coal measures

American  

plural noun

Geology.

1. coal-bearing strata.

2. (initial capital letters) in Europe, a portion of the Carboniferous System, characterized by widespread coal deposits.

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Coal Measures British  

plural noun

1. a series of coal-bearing rocks formed in the upper Carboniferous period; the uppermost series of the Carboniferous system

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Etymology

Origin of coal measures

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

Our coal measures underlie an area of more than four hundred and sixty thousand square miles.

From The Coming of Coal by Bruere, Robert W.

Columbia coal measures are sufficient to supply the world for centuries.

From Canada West by Canada. Dept. of the interior

These coal measures are particularly valuable in a country many parts of which are treeless and without economical fuel.

From Aztec Land by Ballou, Maturin Murray

The sandstones and shales of the rapid have a strong resemblance in appearance to those of the coal measures; but pitch-coal was not detected at this place.

From Narrative of a Second Expedition to the Shores of the Polar Sea by Franklin, John

The existence of another strata, still lower and still better, is presumed, as the alluvial formation, or coal measures, has not yet been passed by boring.

From The History of Peru by Beebe, Henry S.