Petrographic characteristics of coal from Mailaram coalfield,Godavari valley,Andhra Pradesh

The quantitative maceral study of the Queen seam from Mailaram coalfield of Godavari valley has displayed alternate coal bands rich in vitrinite/liptinite or inertinite. The random vitrinite reflectance (R_o max. %) of these coals, from top part ranges from 0.50 to 0.64%. However, the bottom part of the seam has indicated lower reflectance, between 0.49 and 0.52%. Thus, the Queen seam, in general, has attained high volatile bituminous C rank. The study indicates that the depositional site has been a slowly sinking basin that witnessed alternate dry (oxidizing) and wet (reducing) spells. This subsequently caused fluctuation in water table of the basin and the formation of oxic and anaoxic moor condition, where accumulated vegetal resource transformed into mixed and fusic coal types in due course of time. Being high in liptinite and vitrinite contents and low mineral matter, the Queen seam of Mailaram coalfield has high economic potential.     

Study of petrological characteristics of coal deposits from Marki-Jhari-Jamni area,Wardha valley coalfield,Maharashtra

A detailed study of maceral composition and vitrinite reflectance of the coal deposits from Marki-Jhari-Jamni area, situated in the northwestern extremity of Wardha valley coalfield, Yeotmal district, Maharashtra has been carried out with special reference to their depositional set up. These coals have two distinct types of maceral organization, one having significantly high distribution of the vitrinite group of macerals (35–41%) and the other containing the dominance of inertinite (26–49%). Liptinite maceral group is recorded between 14 and 24%, barring a few coal bands having liptinite maceral group as high as 33–37%. The vitrinite reflectivity ranges from 0.38–0.43%. Thus, they have attained sub-bituminous C rank. Mineral matter in these coals varies between 15 and 22%. The present study suggests that the basin primarily experienced cold climate having intermittent brackish water influx with alternating dry oxidizing spells.     

Study of petrological characteristics of coal deposits from Marki-Jhari-Jamni area, Wardha valley coalfield, Maharashtra

A detailed study of maceral composition and vitrinite reflectance of the coal deposits from Marki-Jhari-Jamni area, situated in the northwestern extremity of Wardha valley coalfield, Yeotmal district, Maharashtra has been carried out with special reference to their depositional set up. These coals have two distinct types of maceral organization, one having significantly high distribution of the vitrinite group of macerals (35–41%) and the other containing the dominance of inertinite (26–49%). Liptinite maceral group is recorded between 14 and 24%, barring a few coal bands having liptinite maceral group as high as 33–37%. The vitrinite reflectivity ranges from 0.38–0.43%. Thus, they have attained sub-bituminous C rank. Mineral matter in these coals varies between 15 and 22%. The present study suggests that the basin primarily experienced cold climate having intermittent brackish water influx with alternating dry oxidizing spells.     

Petrographical and thermo-chemical investigation of some North East Indian high sulphur coals

The Tertiary North East Indian coals, classified as sub-bituminous rank, have found less industrial application owing to their physico-chemical attributes. These coals are characterized by low ash (<15%), high volatile matter (>35%) and high sulphur (2.9-4.46%). Majority of the sulphur occurs in organic form affixed to the coal matrix owing to marine influence, is difficult to remove. The coal maceral analysis shows the dominance of vitrinite (>75%) with lesser amounts of liptinite and inertinite. Reflectance measurements (Rmax) of these sub-bituminous coals fall in the range of 0.57 to 0.65. In this study, the petrographical (maceral), thermal and other physico-chemical analyses of some low rank Tertiary sub-bituminous coals from north-east India were carried out to assess their potential for combustion, liquefaction and coal bed methane formation. The petrofactor, conversion (%) and oil yield (%), combustion efficiency of the coal samples were determined. The respective linear correlations of conversion (%) of the coals with their vitrinite contents, petrofactor and oil yield values have been discussed. The relative combustion efficiency of the coals was measured from the thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) of coals. The influence of maceral composition upon gas adsorption characteristics of these high volatile coals showed the increase in methane adsorption with vitrinite enrichment. Both the maceral and mineral matter contents were observed to have important influence on the gas adsorption characteristics.     

