GIS representation of coal-bearing areas in Africa

This report is a digital compilation of information on Africa's coal-bearing geology found in the literature and is intended to be used in small scale spatial investigations in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and as a visual aid for the discussion of Africa's coal resources. The African continent contains approximately 5% of the world's proven recoverable reserves of coal (World Energy Council, 2007). A review of academic and industrial literature indicates that 27 nations in Africa contain coal-bearing rock. Existing U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) digital geology datasets provide the majority of the base geologic polygons in this dataset. Polygons for the coal-bearing localities were clipped from the base geology that properly represented the age and extent of the coal deposit as indicated in the literature. This dataset includes information regarding the rank, age and location of coal in Africa as well as the detailed source information responsible for each coal-bearing polygon. This product is not appropriate for use in resource assessments of any kind.