The Kyrgyz steppes are a huge territory stretching from the Urals to the foothills of the Tien Shan. But this is not just a vast area, but natural resources, various types of metals and polymetallic ores and coal pools.
Coal deposit in Kazakhstan
One of the largest coal deposits in Kazakhstan is the Ekibastuz coal basin. It is located in the Pavlodar region, near the railway line Pavlodar-Astana.
Total reserves are estimated at 10 billion tons. A closed pit covers an area of 155 square meters. km., with a total length of 24 kilometers and a width of 8.5 km.
How was coal found?
Back in 1886, ore miner Kosum Pshembaev (self-taught geologist) filed an application with his master, in which he indicated the location of the field. At the same time, he marked the borders with two blocks of salt that he brought from a neighboring lake. From here came the modern name of the Ekibastuz coal basin - "Yekee base ace", that is, "Two heads of salt."
In 1893, to verify the information, an intelligence group was sent to these places. However, nothing was found and most likely that this happened due to the inexperience of the researchers.
In 1895, Cosum and his merchant Derov began a new search. They managed to lay an exploration pit near the western part of Lake Ekibastuz to a depth of 6.4 meters. They got excellent results, confirming that there is a powerful coal seam. And in the same year, the merchant laid down three exploratory mines.
The wealth of the Ekibastuz coal basin attracted the attention of other people. In 1896, the head of the mining party sent his assistant to these places, who determined that the field was indeed reliable. In the same year, Derov already commissioned a small coal mine.
In 1898, a small settlement began to form on the western side of the lake, which then grew to the size of a city.
Modern research
To date, the bowels of the Ekibastuz coal basin are fully explored. Studies have been conducted for 8 years, from 1940 to 1948.
Only three top layers, consisting of a whole coal complex, are important for industry:
- 1 layer - 25 meters;
- 2 layer - up to 43 meters;
- 3 layer up to 108 meters.
Coal quality
In the Ekibastuz coal basin, coal is defined as high-ash, grade 1CC, that is, slightly caking. Despite the fact that such coal is quite difficult to ignite, it has a long burning time, with a high degree of heat transfer. An ash content of 40%, which varies depending on the reservoir and with a high content of impurities.
Throughout the entire territory of the deposit, coal can be mined open-pit.
The main purpose is to use as fuel for power plants.
General chemical characterization (in dry ashless state):
Moisture | hygroscopic | four% |
| general content | 6.5% |
Sulfur | total amount | 0.7% |
| pyrite | 0.3% |
| organic | 0.4% |
Carbon | 44.8% |
Hydrogen | 3% |
Nitrogen | 0.8% |
Oxygen | 7.3% |
Coal basin enterprises
Today, the Bogatyr mine is owned by the Bogatyr Kemir LLP company, and has been operating since 1965. The coal reserves of the complex amount to about 1.18 billion tons.
This section is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest on the entire planet.
The East section of the Ekibastuz coal basin belongs to the Euro-Asian Energy Corporation group of companies. The project was opened in 1985. It was here that for the first time in world practice, in-line production technology with conveyor vehicles was used. At the same time, the section includes an oblique bedding of layers. The enterprise operates averaging warehouses, which allows you to quickly respond to coal indicators in the face and ultimately ensure the same quality of raw materials. Therefore, coal from this section is highly valued, as it allows power plants not only to increase work efficiency, but also to reduce the amount of harmful substances released into the atmosphere.