Study of petrographic composition and depositional environment of the coals from Queen seam of Yellendu area,Godavari valley coalfield,Andhra Pradesh

The study of coal succession from bore hole No. Q-448 of Yellendu area of the Godavari valley coalfield, Andhra Pradesh reveals that the coals of Queen seam are high volatile bituminous C in rank and have vitrinite reflectance (R_o max %) varying between of 0.52 and 0.62%. The petrographic constitution however, suggests that the depositional site appears to be a slowly sinking and tectonically controlled basin, having received continuous supply of vegetal matter rich resource at regular intervals. The formation of inertinite rich coal suggests, oxidising enviornment of deposition. The dominence of vitrinite and liptinite constituents in these coals postulates the existence of alternating cold and humid spells. The present study indicates that these coals originated under an alternate oxic and anoxic moor condition.     

Oil-generating potential of Tertiary coals and other organic-rich sediments of the Nyalau Formation,onshore Sarawak

The oil-generating potential of coals and other organic-rich sediments from the Late Oligocene–Early Miocene Nyalau Formation, the offshore extension of which is believed to be a major source rock, is evaluated. Coals of the Nyalau Formation are typically dominated by vitrinite, with moderate and low amounts of exinite and inertinite, respectively. Significant amounts of clay minerals are present in these coals and those containing between 15 to 65% mineral matter by volume are termed carbargilite. The samples analysed range from sub-bituminous to high-volatile bituminous rank, possessing vitrinite reflectance in the range 0.42% to 0.72%. T_max values range from 425°–450°C which is in good agreement with vitrinite reflectance data. Good oil-generating potential is anticipated from these coals and carbargilites with moderate to rich exinite content (15–35%). This is supported by their high hydrogen indices of up to 400 mgHC/gTOC, Py–GC (S2) pyrograms with n-alkane/alkene doublets extending beyond nC₃₀, and their being in the early to mid-mature oil-window range. Petrographically, the most significant evidence of the oil-generating potential of these coals is the generation of petroleum-like materials (exsudatinite) visible under the microscope. Exsudatinite is a secondary maceral, commonly considered to represent the very beginning of oil generation in coal, which is shown here to also have an important role to play in hydrocarbon expulsion. The precursor of exsudatinite in these coals is the maceral bituminite which readily expels or mobilizes to hydrocarbon-like material in the form of oil smears and/or exsudatinite as observed under the microscope. The maceral bituminite is considered to play a major generative role via early exsudatinite generation, which is considered to facilitate the overall expulsion process in coaly source rocks.     

Petrological evolution of the Paleogene coal deposits of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

A detailed macro- and micro-petrological investigation of 8 coal seam profiles of Eocene age from the sub-Himalayan zone of Jammu was undertaken in order to characterize them petrographically and to focus on their evolution. The quantitative data suggest that these coals are vitrinite rich, with low concentrations of inertinite and rare occurrences of liptinite. According to microlithotype concentration these coals may be characterized as vitrinite rich, with minor amounts of clarite, vitrinertite and trimacerite. The dominant minerals are clays, siderite and pyrite (occurring mostly as disseminations, cavity filling and in framboidal state). These coals are vitric in type, low volatile bituminous in rank and ashy in grade.The petrographic character and the presence of teleutospores suggest that, similar to other Tertiary coal deposits in the world, the angiosperm flora contributed chiefly to the development of coal facies in the area. The maceral and microlithotype composition shows that these coals originated from the low forest and undisturbed (in situ) peat in foreland basins under limno-telmatic depositional conditions. The water was brackish with regular influxes of fresh water.     

