Tielieke coal field (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region)

The Tielieke is situated in the Southern part of the Tian Shan Mountain Range. Mountain tops can reach up to 2750m asl in the Tielieke area.

Overview Xinjiang. Location: latitude 42°31' to 42°50, longitude 81°19 to 81°S34', Source: DMT field report, 2002, unpublished

The coal bearing layers are Jurassic in age in belong to the Keselanuar Formation. Swampy forest of the Asiatic Continent Block was periodically covered by sediments.

4 coal seams (A, B1, B2, C) with a cumulative thickness of up to 15m are reported in the coal field. In contrast to the other study areas, the geological strata is folded in a regular fashion and strikes constant NW-SE. 3 coal seams are sufficiently thick to be mined.

Most of the coal fires are restricted to one main coal layer. Here coal fires occur not only along the surface, but are also reported in a depth of several hundred meters.