2f. The Williston Basin
The Williston Basin has an area of about 32,000 square miles of lignite deposits. It includes all or parts of 24 counties in western North Dakota:
- Adams
- Billings
- Bowman
- Burke
- Burleigh
- Divide
- Dunn
- Golden Valley
- Grant
- Hettinger
- McHenry
- McKenzie
- McLean
- Mercer
- Morton
- Mountrail
- Oliver
- Renville
- Sheridan
- Sioux
- Slope
- Stark Ward
- Williams
Four active mines produce lignite using surface mining methods in the Basin:
- Center
- Coyote Creek
- Falkirk
- Freedom
According to geological engineers, the lignite at the Falkirk Mine is “at the perfect level for mining.”
