Organic petrology, mineralogy and depositional environment of the Kipra lignite seam, Maritza-West basin, Bulgaria

The aim of the present study is to provide additional information about the properties and depositional environment of the Kipra lignite seam, which was deposited during the regressive stage of development of the Maritza-West basin. Petrographical and mineralogical data, along with ash yields and sulphur contents of 24 samples from a seam profile, have been used to study the vertical variation of the depositional settings during peat accumulation and subsequent coalification.The Kipra lignite is characterized by high ash yields and sulphur contents. It formed in a rheotrophic, low-lying mire with alkaline pH value. Vegetation with low preservation potential dominated within the palaeomire. During peat formation, frequent changes of the water level controlled the depositional environment. During the deposition of units 1 and 2, high water energy caused the transportation of high amounts of inorganic material into the mire, resulting in the formation of weakly gelified mineral-rich lignite. The organic matter from units 3 and 4 is characterized by enhanced gelification, which probably reflects the decreasing energy of the system. Good positive correlation between sulphur contents and the GI values was established in units 4, indicating that the gelification of the tissues was probably mainly controlled by the bacterial activity. In contrast, the gelification of the samples from unit 3 of the Kipra seam was probably governed by the redox conditions. The organic matter deposited under relatively wet conditions, in which the thermal and oxidative destruction of the tissues, was limited.A variety of major, minor and accessory minerals are present in Maritza-West lignite. The mineral composition is dominated mainly by pyrite, gypsum and calcite, and to a lesser extent limonite, quartz, kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite, chlorite and plagioclase. Jarosite, hematite, halloysite, mica, K-feldspar, aragonite, siderite, and dolomite were also determined in very low concentrations. These minerals formed syngenetically and epigenetically. The syngenetic stage is characterized mainly by the formation of pyrite, carbonates, silicates and sulphates, whereas the Fe-oxyhydroxides, partially the carbonates and almost all silicates are of detrital origin. During the epigenetic stage, carbonates, sulphates, clay minerals, pyrite, and Fe-oxyhydroxides were formed. Alteration products like gypsum, jarosite, limonite, chlorite, kaolinite, illite, mica, and calcite were generated due to the transformation of detrital and authigenic minerals.     

Paleomires of Eocene lignites of Bhavnagar,Saurashtra basin (Gujarat), western India: Petrographic implications

The Tertiary basins of Gujarat have always been a potential target for their hydrocarbon resources. The lignite resources of the region have also been an important field of research. The present paper presents the results of the petrological study carried out on the lignites of the Saurashtra basin. For this purpose samples were collected from lower and upper lignite seams from the Surkha lignite mine of Bhavnagar, Saurashtra. These samples were subjected to detailed petrographic analysis (both maceral and microlithotype). The study reveals that these lignites are dominantly composed of huminite group macerals while liptinite and inertinite group macerals occur in subordinate amounts. These lignites have attained a thermal maturity up to 0.28-0.30 percent vitrinite reflectance (VRr) which classifies them as ‘low rank C’ coals. Moreover, Bhavnagar lower lignite seam shows relatively less gelification as compared to the upper seam which suffered relatively more biochemical degradation. These lignites are characterized by high gelification index (GI) and low tissue preservation index (TPI).With the help of petrography based facies models an attempt has been made to reconstruct the environment of the paleomire of these lignites.     

Vegetation differences and diagenetic changes between two Bulgarian lignite deposits – Insights from coal petrology and biomarker composition

During the Miocene numerous sedimentary basins formed on the territory of Bulgaria as a result of the extensional tectonic settings related to the post-orogenic development of the late Alpine orogen. In this study, we review the petrographic composition and biomarker assemblage of two adjacent basins in western Bulgaria, i.e. Beli Breg and Staniantsi basins. Both contain lignite formed during late Miocene (c. 6 Ma). Despite similar tectonic settings and depositional environments, the lignite seams possess different petrographic and organic geochemical characteristics, reflecting differences in the peat forming palaeo-communities and facies variations. The peat-forming vegetation in Beli Breg Basin was dominated by decay resistant coniferous plants, as indicated by abundant fossil wood remains, very good tissue preservation and a biomarker assemblage dominated by diterpenoids. In contrast, Staniantsi lignite is poor in fossil wood and contains a significant amount of triterpenoid biomarkers, suggesting the predominance of angiosperm plants in the swamp. The results of the biomarker analyses are consistent with palaeobotanical and palynological data from the literature.The lignite seams in both basins formed under frequently changing Eh conditions, as indicated by the severe degradation of the non-gymnosperm tissues, the low gelification index values and the variations in pristane/phytane ratio, probably as a result of seasonal drying of the swamps and changes of the ground water table. Hopanoid contents in Beli Breg lignite are very low and are consistent with the abundance of decay-resistant vegetation. In contrast, bacterial activity was obviously higher in the Staniantsi swamp, however, resulting only in slightly enhanced gelification of plant tissues. The geochemical data suggest that the diagenetic changes of the organic matter were mainly governed by thermal degradation, rather than bacterial activity.     

