Pg. 33, 45 (table 1), pl. 1. Murphysboro coal member of Spoon formation (new) of Kewanee group (new). Assigned to member status in Spoon formation. At base of formation below Vergennes sandstone member. Coal named by Worthen (1868, IN Geology and Paleontology, v. 3, Illinois Geol. Survey). Age is Pennsylvanian. Presentation of new rock-stratigraphic classification of Pennsylvanian strata in Illinois. Cyclical classification retained but is independent of rock-stratigraphic classification.
Type locality: in SE/4 sec. 9, T. 9 S., R. 2 W., Jackson Co., southwestern IL.
[Worthen reports available online from the Univ. Chicago Library: http://worthen.lib.uchicago.edu/ (accessed July 1, 2010).]

Source: US geologic names lexicon (USGS Bull. 1200, p. 2661).

Coal probably equivalent to the Murphysboro Coal Member of Jackson Co. is discontinuous in the study area. It was formerly mined in several small drift and strip mines west of New Burnside, Creal Springs quad. Identification is based on stratigraphic position and a palynological study of coal fragments. Occurs 20 to 30 ft above the New Burnside Coal Bed and directly overlies the golden [formerly Granger] sandstone of the Spoon Formation.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).