Contents

• Abstract
• Table of contents
• List of tables
• List of figures
• Acknowledgement

Chapter I: 
Introduction

• 1.1 Introduction
• 1.2 Objectives
• 1.3 Terminology
• 1.4 Location and access
• 1.5 Mining history
• 1.6 Exploration history
• 1.7 Geological setting
• 1.8 Previous geological work
• 1.9 Extent of available data
• 1.9.1 Boreholes
• 1.9.2 Mine plans
• 1.9.3 Analytical data
• 1.10 Study methods
• 1.10.1 Surface mapping
• 1.10.2 Underground mapping
• 1.10.3 Underground section measurement
• 1.10.4 Underground sampling
• 1.10.5 Analytical Procedures

Chapter II: 
Regional geology of the Wellington Seam

• 2.1 Stratigraphic framework
• 2.1.1 Basement
• 2.1.2 Comox Formation
• 2.1.2.1 Benson Member
• 2.1.2.2 Dunsmuir Member
• 2.1.3 Haslam Formation
• 2.1.4 East Wellington Formation
• 2.1.5 Extension Formation
• 2.1.5.1 Northfield Member
• 2.1.5.2 Millstream Member
• 2.1.6 Pender Formation
• 2.1.6.1 Cranberry Member
• 2.1.6.2 Newcastle Member
• 2.1.7 Protection Formation
• 2.1.7.1 Cassidy Member
• 2.1.7.2 Reserve Member
• 2.1.7.3 McMillan Member
• 2.1.8 Cedar District Formation
• 2.2 Regional stratigraphy of the Wellington Seam
• 2.3 Regional sedimentology of the Wellington Seam
• 2.3.1 Coal
• 2.3.2 Clastic Partings
• 2.3.3 Roof strata of the Wellington Seam
• 2.3.4 Floor strata of the Wellington Seam
• 2.4 Structural geology
• 2.4.1 Structures north of the Chase River Fault
• 2.4.2 Chase River Fault
• 2.4.3 Structures south of the Chase River Fault

Chapter III: 
Structural and Sedimentologic Patterns of the Wellington Coal Bed at Wolf Mountain Colliery

• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Coal bed details
• 3.2.1 Coal characteristics
• 3.2.2 Characteristics of partings
• 3.3 Structural features at Wolf Mountain Colliery
• 3.3.1 Faults
• 3.3.2 Floor rolls
• 3.3.3 Swilleys
• 3.4 Effects of structural features on seam thickness
• 3.4.1 Thickness variations associated with faults
• 3.4.2 Thickness variations associated with floor rolls
• 3.4.3 Thickness variations associated with swilleys
• 3.5 Roof characteristics
• 3.5.1 Coal and sandstone dikes
• 3.6 Sedimentologic interpretations
• 3.6.1 Floor rolls
• 3.6.2 Swilleys
• 3.6.3 Partings
• 3.7 Relationship between tectonic and depositional features
• 3.8 Implications for resource assessment

Chapter IV: 
Petrography of the Wellington Seam at Wolf Mountain Colliery

• 4.1 Objective
• 4.2 Terminology
• 4.3 Results
• 4.3.1 Field observations
• 4.3.2 Section description and correlation
• 4.3.3 Maceral point counts
• 4.3.4 Ash content
• 4.3.5 Free Swelling Index
• 4.3.6 Petrographic indices
• 4.4 Relationships between lithotype, vitrinite content, ash content and free swelling index of Wellington coals
• 4.5 Interpretation
• 4.5.1 Petrography of the Wellington Seam
• 4.5.2 Petrographic indices
• 4.5.3 Depositional histories
• 4.5.3.1 Locality WM100
• 4.5.3.2 Locality WM220
• 4.5.3.3 Locality WM222

Chapter V: 
Conclusions

Chapter VI: 
Bibliography

Appendices:

Appendix I:
Borehole data summaries and stratigraphic interpretations

Appendix II:
Proximate, sulphur and calorific value analyses of the coals of the Extension Formation