Petrographic and coalification variations in the Eastern Southland lignites, New Zealand

The Upper Oligocene to Lower Miocene Gore Lignite Measures of Eastern Southland accumulated in humid temperature to subtropical wet forest swamps in a coastal delta-plain paleoenvironment. The lignites have relatively low ash and low sulphur contents. They are xylitic, contain abundant resinite and range from poorly to strongly gelified. Petrographically, they are relatively uniform and dominated by humic macerals.The Eastern Southland Lignite Field can be divided into a southern (lower-rank) and a northern (higher-rank) area. The lower-rank lignites have bed moisture contents of 55–61% whereas the higher-rank lignites have bed moistures of 42–46%. In both areas the lignite seams are within 200 m of the surface but are probably separated by faults and have undergone separate burial and tectonic histories. Burial depths are believed to range from 250 m for lower-rank to 1100 m for higher-rank lignites. The rank increase from south to north is largely the result of compaction-induced reduction in porosity and consequent dewatering and is not accompanied by any notable increase in gelification. For these lignites, there is a linear relationship between bed moisture and fixed carbon but a significant shift away from the linear relationship between volatile matter and specific energy and bed moisture. Also, the higher-rank northern lignites have higher H:C and lower O:C atomic ratios than the southern lower-rank lignites. These geochemical changes are heat- and depth-related and represent changes in functional group composition that are independent of observed gelification.     

Coal geology and coal quality of the Miocene Mugla basin, southwestern Anatolia, Turkey

This work focuses on the relationship between the coal geology and coal quality of the Miocene Mugla basin, Southwestern Anatolia, Turkey. To this end, detailed petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical studies were performed on composite profile samples from the nine coal fields in the Mugla basin (Alatepe, Bagyaka, Bayir, Çakiralan, Ekizköy, Eskihisar, Hüsamlar, Sekköy and Tinaz coal fields). The Mugla lignite is a high ash (from 16 to 56%) and sulphur (from 2.1 to 5.7%) lignite which is petrographically characterised by a high huminite content, mainly gelinite macerals. The mineral matter of the studied lignite samples is made up mainly of clay minerals and quartz, with the exception of the Sekköy and Ekizköy lignites, in which calcite is the dominant mineral phase with minor amounts of quartz, clay minerals, pyrite and gypsum and traces of aragonite. Syngenetic opal is also frequently identified in these samples. The differentiation of these two types of lignite with specific mineralogical patterns is attributed to the contemporaneous development of peatlands with a high detrital input, dominated by the quartz and clay mineral setting, and peatlands with low detrital supply and a dominant carbonate-rich lacustrine environment. The higher water table of the latter allowed the precipitation of micritic carbonates and the development of lakes with abundant mollusc fauna. This differentiation is also evidenced by the geochemical data. Thus, the Sekköy, Ekizköy, Hüsamlar, Bayir and Alatepe lignites are characterised by relatively low Al and Fe contents (<1.4%) and high sulphur contents (4.2 to 5.7%). In addition Sekköy and Ekizköy show relatively high contents of Ca (6.3–7.1% compared to 1.6–3.8% in the other lignites). All the lignite samples studied are characterised by relatively high Mo and U contents when compared with the worldwide averages of trace elements in coal. Relatively high alkaline syngenetic conditions of the peat-forming environment of the Mugla coal are deduced from the following mineralogical, petrographical and geochemical evidence: (a) the precipitation of syngenetic opal (dissolution of quartz and re-precipitation as opal) and calcite; (b) minor and very early syngenetic sulphide precipitation (only framboidal and euhedral pyrite); (c) high bacterial activity, typical of high pH conditions, inferred from low preservation of tissue structures; (d) preservation of aragonite gastropod shells; and (e) the anomalous enrichment of U, Mo and W. A key result of the study of Mugla limnic coals (at least of the Sekköy and Ekizköy coal fields) is that a major influence was exerted on the early diagenetic evolution of the coal by the hydrochemistry of the lacustrine waters. This hydrochemistry was largely linked to the lithology of the surrounding source rock areas although the final evolutionary trend of the solute composition in the lake waters, characterized by very high carbonate and sulphate contents, was largely enhanced by the endorheic river drainage system and the arid–semiarid paleoclimatic situation under which organic matter accumulation took place.     

