Introduction
The 8th ECC is organised on behalf of the European Coal Geology Group, an informal association uniting academics and applied scientists and technicians. Their interests are concerned with the geology of European coal deposits, with special attention to environmental issues. As the hard coal mining industry has closed in some countries, special attention will paid to problems and opportunities related to mine closure as well as the continuing importance of coal for the energy supply in Europe. The newer technologies of Coal Bed Methane (CBM), Coal Mine Methane (CMM) and Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) are becoming more important as traditional mining is challenged, and the opportunities for underground storage of CO₂ continue to promote lively technological debate.

The 8th ECC follows those in Leicester (UK) 1993, Prague (Czech Republic) 1995, Izmir (Turkey) 1997, Ustron (Poland) 2000, Mons (Belgium) 2002, Belgrade (Serbia) 2005 and Lviv (Ukraine) 2008. The ECC conferences continue to bring together the coal industries of Western and Eastern Europe, encompassing studies of both: lignite and hard coal, underground and surface mining, economic and environmental issues and problems. We also hope that this conference in Darmstadt will lead to significant progress in understanding and communicating the geological nature of our coal deposits and the technical solutions during and after their utilisation.

The 8th ECC is organised in the framework of GeoDarmstadt 2010, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften (DGG) and the Geologische Vereinigung (GV).

Scientific Committee
Roland Dreesen, VITO Mol
George Hatziyannis, IGME, Athens
Hulya Inaner, Dokuz-Eylül University, Izmir
Ralf Littke, RWTH Aachen
Petr Martinec, Inst.of Geonics, Ostrava-Poruba
Henk Pagnier, NITG-TNO
Keith Philpott, SRK Cardiff
Vitaliy Privalov, Nat.TU Donetsk
Krystian Probierz, Sil.TU Gliwice
Nick Riley, BGS Keyworth
Reinhard Sachsenhofer, Montanuniv. Leoben
Mircea Ticleanu, Geol. Surv. of Romania, Bucharest
Karl-Heinz Wolf, TU Delft
Norbert Volkmann, TU Freiberg
Volker Wrede, GD NRW, Krefeld

Permanent Committee of the European Coal Conferences
Myroslav Pavlyuk, IGGCM, Lviv
Andrija Laszic, University of Belgrade
Michiel Dusar, Geological Survey of Belgium
Albin Zdanowski, Polish Geological Institute, Sosnoviec
Eran Nakoman, Dokuz-Eylül University, Izmir
Jiri Pesek, Charles University, Prague
David Richardson, Kier Mining , UK

Conference Themes and Sessions

1. Coal in the history of the earth / Coal Geology
Chair: Ralf Littke, RWTH Aachen; Petra David, TNO, Utrecht

• Conditions and constraints on coal formation
• Mineralogical, geochemical and isotopic characterisation of coal and coal gas
• Burial history, coal maturation and gas generation, basin modelling

Since a land flora was extensively established some 400 million years, coal has been deposited in many phases during earth’s history. Besides its economical importance, the study of coal reveals important information on depositional environment, stratigraphy, and climate. This session focuses on various aspects of coal formation and characterization. We seek contributions in the field of coal geology, coal petrology, coal geochemistry, palynology, palaeobotany, palaeozoology, coal mineralogy, and modeling related to depositional environments of coal-bearing formations, maturation/coalification as well as gas/oil generation from coal. This also includes the influence of climate on coal depositional environments. Studies both on basic and applied aspects of coal geology and coal petrology are welcome. Studies on coal geology may include stratigraphic, structural, palaeogeographic, hydrogeologic, as well as paleoecologic aspects.

2. Coal as an energy source in Europe / Evaluation of coal resources and mining
Chair: Ernst-Bernhard Teigler, DMT, Essen; Bernhard Cramer, BGR, Hannover

• Advances in techniques for coal prospecting and evaluation
• Computer modelling of coal deposits
• Improving mining productivity
• Coal and coal derivatives properties
• Forecast for coal use in Europe / comparison of domestic and imported coal
• Clean coal technologies (e.g. combustion, gasification, liquefaction)

This session focuses on coal as an important energy source for Europe. Therefore studies on economic aspects and reserve estimates of coal-bearing formations are welcome. Currently the production and demand of coal in most European countries decreases. Which role can/will European coal mining play for the future coal supply of Europe? Will Europe even more rely on coal imports? Recently the methodology of coal prospecting and deposit evaluation has been significantly improved. Nowadays exploration and evaluation of coal deposits benefits from intense application of computer-aided tools. Also improvement of mining productivity due to technical innovation is an ongoing topic. The development of highly efficient coal fired power plants in combination with CCS dominates recent development of coal technologies in the world. In addition, high energy prices during the last years stimulated the development of so-called coal derivatives via gasification and liquefaction. These high-tech applications require quantities of coal with specific properties and qualities. To meet the upcoming challenges of clean coal technologies a common understanding of all related disciplines including coal geology, coal qualities, coal extraction, coal beneficiation, economics and mechanical engineering are a prerequisite.

3. Coal seams and coal bearing formations as gas deposits (CBM) and CO2-storage sites
Chair: Karl-Heinz Wolf, TU Delft; Vitaliy Privalov, Nat.TU Donetsk

• Coal Mine Methane recovery
• Coal Bed Methane
• CO2 storage
• Coalfires

Coal seams can be considered as tight gas reservoirs with chromatographic properties. Besides conventional coalmine and coalbed methane production, flue gas components are production enhancing gases, either helping to increase methane sweep efficiencies or separating multi-component gases. The gas-water-coal interaction at lab scale, in modelling and at economic scale is to be discussed. Here coal is considered as being a production and storage medium. Besides this alternative of coal valorisation, in-situ coal combustion (UCG) and associated characterization and control of underground coalfires are themes that have a renewed and growing interest in industry and in academia.

4. Consequences from underground and surface extraction
Chair: Roland Dreesen, VITO, Mol; Petr Martinec, Inst.of Geonics, Ostrava-Poruba

• Abandonment policies and future utilisation of mining sites
• Coal geology and mining considered as part of the industrial heritage
• Environmental and social impact of mining and mine closure
• Groundwater rise after mine abandonment
• The impact of mining subsidence

After closure, European coal-mining districts are facing great challenges, related to social, economical, environmental and industrial heritage problems. The socio-economic impact of closing collieries have long been recognized and many initiatives have been taken to reduce the dependency of local communities on coal mines before closure. Methods exist to rehabilitate the surface and to mitigate pollution, but the long-term success of these interventions depends on the nature of post mining land uses. On the other hand closed mines offer great opportunities and new challenges for an alternative future. For instance, abandoned coal mine methane, enhanced coalbed methane and geothermal use of mine water all possess great potential for green energy production. However, a good knowledge of all aspects of the subsurface geology, the availability of 3D-geological and -subsurface infrastructure models (e.g. digitized mine maps), is a prerequisite. Coal mining activities and subsequent land reclamation have also created new landscapes and biotopes, promoting nature conservation and enhancing biodiversity, whereas coal heritage and geological trails on the same sites, have a good potential for local sustainable development (geoparks). Finally, historical industrial coal mining complexes, including industrial infrastructures and buildings, represent exceptional industrial monuments that may receive new scientific, educational and socio-cultural destinations.