Possibilities of the utilization of micropetrographic parameters in the scientific classification of bituminous coals

Proposals for new scientific classifications of bituminous coals are based on micropetrographic parameters, i.e. vitrinite reflectance as a criterion of the coalification and maceral composition, presupposed to express the connection between the genetic peculiarities and physical, chemical, and technological properties of the coal mass. In the case of coals with high inertinite contents, however, the utilizability of these parameters meets with difficulties resulting from the subjectivity of determining the different transitional material and from insufficient knowledge of inertinite behaviour at higher temperatures. In the case of the maceral-variable bituminous coals produced in the Ostrava-Karviná Coal Basin, these insufficiencies are not important since it is especially the expression of the variability of the properties of isometamorphic vitrinites, which has decisive effects up-on the course of the thermo-chemical transformations, that is of principal importance to the scientific classification of these coals.In the first approximation, the properties of isometamorphic vitrinites may be expressed by the parameter (H/O)_at, closely connected with fluidity. While the micropetrographic parameters reflect in particular the peculiarities in the chemical structure of the aromatic parts of coal macromolecules, the parameter (H/O)_at expresses the properties of the non-aromatic structures of vitrinite, significantly affecting the course of its thermal degradation. The experimental results show that the value of the parameter (H/O)_at, fluidity and the course of degassing the coal of a lower coalification are independent of the maceral composition and vitrinite reflectance; also that the caking and coking properties of low-rank coals are especially dependent on the parameter (H/O)_at and partially on the micropetrographic parameters. All these facts should be taken into consideration in preparing new scientific classifications of bituminous coals.     

南堡凹陷下第三系烃源岩显微组分组成与热演化

采用有机岩石学全岩光片镜鉴技术 ,系统研究了南堡凹陷下第三系烃源岩的显微组分组成、主要生烃组分及热演化。南堡凹陷烃源岩总体上具有以陆生高等植物生源的有机物质占优势 ,富含镜质组、贫惰性组的特点 ,孢子体、藻类体、壳屑体和矿物沥青基质为该区主要生烃组分。利用镜质组反射率 Ro 和富氢组分显微荧光的变化 ,讨论了南堡凹陷下第三系烃源岩有机质热演化的特征 ,初步提出了有机质热演化阶段的划分方案。     

Petro-chemical investigation of some perhydrous Indian coals

An attempt has been made to study the petro-chemical characteristics of some high sulphur sub-bituminous coal samples from Makum coalfield, Assam, India. The proximate and ultimate analyes were carried out and forms of sulphur were determined and their relationships with the Maceral constituents (vitrinite, liptinite, and inertinite) were investigated. The macerals (vitrinite+liptinite+inertinite) have significant relationships (R²>0.500) with volatile matter and carbon, whereas weak correlations were seen with rest of the physico-chemical characteristics of the coals. The study reveals that these coals are rich in vitrinites and sulphur and are aromatic in nature. These coals have good hydrocarbon potential.     

Petrographic characteristics and depositional conditions of Eocene coals of platform basins, Meghalaya, India

The coal deposits of Meghalaya occur in the Lakadong Sandstone (25–250 m thick) of Eocene age. The coal-bearing formations are understood to have been deposited over platform areas in estuarine and lagoonal environments and subjected to recurrent marine transgressions and regressions during the Eocene period. There are three major groups of coalfields in Meghalaya, viz. Garo Hills (West Daranggiri and Siju Coalfields), Khasi Hills (Langrin and Mawlong–Shella Coalfields) and minor coalfields (Laitryngew, Cherrapunji and Bapung Coalfields). Pillar coal samples have been collected from 10 seams at 15 locations and have been subjected to a detailed petrographic examination for their characterization. An effort has been made to trace the path of their evolution based on coal petrography-based models. The quantitative petrographic analysis shows that these coals are vitrinite rich (45.0–92.9%, mean 73.4% mmf basis) with low concentration of inertinite (0.0–13.8%, mean 3.0% mmf basis), whereas the liptinite occurs in appreciable concentration (5.5–53.1%, mean 22.5% mmf basis). Further, these coals are rich in vitrite (51.6–100%, mean 78.3% mmf basis). The volatile matter (from 38.5% to 70.0%, d.a.f.) and vitrinite reflectance (Rom from 0.37% to 0.68%) characterize these coals, as per German (DIN) and North American classification, approximately as sub-bituminous ‘C' to high volatile ‘C' bituminous. The occurrence of teleutospore (single, double and triple celled) suggests that these coals have originated from a characteristic Tertiary flora. The maceral and microlithotype composition in the coal petrography-based depositional models suggest that the coals of Garo Hills were formed in reed to open water swamps in telmatic to limnic conditions. The coals of Khasi Hills were dominated by forest swamps and telmatic to limno-telmatic conditions. In addition, the occurrence of large-size resins suggests prolific growth of conifers in the swamps.     