Identifying spatial heterogeneity of coal resource quality in a multilayer coal deposit by multivariate geostatistics

This study presents a new geostatistical approach to characterization of the geometry and quality of a multilayer coal deposit using the data of seam thickness as a geometric property and the contents of ash, sodium, total sulphur, and the heating value as quality properties. A coal deposit in East Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia, which has a synclinal geological structure, was chosen as the study site. Semivariogram analysis clarified the strong dependence of heating value on ash content in the top and bottom parts of each seam and the existence of a strong correlation with sodium content over the sub-seams in the same location. The correlations between the geometry and quality of the seams were generally weak. A linear coregionalization model was used to derive the spatial correlation coefficients of two variables at each scale component from the single- and cross-semivariogram matrices. Because the data were correlated spatially in the same seam or over different seams, multivariate techniques (ordinary cokriging and factorial cokriging) were mainly used and the resultant spatial estimates were compared to those derived using a univariate technique (ordinary kriging). A factorial cokriging was effective to decompose the spatial correlation structures with different scales. Another important characteristic was that the sodium content shows distinct segregation: the low zones are concentrated near the boundary of the sedimentary basin, while the high zones are concentrated in the central part. The main component of sodium originates from the abundance of saline water. Therefore, it can be inferred that seawater had stronger effects on the coal depositional process in the central basin than in the border part. The geostatistical modeling results suggest that the thicknesses of all the major seams were controlled by the syncline structure, while the coal qualities chiefly were originated from the coal depositional and diagenetic processes.     

重庆地区上三叠统须家河组煤质特征规律初探

重庆地区须家河组为一套砂岩、泥岩、砂质泥岩、粉砂岩和煤层组成的湖滨-三角洲型沉积,煤质分级主要为中灰（特低灰-高灰）、低硫（特低硫-中高硫）、高热值（低热值-特高热值）煤;灰分与硫分等值线分布较为相似,总趋势为北东-南西向展布,呈不规则条带状和团块状分布;原煤灰分值与发热量值呈负相关性,浮煤灰分值与发热量值呈正相关性,初步得出同一采集点原煤和浮煤的灰分与发热量的相关性正好相反,煤类分布与挥发分等值线展布相似的结论。     

Depositional setting and geometric structure of the Beypazari lignite deposits, Central Anatolia, Turkey

The Neogene Beypazari basin is one of the important coal districts of Central Anatolia with approximately 600 million short tons lignite reserves. The coal-bearing Neogene sediments occurring in the Beypazari basin are divided into seven formations, in ascending order; Çoraklar, Hirka, Akpinar, Çayirhan, Bozbelen and Kirmir Formations with Sariyar Limestone and Teke volcanics.The Çoraklar Formation consists of cross-bedded sandstones, channel-fill conglomerates, mudstones, carbonaceous shales and volcanoclastic pebblestones, which are fluvial in origin. The lower lignite seam occurs in the lower part of the Çoraklar Formation.The upper lignite seam occurs in the uppermost part of the Çoraklar Formation and is overlain by the Hirka Formation with a sharp contact. The Hirka Formation consists mainly of alternating shale, mudstone, bituminous shale, claystone, tuffite and silicified limestone, and they all are apparently of lacustrine origin.The lignite deposite occur in the Çayirhan and Koyunaǧili parts of the Beypazari Neogene basin. The Çayirhan coal field consists of lower and upper lignite seams, but the Koyunaǧili field contains only an upper lignite seam.The lower lignite seam, which does not crop out at the surface, indicates a fluvial origin of the lignite deposits, based on the lateral discontinuity and the lower sulphur content of the lower lignite seam, and the sedimentologic and stratigraphic features of the associated sediments. But the uniform stratigraphic and sedimentologic features, high sulphur content and wide-spread distribution of the upper lignite seam indicate that the upper lignites were deposited probably in a mud-flat facies of playa-lake environment. The lower and upper lignites are completely different in relation to the depositional environment, the geometry and degree of rank in lateral directions.The lateral spreading and geometry of the lower lignite deposits were controlled by channel, floodplain and well-drained marshes of a fluvial system. On the basis of recent drillings and field investigations, the lower lignite deposit has been demonstrated to be a linear spreading parallel to the axis of the channel fills and throughcross beds in clastic sediments of fluvial facies. Therefore, the lower lignite deposits trend along a northeastern direction and is not expected to be as widely spread as the upper lignites.     

