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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
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Guide for Authors
Submission checklist
Submissionn to this journal proceeds totally online. It is hoped that this list will be useful during the
final checking of an article prior to sending it to the journal's Editor for review.
Please consult this Guide for Authors for further
details of any item.
Ensure that the following items are present:
One Author designated as corresponding Author:
•
E-mail address
• Full postal address
• Telephone and fax numbers
• All necessary files have been uploaded
• Keywords
• All figure captions
• All tables (including title, description, footnotes)
Further considerations
• Manuscript has been "spellchecked" and the English grammar is correct
• References are in the correct format for
this journal
• All references mentioned in the Reference list are cited in the text, and vice versa
• Permission has
been obtained for use of copyrighted material from other sources (including the Web)
• Colour figures are clearly marked as
being intended for colour reproduction on the Web (free of charge) and in print (costs to be met by th eauthor) or to be reproduced in
colour on the Web (free of charge) and in black-and-white in print
• If only colour on the Web is required, black and white
versions of the figures are also supplied for printing purposes
For any further information please contact the Author Support Department
at authorsupport@elsevier.com
Submission of articles
General
It is essential to give a
fax number and e-mail address when submitting a manuscript (and to keep the Publisher informed of any changes in fax or e-mail address).
Submission
of an article implies that the work described has not been published previously (except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published
lecture or academic thesis), that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, that its publication is approved by all Authors
and tacitly or explicitly by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out, and that, if accepted, it will not be published
elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, without the written consent of the Publisher.
Upon acceptance of
an article, Authors will be asked to transfer copyright (for more information on copyright see  http://wwwa.elsevier.com/authorsrights).
This transfer will ensure the widest possible dissemination of information. A letter will be sent to the corresponding Author confirming
receipt of the manuscript. A form facilitating transfer of copyright will be provided.
If excerpts from other copyrighted works are
included, the Author(s) must obtain written permission from the copyright owners and credit the source(s) in the article. Elsevier has
preprinted forms for use by Authors in these cases: contact Elsevier's Rights Department, Philadelphia, PA, USA: phone (+1) 215 239 3804,
fax (+1) 215 239 3805, e-mail healthpermissions@elsevier.com. Requests may also be completed on-line via the Elsevier
homepage ( http://www.elsevier.com/locate/permissions).
Authors' rights
As an author you (or your employer or institution)
may do the following:
- make copies (print or electronic) of the article for your own personal use, including for your own classroom
teaching use
- make copies and distribute such copies (including through e-mail) of the article to research colleagues, for the personal
use by such colleagues (but not commercially or systematically, e.g., via an e-mail list or list server)
- post a pre-print version
of the article on Internet websites including electronic pre-print servers, and to retain indefinitely such version on such servers or
sites
- post a revised personal version of the final text of the article (to reflect changes made in the peer review and editing
process) on your personal or institutional website or server, with a link to the journal homepage (on http://www.elsevier.com)
- present the article at a meeting or conference and to distribute copies of the article to the delegates attending such a meeting
- for your employer, if the article is a 'work for hire', made within the scope of your employment, your employer may use all or
part of the information in the article for other intra-company use (e.g., training)
- retain patent and trademark rights and rights
to any processes or procedure described in the article
- include the article in full or in part in a thesis or dissertation (provided
that this is not to be published commercially)
- use the article or any part thereof in a printed compilation of your works, such
as collected writings or lecture notes (subsequent to publication of your article in the journal)
- prepare other derivative works,
to extend the article into book-length form, or to otherwise re-use portions or excerpts in other works, with full acknowledgement of
its original publication in the journal.
Should Authors be requested by the Editor to revise the text, the revised version should
be submitted within 3 months. After this period, the article will be regarded as a new submission.
Online submission to the journal
prior to acceptance
Please submit, with the manuscript, the names and addresses of up to 4 potential Referees. You may also mention
persons who you would prefer not to review your paper.
Use the following guidelines to prepare your article. Via the page of this journal
( http://www.elsevier.com/locate/cogel) you will be guided you will be guided stepwise through the creation and uploading
of the various files. The system automatically converts source files to a single Adobe Acrobat PDF version of the article, which is used
in the peer-review process. Please note that even though manuscript source files are converted to PDF at submission for the review process,
these source files are needed for further processing after acceptance. All correspondence, including notification of the Editor's decision
and requests for revision, takes place by e-mail and via the Author's homepage, removing the need for a hard-copy paper trail.
The
above represents a very brief outline of this form of submission. It can be advantageous to print this "Guide for Authors" section from
the site for reference in the subsequent stages of article preparation.
Electronic format requirements
General points
We accept most word processing formats, but Word, WordPerfect or LaTeX is preferred. Always keep a backup copy of the electronic
file for reference and safety. Save your files using the default extension of the program used.