Appendix III:
Measured sections of the Wellington Seam and associated strata at Wolf Mountain Colliery

Appendix IV:
Glossary of words used by Vancouver Island coal miners to describe geological features

Tables:

• Table I

Lithostratigraphic nomenclature of the lower half of the Nanaimo Group in the Nanaimo Coalfield. All units in upper case are of formation rank; all units in lower case are of member rank
• Table II

Stratigraphic divisions of the Wellington Seam
• Table III

Lithotype classification scheme
• Table IV

Maceral classification scheme
• Table V

Classification of peatlands by vegetation type and hydrologic characteristics
• Table VI

Maceral point counts, whole rock basis
• Table VII

Maceral composition of samples, volume percent, whole rock basis
• Table VIII

Maceral composition of samples, volume percent, mineral-matter-free basis
• Table IX

Maceral composition of lithotypes, volume percent, whole rock basis
• Table X

Maceral composition of lithotypes, volume percent, mineral-matter-free basis
• Table XI

Structured vitrinite, degraded vitrinite and inertinite composition of samples, volume percent, mineral- matter and liptinite-free basis
• Table XII

Structured vitrinite, degraded vitrinite and inertinite composition of lithotypes, volume percent, mineral- matter and liptinite-free basis
• Table XIII

Analytical results, maceral group content and petrographic indices of samples
• Table XIV

Analytical results and petrographic indices of lithotypes
• Table XV

Borehole data summary
• Table XVI

Stratigraphic interpretation of borehole records
• Table XVII

Proximate, sulphur and calorific value analyses of the Wellington Seam
• Table XVIII

Moisture, ash and free swelling index analyses of the Wellington Seam
• Table XIX

Proximate, sulphur and calorific value analyses of the No.2 Seam
• Table XX

Proximate, sulphur and calorific value analyses of the Northfield No.3 Seam
• Table XXI

Proximate, sulphur and calorific value analyses of the Northfield No.4 Seam
• Table XXII

Proximate, sulphur and calorific value analyses of the Wolf Mountain No.3 Seam
• Table XXIII

Proximate and calorific value analysis of the Wolf Mountain No.4 Seam

Figures

• Figure 1-1

Location of study area
• Figure 1-2

Regional map of the Wellington coal bed in the Nanaimo Coalfield, showing major mines, outcrop trace of the coal, and principal geologic features
• Figure 1-3

Stratigraphic column of the lower half of the Nanaimo Group
• Figure 2-1

Geological sketch map of the Wellington Seam, Nanaimo Coalfield
• Figure 2-2

Stratigraphic section A-B of the Wellington Seam and associated strata in the Northfield area. Section location is shown on Figure 1-2
• Figure 2-3

Stratigraphic section C-D of the Wellington Seam and associated strata in the Harewood area. Section location is shown on Figure 1-2
• Figure 2-4

Composite sedimentological profile of the East Wellington Formation at Extension Colliery
• Figure 2-5

Detailed stratigraphic section of the roof of the Wellington Seam at Wolf Mountain
• Figure 3-1

Stratigraphic section of the Wellington Seam and its bounding strata at Wolf Mountain Colliery, based on borehole, outcrop and mine data
• Figure 3-2

Legend for coal bed cross sections (Figures 3-3 through 3-5)
• Figure 3-3

Section A-A' across line of split on the upper parting at Wolf Mountain Colliery, at a vertical exaggeration of 6.67:1. Datum is base of roof, corrected for gentle northward dip if coal measures. Section location shown in Figure 3-7. See Figure 3-2 for legend
• Figure 3-4

Detail of section A-A', at no vertical exaggeration. Note infilling by upper parting of extensional sags in the under- lying coal and rock bands. See Figure 3-2 for legend
• Figure 3-5

Section B-B' across major extensional fault at Wolf Mountain Colliery, showing associated channeling and changes in coal and rock thicknesses, at vertical exaggeration of 13.33:1. Datum is base of roof, corrected for gentle northward dip of coal measures. Section location shown on Figure 3-7. See Figure 3-2 for legend
• Figure 3-6

