The Department of Energy and Mines (DEM) has compiled digital layers of information indicating the location of coal seams and underground coal mine workings in coal producing regions of Nova Scotia.

COAL SEAMS

This digital product has been developed from geological maps, mine plans, aerial photography, satellite imagery and Lidar on file at the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and Mines (DEM). In many instances field work conducted by DEM staff has also contributed to the accuracy of the coal seam locations, particularly in areas where coal seam mapping had not been the primary focus of the particular map or plan used.

The digital product was created by DEM Geoscience and Mines Branch staff. The layer provides approximate coal seam subcrop locations in all of Nova Scotia’s coalfields. However, in some instances the source information is dated and located in areas where only large scale, low resolution mapping had been carried out. A review of the DEM Abandoned Mine Openings database may also be helpful as there are areas where coal related mine openings exist, but no seam has been shown due to insufficient geological information.

In areas where surface/reclamation mining has been conducted, users will note a break, or the complete absence of the seam trace. Those areas of coal extraction are not represented by anything other than the break in the seam or the omission of the trace.