The Leicestershire and South Derbyshire Coalfield in the English Midlands is one of the smaller British coalfields.British Geological Survey 2007 Bedrock geology: UK South 1:625,000 scale geological map, BGS, Keyworth, Notts The two areas are sometimes separately referred to as the South Derbyshire Coalfield and the Leicestershire Coalfield. All of the worked coal seams are contained within the Lower and Middle Coal Measures which are of Upper Carboniferous age.
Geology
The following seams are recognised in South Derbyshire:Hains, B.A. & Horton, A., 1969 British Regional Geology: Central England (3rd edn), London, HMSO for British Geological Survey
Middle Coal Measures Ell Dicky Gobler Upper Kilburn Block Yard Two Foot Upper Cannel Little Little Kilburn
Lower Coal Measures Rider Main Little Woodfield Lower Main Woodfield Stockings Eureka Joyce's Upper Stanhope Lower Stanhope Well Twelve Inch Clod Kilburn Norton Hardbed Band Belperlawn
A series of seams referred to as P12, P15/16, P17, P25, P27, P31 (Derby), P33, P34 and P39/40 are recorded above the Upper Kilburn seam in the southern part of the South Derbyshire Coalfield.
In the Leicestershire area, the following are recognised;British Geological Survey 2010 Coalville England and Wales sheet 155 Bedrock & Superficial deposits. 1:50,000 (Keyworth, Nottingham: BGS)
Middle Coal Measures Excelsior Minge Five Foot (or Five Feet) Splent Threequarters New Main Rider New Main (Slate) Swannington Yard Cannel
Lower Coal Measures High Main Upper Main (Main) Smoile Upper Lount Middle Lount Nether Lount Yard Low Main (Roaster) Lower Main Upper Lower main Lower Clod Kilburn
Collieries in the nationalisation era As per the Northern Mine Research Society Derbyshire Stanhope Bretby (closed 1966) Bretby (closed 1962) Cadley Hill (closed 1988) Thorntree Drift (closed 1947) Swadlincote (closed 1965) Granville (merged with Rawdon 1967) Netherseal (closed 1947)
Leicestershire Church Gresley (merged with Rawdon 1967) Reservoir (closed 1948) Rawdon (merged with Donisthorpe 1986) Donisthorpe (as Donisthorpe-Rawdon, closed 1990) Oakthorpe (closed 1950) Measham (merged with Donisthorpe 1985) New Lount (closed 1968) Calcutta (closed 1950) Whitwick (closed 1986) Snibston No. 2 (closed 1984) South Leicester (merged with Bagworth 1983) Ibstock (closed 1950) Ellistown (merged with Bagworth 1986) Nailstone (merged with Bagworth 1967) Bagworth (as Bagworth-Ellistown, closed 1991) Desford (closed 1984) Merry Lees (merged with Desford 1966) Asfordby (closed 1997)
References