Geochemical Data for Coal Wastes from Historic Anthracite Coal Mining in Pennsylvania, 2024

In addition to their potential for energy generation, coal and coal byproducts may be economically important resources if they are enriched in critical minerals such as rare earth elements or if their organic carbon can be converted to gas by stimulated microbial methanogenesis. Samples of coal refuse (culm) from a historic mine site in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania were collected from different areas of the site, including some where previous remediation activities have been conducted. Samples were analyzed for coal quality using proximate, ultimate, and sulfur forms analyses, and for major and trace elements. These data complement previous USGS studies on coal waste conducted in Pennsylvania and the Illinois Basin.