Map of thickness and coarsest lithology of the upper parting at Wolf Mountain Colliery. Note parallelism of trends with the southerly major fault
• Figure 3-7

Map of structural features in roof of the Wellington Seam at Wolf Mountain Colliery
• Figure 3-8

Structure contour map of floor of Wellington Seam, showing floor rolls and swilleys. Contour interval is 0.5 metres, datum is sea level
• Figure 3-9

Map of total thickness of the Wellington Seam (including rock bands) at Wolf Mountain Colliery, with positions of floor rolls and swilleys superimposed
• Figure 3-10

Map of total rock band thickness within the Wellington Seam at Wolf Mountain Colliery
• Figure 3-11

Details of erosive contact between Upper Wellington coal and silty, erosive-based sandstone of upper parting. Note warping of coal bed and minor fault at base of parting, in response to differential loading across the margin of the channel scour. Section exposed in east rib of Crosscut X-5, at junction with Main Entry, Wolf Mountain Colliery, between geological stations 7 and 212, on February 4, 1987
• Figure 3-12

Overthrust of Wellington Rider coal above a floor roll. Fault follows base of upper parting, then ramps up through the Rider into the roof, at 34 degrees to bedding. Section exposed in east rib of D Heading, 1A's panel, Wolf Mountain Colliery, between geological stations 37 and 126, on May 6, 1985
• Figure 3-13

Plan and section of coal dike associated with major fault, near junction of Supply Road and Room No.0, 1A's Panel, Wolf Mountain Colliery. Cross-section A-B is at same scale as plan
• Figure 4-1

Locality map showing location of study area within the Nanaimo Coalfield
• Figure 4-1a

Typical stratigraphic section of the Wellington Seam illustrating its subdivision into named coal beds and partings
• Figure 4-2

Correlation diagram of seam sections showing relation of sample sites to line of split
• Figure 4-3

Lithotype and maceral profiles of the Wellington Seam
• Figure 4-4

Ternary maceral composition diagram of the Wellington coals, mineral-matter-free basis, showing proportion of vitrinite (V), inertinite (I) and liptinite (L)
• Figure 4-5

Detailed ternary maceral composition diagram of the Wellington coals, mineral-matter-free basis, showing proportion of vitrinite (V), inertinite and (I) and liptinite (L)
• Figure 4-6

Ternary maceral composition diagram of the Wellington coals, mineral-matter-free basis, showing proportion of structured vitrinite (SV), degraded vitrinite (DV) and inertinite (I)
• Figure 4-7

Ternary maceral composition diagram of the Wellington mudstones, mineral-matter-free basis, showing proportion of structured vitrinite (SV), degraded vitrinite (DV) and inertinite (I)
• Figure 4-8

Maceral composition of lithotypes, whole rock basis: bright coal (B), bright banded coal (Bb), dull and bright coal (D+B), dull coal (D), lustrous coal (DL), carbonaceous mudstone (Mcb), coaly mudstone (Mco) and granular mudstone (Mgr)
• Figure 4-9

Maceral composition of lithotypes, mineral-matter-free basis: bright coal (B), bright banded coal (Bb), dull and bright coal (D+B), dull coal (D), lustrous coal (DL), carbonaceous mudstone (Mcb), coaly mudstone (Mco) and granular mudstone (Mgr)
• Figure 4-10

Crossplot of ash content (weight percent, whole rock basis) and vitrinite content (volume percent, whole rock basis) for mudstone lithotypes of the Wellington Seam
• Figure 4-11

Crossplot of mineral matter content (volume percent, whole rock basis) and vitrinite content (volume percent, whole rock basis) for mudstone lithotypes of the Wellington Seam
• Figure 4-12

Gelification index (GI) versus tissue preservation index (TPI) cross-plot for coal lithotypes of the Wellington Seam
• Figure 4-13

Gelification index (GI) versus tissue preservation index (TPI) cross-plot for the Wellington Rider, Upper Wellington and Lower Wellington coal beds
• Figure 4-14