Word processor documents
It is important that the file be saved in the native format of the word processor used. The text should be in single-column format.
Keep the layout of the text as simple as possible. Most formatting codes will be removed and replaced on processing the article. In particular,
do not use the word processor's options to justify text or to hyphenate words. However, do use bold face, italics, subscripts, superscripts
etc. Do not embed "graphically designed" equations or tables, but prepare these using the word processor's facility. When preparing tables,
if you are using a table grid, use only one grid for each individual table and not a grid for each row. If no grid is used, use tabs,
not spaces, to align columns. The electronic text should be prepared in a way very similar to that of conventional manuscripts (see also
the Guide to Publishing with Elsevier: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/guidepublication). Do not import the figures into
the text file but, instead, indicate their approximate locations directly in the electronic text and on the manuscript. See also the
section on Preparation of electronic illustrations.
To avoid unnecessary errors you are strongly advised to use the "spellchecker"
function of your word processor.
LaTeX documents
If the LaTeX file is suitable, proofs will be produced without
rekeying the text. The article should preferably be written using Elsevier's document class "elsart", or alternatively the standard document
class "article".
The Elsevier LaTeX package (including detailed instructions for LaTeX preparation) can be obtained from: http://www.elsevier.com/latex.
It consists of the files: elsart.cls, guidelines for users of elsart, a template file for quick start, and the instruction booklet "Preparing
articles with LaTeX".
Preparation of text
Presentation of manuscript
General
Please write
your text in good English (American or British usage is accepted, but not a mixture of these). Italics are to be used for expressions
of Latin origin, for example, in vivo, et al., per se. Use decimal points (not commas); use a space for thousands (10 000 and above).
Language Polishing. Authors who require information about language editing and copyediting services pre- and post-submission
please visit http://www.elsevier.com/languagepolishing or contact authorsupport@elsevier.com for more information.
Please note Elsevier neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any products, goods or services offered by outside vendors through
our services or in any advertising. For more information please refer to our Terms & Conditions: http://www.elsevier.com/termsandconditions.
Provide the following data on the title page (in the order given).
Title.
Concise and informative. Titles are often
used in information-retrieval systems. Avoid abbreviations and formulae where possible.
Author names and affiliations.
Where the family name may be ambiguous (e.g., a double name), please indicate this clearly. Present the Authors' affiliation addresses
(where the actual work was done) below the names. Indicate all affiliations with a lower-case superscript letter immediately after the
Author's name and in front of the appropriate address. Provide the full postal address of each affiliation, including the country name,
and, if available, the e-mail address of each Author.
Corresponding Author.
Clearly indicate who is willing to handle
correspondence at all stages of refereeing and publication, also post-publication. Ensure that telephone and fax numbers (with country
and area code) are provided in addition to the e-mail address and the complete postal address.
Present/permanent address.
If an Author has moved since the work described in the article was done, or was visiting at the time, a "Present address"' (or "Permanent
address") may be indicated as a footnote to that Author's name. The address at which the Author actually did the work must be retained
as the main, affiliation address. Superscript Arabic numerals are used for such footnotes.
Abstract.
A concise and factual
abstract is required (maximum length 300 words). The abstract should state briefly the purpose of the research, the principal results
and major conclusions. A structured abstract is required. For this, a recent copy of the journal should be consulted. An abstract is
often presented separate from the article, so it must be able to stand alone. References should therefore be avoided, but if essential,
they must be cited in full, without reference to the reference list. Non-standard or uncommon abbreviations should be avoided, but if
essential they must be defined at their first mention in the abstract itself.
Keywords. Immediately after the abstract,
provide a maximum of 6 keywords, avoiding general and plural terms and multiple concepts (avoid, for example, "and", "of"). Also, avoid
using words that are already in the title. Be sparing with abbreviations: only abbreviations firmly established in the field may be eligible.
These keywords will be used for indexing purposes.
Abbreviations.
Define abbreviations that are not standard in this
field at their first occurrence in the article: in the abstract but also in the main text after it. Ensure consistency of abbreviations
throughout the article.
N.B. Acknowledgements.
Collate acknowledgements in a separate section at the end of the article
and do not, therefore, include them on the title page, as a footnote to the title or otherwise.
Arrangement of the article
Subdivision of the article.
Divide your article into clearly defined sections. Each subsection is given a brief heading.
Each heading should appear on its own separate line.
References.
See separate section, below.
Figure captions,
tables, figures, schemes.
Present these, in this order, at the end of the article. They are described in more detail below.
