The Canadian Society of Coal and Organic Petrology
The activities of CSCOP during the past year mainly concentrated on environmental matters, coal bed methane and hydrocarbon exploration. The traditional coal-petrographic studies are being slowly phased out or less emphasized, due to introduction of automated coal-petrological microscopy and reduction in workload. Most of coal petrology laboratories, particularly in Alberta and British Columbia are either reduced in size of the staff or entirely eliminated, with staff being assigned to other responsibilities. In contrast, the studies related to coal bed methane, hydrocarbon exploration and the environment are still strongly supported by governments, industry and university. The environmental studies as related to fossil fuel, is supported strongly by industries and new avenues are being opened in this area of science.
The membership of the society is still stable, but it may drop slightly in the current year due to a change in scientific interest of members.
The Canadian Atlas of Coal and Organic Petrology is under review and is planned for publication in the current year.
F. Goodarzi