The Merritt Coalfield

Last updated on April 24, 2019

NTS Map Sheet 92I/02

Merritt Coalfield (1:50,000) (PDF, 1MB)

Merritt-Similkameen Coalfields (1:250,000) (PDF, 5.3MB)

The Merritt Coalfield comprises several isolated Tertiary sedimentary areas that outcrop within a radius of 15 kilometres and cover an area of 105 square kilometers. Coal is hosted by the lacustrine Eocene Coldwater Formation. From 1906 to 1963, underground mines in the area produced 2.4 million tonnes of high-volatile C to A bituminous coal. Reportedly, several seams of 1.5 metres thickness are present, but faulting and abrupt lateral changes of stratigraphy made seam correlation and underground mining difficult.

Selected references

Matheson, A., 1991. Subsurface Thermal Coal Sampling Survey, Merritt Coal Deposits, South-Central British Columbia. Geological Fieldwork 1991, B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Paper 1992-1, pages 427-432.

Did you find what you were looking for?

The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.