Journal of Mining and Metallurgy, 47 A (1) (2011) 1 - 16 # Corresponding author: aby203@exeter.ac.uk AN EVALUATION OF THE QUALITY OF METALLURGICAL COKING COAL SEAMS WITHIN THE NORTH BLOCK OF EASTERN PARVADEH COAL DEPOSIT, TABAS, CENTRAL IRAN D.K. Ahangaran * , P. Afzal ** , A.B. Yasrebi *# , A. Wetherelt * , P.J. Foster *** and R.A. Darestani **** * Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK ** Department of Mining Engineering, South Tehran branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran *** CSM Director of Postgraduate Research & Progression, Exeter University, Penryn, UK **** Hampa Behineh Consultant Engineers Company, Tehran, Iran (Received 10 October 2011; Accepted 29 November 2011) Abstract The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of the metallurgical coking coal seams in the north block of Eastern Parvadeh coal deposit located in Tabas, Central Iran. Quality particulars of the main coking coal seams named as C 1 and B 2 , are; thickness, sulfur content and ash content, and have been evaluated by using statistical analysis and 3D modeling based on subsurface hole data including collar, orientation, lithology, stratigraphy and assay taken and analyzed from 87 drill holes. Seams were separated based on USGS (Bulletin 1450-B) and Russian (10583-72 and 7059-75) quality standards. Statistical studies reveal that the amounts of ash content and sulfur content are high considering the USGS standard. This study concludes that the C 1 seam has the highest quality amongst the analyzed seams based on metallurgical quality particulars. Key words: Metallurgical Coking Coal, C 1 , Eastern Parvadeh coal deposit, Tabas, Iran. 1. Introduction Coal is an important component of world mining and will continue to play a significant role in any nation’s economy. Increasing petroleum and natural gas prices from one perspective and huge demand on petroleum and gas from the other side are necessitating governments and mining companies to expand their exploration and exploitation of coal resources. Coal mining worldwide was 4.3 Gt in 2000 and is expected to be doubled by 2030 [1]. According to Iran’s 4 th development program, steel production has to be increased to 50 Mt/y in 2020 [2]. J o u r n a l o f M i n i n g a n d M e t a l l u r g y