Properties of thermally metamorphosed coal from Tanjung Enim Area, South Sumatra Basin, Indonesia with special reference to the coalification path of macerals

Thermally metamorphosed Tertiary age coals from Tanjung Enim in South Sumatra Basin have been investigated by means of petrographic, mineralogical and chemical analyses. These coals were influenced by heat from an andesitic igneous intrusion. The original coal outside the metamorphosed zone is characterized by high moisture content (4.13–11.25 wt.%) and volatile matter content (> 40 wt.%, daf), as well as less than 80 wt.% (daf) carbon and low vitrinite reflectance (VR_max = 0.52–0.76%). Those coals are of subbituminous and high volatile bituminous rank. In contrast the thermally metamorphosed coals are of medium-volatile bituminous to meta-anthracite rank and characterized by low moisture content (only < 3 wt.%) and volatile matter content (< 24 wt.%, daf), as well as high carbon content (> 80 wt.%, daf) and vitrinite reflectance (VR_max = 1.87–6.20%). All the studied coals have a low mineral matter content, except for those which are highly metamorphosed, due to the formation of new minerals.The coalification path of each maceral shows that vitrinite, liptinite and inertinite reflectance converge in a transition zone at VR_max of around 1.5%. Significant decrease of volatile matter occurs in the zone between 0.5% and 2.0% VR_max. A sharp bend occurs at VR_max between 2.0% and 2.5%. Above 2.5%, the volatile matter decreases only very slightly. Between VR_r = 0.5% and 2.0%, the carbon content of the coals is ascending drastically. Above 2.5% VR_r, the carbon content becomes relatively stable (around 95 wt.%, daf).Vitrinite is the most abundant maceral in low rank coal (69.6–86.2 vol.%). Liptinite and inertinite are minor constituents. In the high rank coal, the thermally altered vitrinite composes 82.4–93.8 vol.%. Mosaic structures can be recognized as groundmasss and crack fillings. The most common minerals found are carbonates, pyrite or marcasite and clay minerals. The latter consist of kaolinite in low rank coal and illite and rectorite in high rank coal. Change of functional groups with rank increase is reflected most of all by the increase of the ratio of aromatic C–H to aliphatic C–H absorbances based on FTIR analysis. The Oxygen Index values of all studied coals are low (OI < 5 mg CO₂/g TOC) and the high rank coals have a lower Hydrogen Index (< 130 mg HC/g TOC) than the low rank coals (about 300 mg HC/g TOC). T_max increases with maturity (420–440 °C for low rank coals and 475–551 °C for high rank coals).Based on the above data, it was calculated that the temperature of contact metamorphism reached 700–750 °C in the most metamorphosed coal.     

库车坳陷北部山前带中生界烃源岩有机岩石学

应用全岩有机岩石学分析方法,对库车坳陷北部山前带中生界三叠系和侏罗系烃源岩的显微组分、主要富氢组分、有机质类型及热演化程度进行了研究。结果表明：库车坳陷北部山前带侏罗系克孜勒努尔组烃源岩显微组分总含量最高,恰克马克组烃源岩最低。中生界烃源岩显微组分组成具有镜质组含量高、壳质组和惰性组相对发育、腐泥组贫乏的特征。不同层位具有一定差异性,克孜勒努尔组和塔里奇克组中镜质组含量较高,恰克马克组壳质组相对发育。孢子体、壳屑体、角质体和藻类体是其主要的富氢组分,恰克马克组富氢组分相对含量最高。烃源岩有机质类型以Ⅲ型和Ⅱ2型为主,有利于生气,镜质组反射率Ro为056%~187%,热演化程度处于成熟-高成熟阶段。克拉苏—依奇克里克构造带冲断前缘烃源岩显微组分总含量与热演化程度均相对较高,为烃源岩的最大成熟生烃中心。烃源岩高生烃潜力与高的壳质组含量和低的陆源有机质含量有关。     

