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Coal Fields of the Conterminous United States: polygons

Frequently anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How should this data set be cited?

   (compiler), John Tully , 1996, Coal Fields of the Conterminous United States: polygons: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-92, USGS; Eastern Energy Team, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1996/of96-092/>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -165.402

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.150

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 70.824

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 26.043

3. What does it look like?

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Calendar_Date: 03-May-1996

   Currentness_Reference: publication date

5. What is the general form of this data set?

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal Degrees.

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   USCOAL.PAT

   polygon attribute table for USCOAL coverage

   COALTYPE

   A unique code that corresponds to the type of coal represented by that polygon. (Source: Trumbull, Barnes)

   Value	Definition
   0	an internal polygon where no coal is present;
   20	Anthracite coal;
   25	Anthracite coal of doubtful value;
   30	Sub-Bituminous coal;
   35	Sub-Bituminous coal of doubtful value;
   40	Low-Volitile Bituminous coal;
   45	Low-Volitile Bituminous coal of doubtful value;
   50	Lignite coal;
   55	Lignite coal of doubtful value;
   60	Medium and High volitile Bituminous coal;
   65	Medium and High volitile Bituminous coal f doubtful value;

   DESCRIPTIO

   textual description of COALTYPE (Source: Trumbull, Barnes)

   RED

   8 bit red color component (Source: Trumbull, Barnes)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	255

   GREEN

   8 bit green color component (Source: Trumbull, Barnes)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	255

   BLUE

   8 bit blue color component (Source: Trumbull, Barnes)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	255

   USCOAL.AAT

   arc attribute table for USCOAL coverage

   DASH

   Code that determines if line is symbolized as a dash or as a solid line. Dashed lines represent areas where the extent of the coal is unknown. (Source: Trumbull, Barnes, Wood)

   Value	Definition
   0	solid line (known extent)
   1	dashed line (unknown extent)

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • John Tully (compiler)

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   John Tully
   MS 956 National Center
   Reston, Virginia 20192
   USA
   

   703-648-6432 (voice)
   

Why was the data set created?

This data set was compiled primarily for use in cartographic products. This coverage has also been used in web applications as well as in other miscellaneous graphic proudcts. Overall, the need for a digital version of this data was the underlying reason for generating this data set. Related covers include USCOKECOAL (point coverage of coking coal) and USAKCOALPT (point coverage of Alaska coal).

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

   U.S. Geological Survey, 1908, Coal Fields of the United States, 1:7,500,000 (Campbell).

   U.S. Geological Survey, 1942, Coal Fields of the United States, 1:2,500,000 (Averitt).

   U.S. Geological Survey, 1960, Coal Fields of the United States, sheet 1, 1:5,000,000 (Trumbull).

   U.S. Geological Survey, 1960, Coal Fields of the United States, sheet2, 1:5,000,000 (Barnes).

   U.S. Geological Survey, 1988, Coal Map of North America, south sheet, 1:5,000,000 (Wood and Bour).

   Survey, Missouri Geological , 1979, Geologic Map of Missouri, 1:500,000 (Anderson).

   Mississippi Geological Society and U.S. Geological Survey, 1945, Geologic Map of Mississippi, 1:500,000 (Belt).

   Survey, Louisiana Geological , 1984, Geologic Map of Louisiana, 1:500,000 (Cope).

   Arkansas Geological Commission and U.S. Geological Survey, 1976, Geologic Map of Arkansas, 1:500,000 (Haley).

   Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, 1992, Geologic Map of Texas, 1:500,000 (Hartmann).

   Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources and Georgia Geological Survey, 1976, Geologic Map of Georgia, 1:500,000 (Lawton).

   Kentucky Geological Survey and U.S. Geological Survey, 1981, Geologic Map of Kentucky, 1:250,000 (McDowell).

   Tennessee Dept. of Conservation, Division of Geology, 1966, Geologic Map of Tennessee, 1:250,000 (Miller).

   Geological Survey of Alabama, 1989, Geologic Map of Alabama, 1:500,000, (Osborne).

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints: None

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   John Tully compiler
   MS 956 National Center
   Reston, Virginia 20192
   USA
   

   703-648-6432 (voice)
   

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

   Coal Fields of the United States (USCOAL)

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for the descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:

     Coal fields in format Shapefile (version 1.0)

     Network links:

     <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1996/of96-092/arcview_files/uscoal_p.shp> <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1996/of96-092/arcview_files/uscoal_p.shx> <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1996/of96-092/arcview_files/uscoal_p.dbf> <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1996/of96-092/arcview_files/uscoal_l.shp> <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1996/of96-092/arcview_files/uscoal_l.shx> <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1996/of96-092/arcview_files/uscoal_l.dbf>

   • Cost to order the data: none

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 03-May-1996

Metadata author:

John Tully compiler
USGS, Eastern Energy Team
MS 956 National Center
Reston, Virginia 20192
USA

703-648-6432 (voice)

Metadata standard:

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)