If you are working with LaTeX and have such features embedded in the text, these can be left, but such embedding should not be done specifically
for publishing purposes. Further, high-resolution graphics files must be provided separately (see Preparation of illustrations).
Text
graphics.
Present incidental graphics not suitable for mention as figures, plates or schemes at the end of the article and number
them "Graphic 1", etc. Their precise position in the text can then be indicated. See further under the section, Preparation of illustrations.
If you are working with LaTeX and have such features embedded in the text, these can be left, but such embedding should not be done specifically
for publishing purposes. Further, high-resolution graphics files must be provided separately (see Preparation of illustrations).
Specific
remarks
Mathematical formulae.
Present simple formulae in the line of normal text where possible. In principle, variables
are to be presented in italics. Use the solidus (/) instead of a horizontal line, e.g., X/Y rather than
X
Y
Powers
of e are often more conveniently denoted by exp.
Number consecutively any equations that have to be displayed separate from the text
(if referred to explicitly in the text).
Footnotes. Footnotes should be used sparingly. Number them consecutively throughout
the article, using superscript Arabic numbers. Many word processors build footnotes into the text, and this feature may be used. Should
this not be the case, indicate the position of footnotes in the text and present the footnotes themselves on a separate sheet at the
end of the article. Do not include footnotes in the Reference list.
Table footnotes.Indicate each footnote in a table with a superscript
lowercase letter.
Tables.Number tables consecutively in accordance with their appearance in the text. Place footnotes to
tables below the table body and indicate them with superscript lowercase letters. Avoid vertical rules. Be sparing in the use of tables
and ensure that the data presented in tables do not duplicate results described elsewhere in the article.
Nomenclature and units.
Follow internationally accepted rules and conventions: use the international system of units (SI). If other quantities are mentioned,
give their equivalent in SI.
Preparation of supplementary data. Elsevier accepts electronic supplementary material to support
and enhance your scientific research. Supplementary files offer the Author additional possibilities to publish supporting applications,
movies, animation sequences, high-resolution images, background datasets, sound clips and more. Supplementary files supplied will be
published online alongside the electronic version of your article in Elsevier Web products, including ScienceDirect: http://www.sciencedirect.com.
In order to ensure that your submitted material is directly usable, please ensure that data is provided in one of our recommended file
formats. Authors should submit the material in electronic format together with the article and supply a concise and descriptive caption
for each file. For more detailed instructions please visit http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions.
References
Responsibility for the accuracy of bibliographic citations lies entirely with the Authors.
Citations in the text: Please
ensure that every reference cited in the text is also present in the reference list (and vice versa). Any references cited in the abstract
must be given in full, but in general, do not use references in the abstract. Unpublished results and personal communications should
not be used in the reference list, but may be mentioned in the text e.g. (J. Smith, Personal Communication, May 2005). Citation of a
reference as "in press" implies that the item has been accepted for publication.
Citing and listing of Web references.
The preferred method is to put web references as footnotes on the page where cited. As a minimum, the full URL should be given. Any further
information, if known (Author names, dates, reference to a source publication, etc.), should also be given.
Text: All citations
in the text should refer to:
1. Single Author: the Author's family name (without initials, unless there is ambiguity)
and the year of publication;
2. Two Authors: both Authors' names and the year of publication;
3. Three or more
Authors: first Author's name followed by "et al." and the year of publication.
Citations may be made directly (or parenthetically).
Groups of references should be listed first alphabetically, then chronologically.
Examples: "as demonstrated (Allan, 1996a, 1996b,
1999; Allan and Jones, 1995). Kramer et al. (2000) have recently shown ...."
List: References should be arranged first alphabetically
and then further sorted chronologically if necessary. More than one reference from the same Author(s) in the same year must be identified
by the letters "a", "b", "c", etc., placed after the year of publication.
Examples:
Reference to a journal publication:
Van der Geer, J., Hanraads, J.A.J., Lupton, R.A., 2000. The art of writing a scientific article. J. Sci. Commun. 163, 51-59.
Reference
to a book:
Strunk Jr., W., White, E.B., 1979. The Elements of Style, third ed. Macmillan, New York.
Reference to a chapter in
an edited book:
Mettam, G.R., Adams, L.B., 1999. How to prepare an electronic version of your article: Jones, B.S., Smith , R.Z.
(Eds.), Introduction to the Electronic Age. E-Publishing Inc., New York, pp. 281-304.
Preparation of illustrations
Preparation
of electronic illustrations
Submitting your artwork in an electronic format helps us to produce your work to the best possible
standards, ensuring accuracy, clarity and a high level of detail.
General points
• Always supply high-quality printouts
of your artwork, in case conversion of the electronic artwork is problematic.
• Make sure you use uniform lettering and sizing
of your original artwork.