Paleoenvironmental interpretation of the Amynteon–Ptolemaida lignite deposit in northern Greece based on its petrographic composition

The objective of this study was to reconstruct the paleoenviromnent during formation of the deposit at Amynteon–Ptolemaida based mainly on its petrographic but also supported by its paleobotanic character and fossils found in the lignite beds themselves. The deposit of Amynteon occurs in the northern part of the elongated basin of Ptolemaida–Amynteon. The type of lignite formation is, in general terms, similar to the deposit of Ptolemaida, and the lignite is present in the Pleistocene strata of the basin. The alternating nature of lignite and interburden is an important characteristic of the deposit. In this study, we selected 20 samples of lignite from a representative drillhole, namely B-258 in order to discern its petrography. Optical microscopy showed that the huminite group macerals are dominant, ranging from 42.5% to 95.3%. Humotelinite is present in low to high quantities (12.0–79.5%), followed closely by humodetrinite. Humocollinite is present in very small amounts. In addition, macerals of the liptinite and inertinite groups are found in small concentrations, with a few exceptions.A number of indices, such as gelification index (GI), vegetation index (VI), groundwater index (GWI), tissue preservation index (TPI), and their ratios (e.g., VI/GWI, TPI/GI), were used to reconstruct the conditions prevailing during peat formation. The results indicate that the paleoenvironment was mainly limnic at the initial stages and transitioned to limnotelmatic with occasional rheotrophic conditions. The organic matter responsible for lignite formation developed mainly in a forested swamp environment with occasional transitions either towards a wet limnic (open water) or a drier telmatic environment.     

济阳坳陷中生代物源方向与沉积体系

笔者利用砂岩和砾岩的百分含量,稳定矿物和不稳定矿物的含量变化特征及微量元素分布特征,分析济阳坳陷中生界物源方向。研究表明研究区中生界的主要物源来自西北侧和东南侧,内部的局部凸起仅提供部分碎屑物质。依据物源方向、岩心观察、测井及地震等资料对沉积体系进行了综合分析,研究区西北侧发育有冲积扇-辫状河-辫状河三角洲沉积体系,东南侧发育有冲积扇-曲流河（冲积平原）-三角洲沉积体系,内部主要发育有湖泊沉积体系,具有盆大、湖浅、坡缓及浅水型三角洲发育的特点。     

Geology and characterisation of the Pecket coal deposit, Magellan Region, Chile

The geology, petrography and chemical variation of the Pecket coal sequence, Magellan Region (52°57′S, 71°10′W), the only Chilean coal used for electricity generation on a large scale, has been studied in order to predict their combustion behaviour, especially in coal blends. The depositional environment of formation of the coal seams was a swamp rarely exposed to subaerial conditions and was associated with the development of the folded foreland of the Magellan basin during the Tertiary (Oligo–Miocene). The general tectonic regime of the collision of the Antarctic and South American plates is reflected by a system of joints with 40°N–50°W strike. The maceral composition of all six seams studied indicates high contents of vitrinite (>90%), minor content of liptinite (4.7%) and inertinite (<2%). Occurrence of tonstein horizons altered to kaolinite indicates a distal volcanism during peat accumulation. Coal rank varies between lignite and subbituminous (Ro=0.28–0.42%) with an average dry basis calorific value of 5450 kcal/kg, 17 wt.% moisture, 41 wt.% volatile matter, and sulphur content below 0.5 wt.%. The mineral matter (LTA) associated with the coal shows a dominance of kaolinite with quartz, smectite, and minor basanite. SiO₂/Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃/CaO ratios of the ashes diminish towards the lower seams. With respect to the utilisation of Pecket coals in combustion, base/acid ratios (B/A) and silica ratios (SR) indicate potential fouling for seams 1, 2, 5, and 6i, with high fouling indexes (Rf) for seams 2 and 5. Pecket coal is excellent for blend combustion due to its low sulphur content.     

