall a year. For some 25 million years, the basin floor was covered with lakes and swamps. Because of the large area of the swamps, the organic material accumulated into peat bogs instead of being washed to the sea. Periodically the layers of peat were covered with sediments washed in from nearby mountains. Eventually the climate became drier and cooler. The basin filled with sediment and buried the peat under thousands of feet, compressing the layers of peat and forming coal. Over the last several million years, much of the overlying sediment has eroded away, leaving the coal seams near the surface.

Currently there are 13 active coal mines in the area. In 2009 they produced over 450,000,000 tons of coal. About 40% of the coal produced in the USA.

The equipment used to mine the coal is massive. There are haul trucks in some of the mines that will haul 360 tons of coal (almost 4 train cars full) The trucks have 2750 Horse power engines and empty they weigh 220 ton.

The coal mined in the basin has the lowest sulphur content of any coal in the USA and as such is in high demand as the cleanest coal available. The BTU (british thermal units) of the coal is about 8500.

There are over 100 trains full of coal that leave the local mines daily delivering coal to 37 states.

This overlook has just been rebuilt and the mining company has just started removing the overburden at the site. In a month or two you will be able to see the entire mining process. Until then you will be able to see the massive coal seams by driving on I 90 just west of Gillette near the Wyodak Power plant.

To log this cache you need to submit the following.
At the overlook you will find two pieces of equipment Please let me know the following:

1. How tall is the tire?
2. How many cubic yards is the shovel bucket?

In the link below you will find information needed to tell me.

3.What kind of swamps created Wyoming coal?
4. Name two items from the swamps that created the coal.
5. What is the name of the gas that is found in the coalbeds?

(visit link)

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