KNGMG Noord Presentation: “Coal and ore in the Carboniferous around Limburg: a forgotten past” by Jan Schreurs

DateTuesday, 2 April 2019
Time16:30 - 18:00 hr
Costs
OrganisationKNGMG Noord
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Location
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Program

Time: Tuesday 2 April 2019, 17:00-18:00
You are welcome from 16:30 onwards. Drinks and some snacks will be available.
Place: NAM office, Room 2J.04 (the “Yellow Room”).
If you come from outside the NAM office, please register in advance by reply to this mail.
Title: “Coal and ore in the Carboniferous around Limburg: a forgotten past”
Presented by: Dr. Jan Schreurs, independent geologist (ex Shell)

Abstract:
The presentation is about the lesser known and even completely forgotten industrial importance of the Carboniferous in and near Dutch Limburg. Everybody knows the coal mines from Southern Limburg. Early on people realized that the coal deposits disappeared deep down along the major faults that defined the northern boundaries of the coal area. Not surprising they started looking for coal where the topography showed higher elevations again “at the other side”, to the north of the Ruhr river. Few know that coal was indeed found at the “other side”, also in the Netherlands. Even fewer know that a rather big and modern mine was planned, but was never developed and completely abandoned in the 1950-60’s.
Also, few know that the Carboniferous limestone just across the border contains ore deposits that were core to the industrial revolution in Western Europe. One of the biggest mines was in Moresnet. It too has been largely forgotten. The mine was even the reason for a political limbo, with a mini zinc-banana state, that lasted for more than 100 years. Few know that the famous drielandenpunt, the point where Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands meet near Vaals, used to be a vierlandenpunt, a place where four countries met. Geology has had a profound impact on politics, but for most people that is hiding in a complex past. The story will include some relevant bits of the history of Limburg as well. Perhaps not surprising these are generally little known as well.

About Our Speaker:
Jan Schreurs, born in Limburg, Netherlands. PhD in hard rock geology from Free University in Amsterdam and University of Utrecht, Netherlands. 30+ yrs experience as explorationist in Shell, starting 4 years in Research in the Netherlands, subsequently 29 years in various Shell operating companies (UK, Brunei, Egypt, Oman, The Hague) with projects across Europe, the Middle and Far East as well as Africa. Retired since 2016. Currently board member of a sustainable energy cooperation and actively participating in the energy transition as well as researching the story of natural hydrogen as unfinished business from Shell times.

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