The International Journal of Coal Geology deals with fundamental and applied aspects of the geology, petrology, geochemistry and mineralogy of coal, oil/gas source rocks, and shales. The journal aims to advance the environmentally sustainable exploration and utilization of these resources, as well as advancement of engineering and technology for effective resource management towards net-zero carbon goals.

The scope of the journal encompasses basic research, computational and laboratory studies, technology development, and field studies in:
Geology, geochemistry, mineralogy, and petrology
formation of coal and coal seams, including studies of modern coal-forming processes and environments
metamorphosis of coal and dispersed organic matter in source rocks
geologic aspects of coal measures, oil- and gas-source rocks
petrology, mineralogy, geochemistry, and petrophysics of coal, coal seams, and organic matter-rich shales.
Exploration and development of coal and unconventional resources
formation, transport and storage of carbon; energy gases in coals and shales including coal bed methane, coal mine methane, abandoned mine methane
unconventional petroleum systems (e.g., shale gas, oil shales, oil sands, heavy oil, tight oil/gas)
Critical metals in coal, coal-bearing strata, acid-mine drainage, and coal combustion/gasification residues; recovery of critical metals from coal-based materials; resource recovery from coal mine waste.
Environmental aspects of coal and unconventional resources
impacts of coal mining, acid-mine drainage, and exploitation of unconventional resources
coal utilization related to geology and constituents of coal
emission reduction and carbon capture, storage, and utilization
geological and environmental aspects of coal fires and underground coal gasification.
Application of computational methods for geology and engineering of coal and unconventional resource management
Application of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) including, but not limited to, machine learning, automated reasoning and inference, case-based reasoning, computer vision, knowledge representation, remote sensing, spatial statistics and uncertainty evaluation for the topics covered within the scope of the journal
Development and application of analytical methods for geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology and pore space of coal and unconventional energy systems
Application of numerical modeling methods, preferably validated by experimental or field data, in support of technology development and environmental management of resources covered by the journal.


Types of contributions published are: research papers describing original theoretical (with potential for application) and applied research, proceedings of symposia, review papers in a particular topic, short contributions, surveys, book reviews, and letters to the editor. Research papers that combine theory and experiments and/or field studies are especially welcome.

This journal welcomes contributions that support and advance the UN's sustainable development goals, in particular SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy)

research papers
proceedings of symposia
short contributions
surveys
reviews
book reviews
overviews
letters to the editor

Editors-in-Chief
Professor Shifeng Dai
China University of Mining and Technology - Beijing Campus, Beijing, China Email Professor Shifeng DaiDr. C. Özgen Karacan
US Geological Survey, Virginia, United States Email Dr. C. Özgen Karacan
Professor Ralf Littke
RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany Email Professor Ralf Littke
Honorary Editor
Dr. James Hower
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States Email Dr. James Hower
Editorial Board
Dr. Andreas Busch
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Email Dr. Andreas Busch
Dr. Chen-Lin Chou
Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, Illinois, United States Email Dr. Chen-Lin Chou
Prof. Dr. Kimon Christanis
University of Patras Department of Geology, Patra, Greece Email Prof. Dr. Kimon Christanis
Dr. Luke Connell
CSIRO Mineral Resources, Clayton, Australia Email Dr. Luke Connell
Dr. Mark Engle
University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States Email Dr. Mark Engle
Dr. Joan Esterle
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Email Dr. Joan Esterle
Dr. Monika Fabiańska
University of Silesia Faculty of Philology, Sosnowiec, Poland Email Dr. Monika Fabiańska
Dr. Robert Finkelman
University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, United States Email Dr. Robert Finkelman
Professor Deolinda Flores
University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Email Professor Deolinda Flores
Dr. Romeo Flores
US General Services Administration Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado, United States Email Dr. Romeo Flores
Dr. Ian Graham
University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Email Dr. Ian Graham
Mr. Paul Hackley
US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, United States Email Mr. Paul Hackley
Dr. Bernd Krooss
RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany Email Dr. Bernd Krooss
Dr. Tennille Mares
Santos Limited, Adelaide, Australia Email Dr. Tennille Mares
Dr. Maria Mastalerz
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Email Dr. Maria Mastalerz
Dr. Tim Moore
Cipher Coal Consulting Ltd, Sumner, Christchurch, Australia Email Dr. Tim Moore
Dr. Victor Nechaev
Far Eastern Geological Institute FEB RAS, Vladivostok, Russian Federation Email Dr. Victor Nechaev
Dr. Stanislav Opluštil
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic Email Dr. Stanislav Opluštil
Dr. Jack Pashin
Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States Email Dr. Jack Pashin
Dr. Henrik Petersen
Maersk Oil and Gas A S, København, Denmark Email Dr. Henrik Petersen
Dr. Sławomira Pusz
Polish Academy of Sciences Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Zabrze, PolandEmail Dr. Sławomira Pusz
Professor Xavier Querol
Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Barcelona, Spain Email Professor Xavier Querol
Dr. Gerd Rantitsch
University of Mining, Leoben, Austria Email Dr. Gerd Rantitsch
Professor Sue Rimmer
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, United States Email Professor Sue Rimmer
Dr. Leslie Ruppert
US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, United States Email Dr. Leslie Ruppert
Dr. Ji-Quan Shi
Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom Email Dr. Ji-Quan Shi
Dr. Selami Toprak
General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Ankara, Turkey Email Dr. Selami Toprak
Dr. Nikki Wagner
University of the Witwatersrand, School of Chemical & Materials/Metallurgical Engineering, WITS, South Africa Email Dr. Nikki Wagner
Dr. Peter Warwick
US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, United States Email Dr. Peter Warwick
Dr. Liming Yuan
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Email Dr. Liming Yuan
Dr. Lei Zhao
China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China Email Dr. Lei Zhao