山西省太原组和山西组煤的煤岩特征分析

在收集和整理大量山西省煤岩资料的基础上,分析了该省太原组和山西组煤的显微煤岩组分,并对各煤田太原组和山西组煤的R0,max的变化规律进行了研究。研究表明：山西省太原组和山西组煤中显微组分一般以镜质组为主,并且有从北向南有不断增加的趋势,惰质组次之,其趋势与镜质组相反,壳质组最少;太原组反射率值在0.6%～3.9%,整体上呈北低南高、西低东高的趋势,煤级从中煤级煤Ⅰ到高煤级煤Ⅱ都有赋存;山西组反射率值在0.6%～4.2%,其反射率变化趋势和煤级赋存特征与山西组类似。研究结果为评价和利用山西省的煤炭资源提供了依据。     

The petrology of greek brown coals

Results are given in the petrography of Greek coals collected from most of the major coal-bearing basins in Greece.Rank was determined by measuring reflectances on the maceral varieties eu-ulminite A and eu-ulminite B and on the maceral textinite. Reflectances obtained from these components indicate a coalification stage of brown coal for all samples. Within this group of samples there is, however, a fairly wide scatter of reflectance values indicating for some of them the transition zone from peat to brown coal and for others a coalification stage close to the transition into bituminous coals. Reflectances obtained from eu-ulminite A and eu-ulminite B were found to correlate well with chemical rank parameters such as volatile matter and calorific value.Composition was determined by maceral analysis. The coals are in general characterized by low amounts of macerals of the inertinite group, low to intermediate amounts of macerals of the liptinite group and high amounts of macerals of the huminite group. Within the latter group densinite, attrinite, eu-ulminite and textinite make up the bulk of the samples.Typical macerals observed in the coals are illustrated by two black and white and three colour plates.Cluster analysis based on maceral distribution, mineral matter and reflectance indicates that the samples studied can be divided into three major groups. The first one is dominated by eu-ulminite and densinite with relatively high reflectances. The second is dominated by attrinite, textinite and texto-ulminite with somewhat lower reflectances. The third is represented by a single sample in which textinite and resinite are the most abundant macerals. This sample also has the lowest reflectance.     

法国洛林煤田煤质特征与围岩的关系

从法国洛林煤田大量的煤质资料中,选取三个例子来讨论煤层煤质特征与围岩的关系。相对于泥质顶板的煤层来说,砂质顶板的煤层往往煤质变差,表现为具有较低的挥发分产率、较差的结焦性、较高的碳含量、较低的氢含量和较高的镜质组反射率。其原因是砂质顶板的煤层在成煤时期的还原程度较低,丝质组含量较高,其中的镜质组也受到氧化作用而使反射率增高。      

王洼煤矿扩大延伸勘探区煤质特征

通过对王洼煤矿扩大延伸勘探区可采煤层煤的煤岩特征、物理化学性质和工艺性能的分析研究,阐述了该区可采煤层煤的煤质特征及其变化规律：该区各可采煤层煤的显微有机组分中镜质组含量大于惰质组,二者约占89％,壳质组占1％左右,煤的无机组分占10％左右,并以粘土矿物为主。水分含量在8％左右,该区自西向东煤的灰分产率、挥发分产率、硫分、水分逐渐降低,属特低灰-低灰、低-中硫、特低磷-低磷,中高-高挥发分,高热值、不具粘结性的长焰煤、不粘煤。     

Chemical composition of macerals in bituminous coals of the Gunnedah Basin, Australia, using electron microprobe analysis techniques

The chemical composition of the organic matter in the principal macerals of high-volatile bituminous coals from the Gunnedah Basin, New South Wales (Rv_max of telocollinite between 0.6 and 1.1%) has been evaluated from polished section specimens using an electron microprobe technique. Highest proportions of carbon occur in the inertinite macerals, especially fusinite and secretinite (formerly resino-sclerotinite), as well as in sporinite; lowest proportions of carbon occur in the different macerals of the vitrinite group. Oxygen shows the reverse trend, being most abundant in vitrinite and least abundant in the inertinite components, whereas sulphur is lowest in the inertinites and highest in the liptinite (mainly sporinite) present. Evaluations of maceral composition, using the carbon content of telocollinite as a rank indicator, show that carbon is more abundant in both sporinite and semifusinite, relative to vitrinite, in low-rank high-volatile bituminous coals. The difference decreases with increasing rank, and the proportion of carbon in telocollinite becomes essentially the same as that in sporinite and semifusinite at carbon contents of about 89 and 91%, respectively. The carbon content of fusinite and secretinite, on the other hand, does not seem to vary appreciably with rank advance. No significant difference in composition occurs in the rank range studied between the three vitrinite varieties present, desmocollinite, telocollinite and a more highly reflecting telocollinite resembling pseudovitrinite. No evidence was found to indicate a higher hydrogen content, relative to telocollinite, for the vitrinite matrix of desmocollinite.     