抚顺盆地沉积动力学特征及其聚煤意义

通过对抚顺聚煤盆地的沉积动力学研究及对古城子组主要煤层的煤体形态、沉积构造及夹矸特征、大型树桩化石等的详细观察,对主煤超厚煤层的沉积环境进行了深入细致的分析。结果表明,主煤超厚煤层主要沉积于较深水的沉积环境,内碎屑沉积作用活跃,可作为深水成煤模式的典型代表。     

Relations of petrographical and geochemical parameters in the middle Miocene Lavanttal lignite (Austria)

Samples from two lignite seams (Lower Seam, Upper Seam) of the Lavanttal basin (Austria) and additional xylite were investigated for variations in maceral composition, petrography-based facies indicators, bulk geochemical parameters, and molecular composition of hydrocarbons. Both seams originated in a topogenous mire and evolved within a transgressive setting. The final drowning of the mire is indicated by sapropelic shales. Whereas the sapropelic shale overlying the Lower Seam was deposited in a freshwater lake, the sapropelic shale above the Upper Seam represents a brackish lake.Numerous relationships are found between petrography-based facies indicators and the geochemical composition of organic matter. The contents of macerals of the liptinite group are positively correlated with soluble organic matter (SOM) yields and hydrogen index (HI). Consistent with maceral composition and high HI values, enhanced proportions of short-chain n-alkanes, which are predominantly found in algae and microorganisms, are obtained from samples of the sapropelic shales. The final drowning of the mire is reflected by decreasing pristane/phytane ratios, due to the rise in (ground)water table and the establishment of anaerobic conditions, as well as by decreasing ratios of diasterenes/sterenes, indicating increasing pH values in the mire. The degree of gelification of plant tissue (gelification index) is governed by the microbial activity in the mire, as indicated by the hopanes concentration. The differences in floral assemblage during the formation of the Lavanttal lignite seams are reflected by major differences in tissue preservation. Preservation of plant tissue (TPI) in the Lavanttal lignite is obviously controlled by the presence/absence of decay-resistant gymnosperms in the peat-forming vegetation, and additionally influenced by the relative contribution of wood to coal formation. The results provide evidence that valuable information for coal facies characterization could be obtained by petrography-based and geochemical facies indicators. An influence of the floral assemblage (gymnosperms/angiosperms ratio) and of the contribution of algal biomass on carbon isotopic composition of the organic matter (δ¹³C = − 24.2 to − 28.6‰) is proposed. Carbon cycling during biogeochemical decomposition of plant tissue by bacteria is suggested to affect the δ¹³C values of the coal. The chemotaxonomical classification of the xylites as gymnosperm remnants, based on the molecular composition of terpenoid biomarkers, is corroborated by the carbon isotopic composition of the xylites (mean δ¹³C = − 24.1‰) and the extracted cellulose (mean δ¹³C = − 20.2‰). The higher isotopic difference of about 3.9‰ between cellulose and total organic carbon of the xylites, compared to the difference between cellulose and wood found in modern trees, is explained by the smaller effect of decomposition on δ¹³C of cellulose.     

The Karoo Basin of South Africa: type basin for the coal-bearing deposits of southern Africa

The coal-bearing sediments and coal seams of the Karoo Basin, Southern Africa are described and discussed. The Karoo Basin is bounded on its southern margin by the Cape Fold Belt, onlaps onto the Kaapvaal Craton in the north and is classified as a foreland basin. Coal seams are present within the Early Permian Vryheid Formation and the Triassic Molteno Formation.The peats of the Vryheid Formation accumulated within swamps in a cool temperate climatic regime. Lower and upper delta plain, back-barrier and fluvial environments were associated with peat formation. Thick, laterally extensive coal seams have preferentially accumulated in fluvial environments. The coals are in general inertinite-rich and high in ash. However, increasing vitrinite and decreasing ash contents within seams occur from west to east across the coalfields. The Triassic Molteno coal seams accumulated with aerially restricted swamps in fluvial environments. These Molteno coals are thin, laterally impersistent, vitrinite-rich and shaly, and formed under a warm temperate climatic regime.Palaeoclimate, depositional systems, differential subsidence and basin tectonics influence to varying degrees, the maceral content, thickness and lateral extent of coal seams. However, the geographic position of peat-forming swamps within a foreland basin, coupled with basin tectonics and differential subsidence are envisaged as the primary controls on coal parameters. The Permian coals are situated in proximal positions on the passive margin of the foreland basin. Here, subsidence was limited which enhanced oxidation of organic matter and hence the formation of inertinitic coals. The coals in this tectonic setting are thick and laterally extensive. The Triassci coals are situated within the tectonically active foreland basin margin. Rapid subsidence and sedimentation rates occurred during peat formation which resulted in the preservation of thin, laterally impersistent, high ash, vitrinite-rich, shaly coals.     

