The structural units of the Bowen Basin within the subregion boundary include the south-east Taroom Trough, up to the Roma Shelf. Coal seams of the Bowen Basin are classified into four distinct groups (numbered I through IV) (Mallett et al., 1995, p. 305). Group I is the oldest and is highly variable in thickness and lithology with some good quality coking and non-coking coal towards the northern part of the basin. Group II consists of several unconnected deposits of coal with variable properties, some of which are of economic interest. Group III contains high grade coking coal that is laterally extensive and consists of multiple seams. Group IV has the most diverse quality coal and is most widely distributed having formed in river, lake and marshy environments and although quality and rank can vary, contains coking and non-coking coal of major economic importance. The coal-bearing formations are better developed and thicker in the central and northern Bowen Basin, compared to the southern basin, which is included in the Maranoa-Balonne-Condamine subregion boundary. The coal deposits north of the subregion boundary are not assessed in this bioregional assessment.
In the south-west of the basin, although north of the subregion boundary, the economic coal deposits of the Bandanna Formation are locally developed with up to four coal seams present in an area that outcrops 15 km west of Rolleston (Mallett et al., 1995, p. 325). The coal seams are up to 6 m thick and have vitrinite reflectance values of 0.56 to 0.61%, and volatile matter contents between 27 and 32% (Mallett et al., 1995, p. 325).
Product Finalisation date
- 1.2.1 Available coal and coal seam gas resources
- 1.2.2 Current activity and tenements
- 126.96.36.199 Coal
- 188.8.131.52 Coal seam gas
- 1.2.3 Proposals and exploration
- 184.108.40.206 Coal
- 220.127.116.11 Coal seam gas
- 1.2.4 Catalogue of potential resource developments
- Contributors to the Technical Programme
- About this technical product