coal-measures
Definition
- Noun (plural in form but treated as singular or plural):
- Geological strata: "coal-measures" refers to a sequence of sedimentary rock layers that contain coal seams, typically including sandstone, shale, and other carbon-rich deposits formed during the Carboniferous period.
Usage Examples
- (The sequence of coal-bearing strata was examined for geological dating.)
- (The rock layers containing coal are extracted for economic use.)
Advanced Usage
"to be in the coal-measures": to be located within the specific geological formation that contains coal.
- The village sits directly above the coal-measures, making it a historic mining community. (The settlement is situated atop the coal-bearing rock layers.)
"coal-measures fauna": the fossilized animal remains found within coal-measure strata.
- Fossilized ferns and insects are common in coal-measures fauna. (The animal fossils preserved in these rock layers are typical of the Carboniferous period.)
Variants and Related Words
Coal measure (noun, singular): a single layer or seam of coal within the broader sequence.
- A thin coal measure was discovered beneath the shale. (A distinct coal seam was found underground.)
Coal-bearing (adj): describing rock that contains coal.
- The coal-bearing strata are part of the larger coal-measures formation. (The rocks that hold coal belong to the coal-measures sequence.)
Synonyms
- Coal seam: a distinct layer of coal within rock strata.
- Carboniferous strata: rock layers from the Carboniferous period, often containing coal.
Related Idioms
- To strike coal: to discover a coal seam while mining.
- After months of drilling, the team finally struck coal in the coal-measures. (They successfully found a coal deposit in the geological formation.)
Additional Notes
- Context: "coal-measures" is a technical term used primarily in geology, mining, and paleontology. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but is essential for describing specific rock formations.