Gelification index (GI) versus tissue preservation index (TPI) cross-plot for samples from three different columnar sections (sites WM100, WM220 and WM222) of the Wellington Seam
• Figure 4-15

Crossplot of vitrinite content and inertinite content (mineral- matter-free basis, volume percent) for coal lithotypes of the Wellington Seam
• Figure 4-16

Gelification index (GI) versus tissue preservation index (TPI) cross-plot for bright banded coals and bright coals of the Wellington Seam
• Figure 4-17

Gelification index (GI) versus tissue preservation index (TPI) cross-plot for dull and bright coals and dull coals of the Wellington Seam
• Figure 4-18

Gelification index (GI) versus tissue preservation index (TPI) cross-plot for lustrous coals of the Wellington Seam
• Figure 4-19

Gelification index (GI) versus tissue preservation index (TPI) cross-plot showing changes in composition of Wellington coals at locality WM100
• Figure 4-20

Gelification index (GI) versus tissue preservation index (TPI) cross-plot showing changes in composition of Wellington coals at locality WM220
• Figure 4-21

Gelification index (GI) versus tissue preservation index (TPI) cross-plot showing changes in composition of Wellington coals at locality WM222
• Figure 4-22

Crossplot of vitrinite content (mineral-matter-free, volume percent) and ash content (dry basis, weight percent) of coal lithotypes of the Wellington Seam
• Figure 4-23

Crossplot of free swelling index and ash content (dry basis, weight percent) of Wellington coals
• Figure 4-24

Crossplot of free swelling index and ash content (dry basis, weight percent) of Wellington bright coals and bright banded coals
• Figure 4-25

Crossplot of free swelling index and ash content (dry basis, weight percent) of Wellington dull and bright coals, dull coals and lustrous coals
• Figure 4-26

Crossplot of free swelling index and vitrinite content (whole rock basis, volume percent) of Wellington coals
• Figure 4-27

Crossplot of free swelling index and vitrinite content (whole rock basis, volume percent) of bright coals and bright banded coals of the Wellington Seam
• Figure 4-28

Crossplot of free swelling index and vitrinite content (whole rock basis, volume percent) dull and bright coals, dull coals and lustrous coals of the Wellington Seam
• Map 1

Geological Map of the Nanaimo Coalfield (West Half)
• Map 2

Plan of Wolf Mountain Colliery

Acknowledgement

Field and laboratory investigations were supported in part by an NSERC grant and a B.C. Geoscience Research Grant to Dr. R.M. Bustin.
Substantial financial support was provided by the Geological Survey Branch of the British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mid-Island Coal Company, Smoky River Coal Limited, Toyomenka Canada Ltd. and Westwater Mining Ltd.
Material support was provided by BP Canada Inc., the Coal Mining Research Company, the Groundwater Division of the Water Resources Branch of the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, and the British Columbia Archives and Records Service.
Library research was aided by Brian Young and Terry Eastwood at BCARS, Liz Johnston at ERCB, Fariyal Pirani at UBC and Mary Akehurst at GSC.
Fieldwork, both surface and underground, was aided by Craig Roberts, Geordie Hall, John Burns, Georgia Hoffman, Esther Lobb and Kate Slater.

Thanks are due to my supervising committee: Professors Bustin, Barnes and Savigny of the Department of Geological Sciences at UBC, and graduate advisors: Professors Fletcher and Ross.

Bendith iddyn nhw, tri glowyr marw: 
Stan Lawrence, rheolwr yn Nglofa Tsable River, a Trevor Jahn a Ferris Dewan, glowyrs yn Glofeydd Wolf Mountain a Westray. 
Bendith yn fawr.

Diolch iddyn nhw, y preswyr o: 
Media House, Coal House, Greywoods House, a Lamey's Mill. 
Diolch yn fawr.

Pa wlad wedi'r siarad sydd
mor lan a Chwaeraeth lonydd?

Dyma'r llyfr roeddwn i'n edrych amdano. Dyna ddigon; newch fel y mynnoch chi.