Petrographic properties of major coal seams in Turkey and their formation

Most types of coal in Turkey are generally low in rank: lignite, and subbituminous. Most of the coal was formed during the Miocene, Eocene, and Pliocene ages. There are only a few thin Jurassic-age coal occurrences in Turkey. Pennsylvanian age bituminous coal is found on the Black Sea coast. General implications of the petrographic properties of Turkey's coal seams and coal deposits have not yet been taken into consideration comparatively or as a whole.For this study, about 190 channel samples were collected from different locales. The composite profile samples of the seams were taken into considerations. The content and depositional properties as well as some chemical and physical properties of the main coal seams are compared. All coal samples tend to have similar coal petrographic properties and were deposited in intermontane lacustrine basins. Later, they were affected by faulting and post-depositional volcanic activity. As a result, there are variations in the properties and rank of the coal samples. The most abundant coal maceral group is huminite and the most abundant maceral is gelinite. The liptinite and inertinite contents of the coal are low and the maceral contents of the coals show great similarity. The depositional environments of the all coals are lacustrine dominated.     

祁连山东段宝积山—红会煤盆地沉积环境与聚煤规律

位于祁连山东段的宝积山—红会盆地是一个典型的侏罗纪沉积盆地,侏罗纪煤系由冲积扇沉积体系,经过河流、湖泊三角洲沉积体系向湖泊沉积体系过渡的沉积序列组成,并充填于印支运动后的裂陷盆地内。盆地活动断裂边界的内侧发育冲积扇裙,向着不活动边缘的另一侧,逐渐被河流沉积体系和湿地沼泽系统替代。扇前湿地是主要聚煤场所,形成的煤层层数少,主煤层厚度变化大,煤体呈简单指状。扇前湿地泥炭沼泽具有富滋养或低位性质,形成的煤层灰分产率高,硫含量有明显的分带性,其变化取决于泥炭沼泽与冲积扇体的相应空间位置。     

黑龙江七星河含煤盆地古近纪-新近纪沉积相及层序地层特征

黑龙江省东部七星河盆地是一新生代聚煤盆地,其含煤地层为古近系宝泉岭组、新近系富锦组。宝泉岭组由各级砂岩、泥岩、炭质泥岩以及褐煤组成,发育滨浅湖相、深-半深湖相、三角洲平原相,属于湖泊沉积体系、三角洲沉积体系。富锦组主要由泥岩、粉砂岩、中砂岩、含砾粗砂岩及煤层、炭质泥岩、硅藻岩组成,发育滨浅湖相、扇三角洲平原相,分别属于湖泊沉积体系和扇三角洲沉积体系。层序SI相当于宝泉岭组,发育低位体系域、湖侵体系域和高位体系域,煤层主要发育高位体系域中后期,成煤环境以滨浅湖淤积沼泽为主。层序SII相当于富锦组,主要发育湖侵体系域、高位体系域,局部地区发育低位体系域,煤层亦主要发育高位体系域中后期,成煤环境以扇三角洲淤积沼泽和滨浅湖淤积沼泽为主。层序SI、SII的高位体系域中后期,盆地基底沉降速率和物源供给处于相对平衡状态,主要发育了扇三角洲淤积沼泽、滨浅湖和滨浅湖淤积沼泽环境,发育可采煤层。     

