Northumberland Coalfield

File:British.coalfields.19th.century.jpg

The Northumberland Coalfield is a coalfield in north-east England. It is continuous with the Durham Coalfield to its south.{{Citation|url=http://www.cmhrc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/nblandcf.htm|title=The NorthumberlandCoalfield|publisher=Coalmining History Research Centre|accessdate=2010-12-05|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719144206/http://www.cmhrc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/nblandcf.htm|archivedate=2011-07-19}} 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.British Geological Survey 2007 Bedrock geology: UK North 1:625,000 scale geological map, BGS, Keyworth, Notts

The two contiguous coalfield areas were often referred to as the Durham and Northumberland Coalfield(s) or as the Great Northern Coalfield.{{cite web |url=http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/central/its/uni_press/catalogue/hist/gnc_bm/ |title=The Great Northern Coalfield: Mining Collections at Beamish Museum - Northumbria University, Newcastle UK |accessdate=2010-09-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229233453/http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/central/its/uni_press/catalogue/hist/gnc_bm/ |archivedate=2012-02-29 }}

Coal seams

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.British Geological Survey 1:50,000 scale geological map sheet nos 6, 9, 10, 14 (England & Wales series) Alnwick, Rothbury, Newbiggin & Morpeth Not all seams are named and not all occur at any one locality.

=Pennine Coal Measures Group=

(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

Plessey

Plessey Colliery

The Plessey colliery is located in Blyth, Northumberland and opened in 1709. It was partially demolished create to the Plessey waggonway and connect the surrounding coal mines, such as Cowpen.

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=

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

Category:Coal mining regions in England

Category:Geography of Northumberland

Category:Mining in Northumberland

Category:Geology of Northumberland