Midlothian Coalfield


The Midlothian Coalfield is a coalfield in southeast Scotland situated immediately to the east and southeast of Edinburgh. It is geologically continuous with the East Fife Coalfield beneath the Firth of Forth though the undersea coal reserves have only been partly exploited. There were undersea workings extending from Prestonlinks Colliery. The sulphur content of the majority of Midlothian coals is less than 1% making it especially suitable for modern requirements.

Geology

The following seams were worked. They are shown in rough stratigraphical order thought not all seams are present throughout the coalfield. Those shown in bold were worked to the greatest extent:
Within the Scottish Coal Measures Group :
  • Clayknowes Coal Splint Coal Rough Coal
  • Beefie CoalMusselburgh Jewel Coal
  • Golden Coal
  • Little Splint CoalCowpits Five Foot Coal
  • Glass CoalSalters Coal
  • Musselburgh Nine Foot Coal
  • Musselburgh Fifteen Foot Coal
  • Pinkie Six Foot Coal
  • Musselburgh Seven Foot Coal
  • Eskmouth Extra Coal
Within the Upper Limestone Formation:
Within the Limestone Coal Formation:Great Seam Coal
  • Gillespie CoalBlackchapel Coal
  • Kittlepurse CoalPeacock CoalSouth Bryans Splint Coal
  • Stony Coal
  • Ball Coal
  • Loanhead No 1 Coal
  • Corbie Coals
  • Andrews Coal
  • South CoalNorth CoalStairhead Coal
Within the Lower Limestone FormationNorth Greens Coal
Within the West Lothian Oil-Shale Formation
  • Houston Coal
  • various oil-shale horizons
Monktonhall Colliery was abandoned in 1997 and Blinkbonny mine adit was sealed in 2003 so bringing to an end a long history of deep-mining of coal within the coalfield. Opencasting has continued at various sites since then including Blinkbonny, Oxenfoord, Gourlaw and Newbigging Farm.