鄂尔多斯盆地沉积体系与古地理演化

基于多年来对盆地周缘大量的野外露头勘察以及盆地内部分钻井岩心描述,主要从沉积环境、岩石类型、岩石沉积结构及构造、古生物化石等众多方面,对鄂尔多斯盆地的沉积体系类型和特征以及古地理环境的整体演化进行了全面、系统的研究。结果表明,中新元古代长城期至蓟县期,主要由陆相—滨浅海相沉积转变为碳酸盐潮坪沉积。早古生代辛集期至朱砂洞期,主要由盆地西南缘的环古陆砂坪沉积演变为云坪沉积;馒头期至三山子期,主要发育开阔海台地沉积,但范围变化相对较大;冶里期至亮甲山期,主要由盆地东南缘的环古陆泥云坪沉积演变为云坪沉积;马家沟期大规模海侵形成了广阔的浅水陆表海沉积;峰峰期以台地前缘斜坡和大陆斜坡海槽沉积为主;平凉期盆地南部出现了台地边缘浅滩;背锅山期仅在盆地西南角分布开阔台地及台前斜坡沉积。晚古生代—中三叠世本溪期为填平补齐时期,发育潮坪—潟湖—障壁岛—浅海陆棚沉积:太原期,盆地东部浅海陆棚沉积范围减小;山西期至纸坊期,盆地均主要以三角洲沉积和浅湖沉积为主,但各期沉积范围均有变化。晚三叠世延长期—白垩纪,主要为湖泊沉积并伴有曲流河、辫状河以及三角洲等沉积体系:延长期长7油层组沉积时期湖侵范围最大;富县期至安定期,以曲流河、三角洲和浅湖沉积为主,但浅湖沉积范围在不同时期有明显变化,安定期出现深湖沉积;芬芳河期主要为冲积扇沉积。白垩纪盆内沉积范围变小,主要发育沙漠沉积和浅湖沉积。     

塔里木盆地东南缘下—中侏罗统煤层煤岩、煤质特征分析

塔里木盆地东南缘下—中侏罗统煤层沿阿尔金山前断续分布,其煤岩、煤质与典型的西北侏罗纪煤层具有明显不同。通过对和田布雅、于田普鲁、且末红柳沟等煤矿主采煤层样品进行煤岩、煤质鉴定及煤化指标等一系列综合研究分析,结果表明,主采煤层以光亮煤、半亮煤为主,其次是半暗煤、暗淡煤;煤岩组分以镜质组为主,壳质组含量少,具中-高镜惰比。因成煤沼泽的还原程度促进了无机硫分的形成,煤中全硫含量随镜质组含量的增加呈现逐渐增高的趋势,且煤层硫分与灰分整体具有明显的负相关关系。此外,煤层挥发分受不同种类硫分的影响,亦有明显差异性变化。在民丰凹陷中-高硫煤中,硫分以无机硫为主,随着硫分的升高挥发分亦有升高趋势;瓦石峡凹陷中-低硫煤受有机硫控制,对挥发分产率的影响不明显。民丰凹陷煤层的灰分指数高于瓦石峡凹陷,可见后者的成煤沼泽环境潜水面要比前者高得多。针对上述诸多因素分析,进一步揭示塔东南地区煤岩、煤质多样性变化受断陷湖盆以及局部水体较深的还原型沼泽环境控制,最终形成了中-高挥发分、中-低灰分、中-低硫分的煤质及富镜贫惰的煤岩特征。     

二连盆地吉尔嘎朗图凹陷下白垩统赛汉塔拉组层序地层及聚煤特征

二连盆地吉尔嘎朗图凹陷是一个陆相断陷聚煤盆地,下白垩统赛汉塔拉组是其主要含煤地层,作者利用岩心、钻孔资料对其岩相类型、沉积相、层序地层及聚煤作用特征进行研究。(1)赛汉塔拉组主要由砂砾岩、砂岩、粉砂岩、泥岩、碳质泥岩及厚层褐煤组成,发育扇三角洲平原相、扇三角洲前缘相、辫状河三角洲平原相、辫状河三角洲前缘相、滨浅湖相,分别属于扇三角洲沉积体系、辫状河三角洲沉积体系和湖泊沉积体系。(2)识别出2种层序界面:不整合面和下切谷冲刷面,将赛汉塔拉组划分为2个三级层序。从层序Ⅰ到层序Ⅱ,煤层厚度逐渐增大,聚煤作用逐渐增强。(3)在滨浅湖环境下厚煤层主要形成于湖侵体系域早期,在扇/辫状河三角洲环境下厚煤层主要形成于湖侵体系域晚期,煤层厚度在凹陷中部最大,向西北和东南方向均变小。聚煤作用明显受基底沉降作用影响,可容空间增加速率与泥炭堆积速率相平衡,从而形成了区内巨厚煤层。