Trace elements and their variation along seam profiles of certain coal seams of Middle and Upper Barakar formations (Lower Permian) in East Bokaro coalfield,district Hazaribagh,Bihar, India

Trace-element data are presented for the first time for any coal seam in India, across a full working section, based on systematically collected channel samples of coal, together with their maceral composition. The trace-element variation curves along the seam profile are presented together with group maceral compositions of Kargali Bottom, Kargali Top, Kargali, Kathara, Uchitdih, Jarangdih Bottom, Jarangdih, and Jarangdih Top seams, East Bokaro coalfield. The Kathara and Uchitdih seams have also been sampled at two other localities and lateral variation in data in their trace-element and maceral compositions is also evaluated.The East Bokaro coals have: Ba and Sr > 1000 ppm; Mn < 450 ppm; Zr < 400 ppm; Ni and V < 250 ppm; Cr < 185 ppm; La < 165 ppm; Cu, Nb, and B < 125 ppm; Pb, Co and Y < 75 ppm; Ga, Sn, Mo, In and Yb < 15 ppm; Ag 2 ppm; and Ge 7 ppm. Petrographically, the coals are dominant in vitrinite (33–97%), rare in exinite (<15%), and semifusinite (0.8–49%) is the dominant inertinite maceral, with variable mineral and shaly matter (11–30%), graphic representation of trace elements versus vitrinite, inertinite, and coal ash indicates the affinity of (a) vitrinite with Cu, Ni, Co, V, Ga and B; (b) inertinite with Nb and B; and (c) coal ash (mineral matter) with Pb, Cu, Ni, La, Mn and Y; Ba, Cr, Sr, Zr, Cu and Ni are of organic as well as inorganic origins.The trend of the variation patterns and average compositions of the different seams are shown to be distinct and different. The variation along the same profile is inferred to be different for different seams of the coalfield.Trace-element data for certain coals of seams from different coalfields in the Gondwana basins of India are presented. There is a wide difference for each of these basins with respect to certain elements. This is suggestive of the proportions of Cu, Ni, V, Y, Ba, Sr, Cr, B, Zr and Ag, characterizing the different Gondwana Basins.     

On the effects of petrographic composition on coalbed methane sorption

The effect of petrographic composition on the methane sorption capacity has been determined for a suite of coals and organic-rich shales. Subbituminous and bituminous coals were separated into bright and dull lithotypes by hand-picking. The methane sorption capacities range between 0.5 and 23.9 cm³/g at a pressure of 6 MPa. The low volatile bituminous Canmore coal and the anthracite sample have the highest capacities with the “natural coke” having the lowest. For low-rank coals there is no significant difference between bright and dull samples except for one coal with the dull sample having a greater sorption capacity than its bright equivalent. For higher-rank coals, the bright samples have a greater methane capacity than the dull samples and the difference between sample pairs increases with rank. The boghead coal samples have the highest sorption capacities in the liptinite-rich coals suite and are higher than subbituminous to medium volatile bituminous samples. Pore size distribution indicates that methane is held as solution gas in liptinite-rich coals and by physical sorption in micropores in liptinite-poor coals. These contrasting processes illustrate that liptinite-rich samples need to be independently assessed. The positive relationship between reactive inertinite content and methane sorption capacity occurs within the subbituminous to medium volatile bituminous coals because the reactive inertinite is structurally similar to vitrinite and have a higher microporosity than non-reactive inertinite. Reactivity of inertinite should be assessed in CBM studies of dull coals to provide a better understanding of petrographic composition effects on methane capacity.