• Save text in illustrations as "graphics" or enclose the font.
• Only use the following
fonts in your illustrations: Arial, Courier, Helvetica, Times, Symbol.
• Number the illustrations according to their sequence
in the text.
• Use a logical naming convention for your artwork files, and supply a separate listing of the files and the software
used.
• Provide all illustrations as separate files and as hardcopy printouts on separate sheets.
• Provide captions
to illustrations separately.
• Produce images near to the desired size of the printed version.
A detailed guide on electronic
artwork is available on our website:
http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions
You are urged to visit this
site; some excerpts from the detailed information are given here.
Formats
Regardless of the application used, when your electronic
artwork is finalised, please "save as" or convert the images to one of the following formats (Note the resolution requirements for line
drawings, halftones, and line/halftone combinations given below.):
EPS: Vector drawings. Embed the font or save the text as "graphics".
TIFF: Colour or greyscale photographs (halftones): always use a minimum of 300 dpi.
TIFF: Bitmapped line drawings: use a minimum
of 1000 dpi.
TIFF: Combinations bitmapped line/half-tone (colour or greyscale): a minimum of 500 dpi is required.
DOC, XLS or
PPT: If your electronic artwork is created in any of these Microsoft Office applications please supply "as is".Please do not:
• Supply embedded graphics in your word processor (spreadsheet, presentation) document;
• Supply files that are optimised
for screen use (like GIF, BMP, PICT, WPG); the resolution is too low;
• Supply files that are too low in resolution;
•
Submit graphics that are disproportionately large for the content.
Captions
Ensure that each illustration has
a caption. Supply captions separately, not attached to the figure. A caption should comprise a brief title ( not on the figure
itself) and a description of the illustration. Keep text in the illustrations themselves to a minimum but explain all symbols and abbreviations
used. Do not use the definite article (the) in figure or table captions.
Line drawings
The lettering and symbols,
as well as other details, should have proportionate dimensions, so as not to become illegible or unclear after possible reduction; in
general, the figures should be designed for a reduction factor of two to three. The degree of reduction will be determined by the Publisher.
Illustrations will not be enlarged. Consider the page format of the journal when designing the illustrations.
Do not use any type
of shading on computer-generated illustrations.
Photographs (halftones)
Remove non-essential areas of a photograph.
Do not mount photographs unless they form part of a composite figure. Where necessary, insert a scale bar in the illustration (not below
it), as opposed to giving a magnification factor in the caption.
Note that photocopies of photographs are not acceptable.
Colour
illustrations
Please make sure that artwork files are in an acceptable format (TIFF, EPS or MS Office files) and with the correct
resolution. If, together with your accepted article, you submit usable colour figures then Elsevier will ensure, at no additional charge,
that these figures will appear in colour on the Web (e.g., ScienceDirect and other sites) regardless of whether or not these illustrations
are reproduced in colour in the printed version. For colour reproduction in print, you will receive information regarding the costs from
Elsevier after receipt of your accepted article. Please indicate your preference for colour in print or on the Web only. For further
information on the preparation of electronic artwork, please see http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions.
Please
note: Because of technical complications which can arise by converting colour figures to "grey scale" (for the printed version should
you not opt for colour in print) please submit in addition usable black and white versions of all the colour illustrations.Proofs
One set of page proofs in PDF format will be sent by e-mail to the corresponding Author (if we do not have an e-mail address then
paper proofs will be sent by post). Elsevier now sends PDF proofs which can be annotated; for this you will need to download Adobe Reader©
version 7 available free from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Instructions on how to annotate PDF
files will accompany the proofs.
If you do not wish to use the PDF annotations function, you may list the corrections (including
replies to the Query Form) and return to Elsevier in an e-mail. Please list your corrections quoting line number. If, for any reason,
this is not possible, then mark the corrections and any other comments (including replies to the Query Form) on a printout of your proof
and return by fax, or scan the pages and e-mail, or by post. Please use this proof only for checking the typesetting, editing, completeness
and correctness of the text, tables and figures. Significant changes to the article as accepted for publication will only be considered
at this stage with permission from the Editor. We will do everything possible to get your article published quickly and accurately. Therefore,
it is important to ensure that all of your corrections are sent back to us in one communication: please check carefully before replying,
as inclusion of any subsequent corrections cannot be guaranteed. Proofreading is solely your responsibility. Note that Elsevier may proceed
with the publication of your article if no response is received.
Electronic offprints (e-offprints)
The corresponding author,
at no cost, will be provided with a PDF file of the article via e-mail or, alternatively, 25 free paper offprints. The PDF file is a
watermarked version of the published article and includes a cover sheet with the journal cover image and a disclaimer outlining the terms
and conditions of use.
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