Statistical analysis of the microlithotype sequences in the Bulli Seam, Australia, and relevance to permeability for coal gas

Sequential microlithotype analyses through the Permian Bulli Coal, Sydney Basin, Australia, enable determination of the abundance, locations and thicknesses of various microlithotypes in the seam. Statistical analyses allow prediction of these parameters. Microlithotype analyses may be used as a means of predicting seam permeability in relation to coal gas drainage, if used in conjunction with reported correlation between coal type and seam reservoir properties.A combination of sequential microlithotype analyses and statistical modelling provide data on the number, location and thicknesses of individual bands of vitrite, vitrinertite, inertite and mineral-rich coal. A Markov chain describes both the order and thickness of the bands in the seam. Local ordering of microlithotypes is similar, irrespective of vertical orientation, which suggests that analyses and predictions may be possible using representative, randomly oriented samples. Statistical modelling can be used to characterise the seam using a small number of parameters. These include the elements of the transition probability matrix of the Markov chain, from which many seam properties such as maximum band thickness, thickness distribution of bands and spacing of thick bands can be predicted.The permeability of vitrite-rich coal in the seam is 30 mD and it is 2.3 mD for inertite-rich coal. In general, for the Bulli seam, vitrite-rich plies are expected to provide better flow paths for coal gas than inertite-rich plies, because of the abundance of cleat systems in vitrite. Using this information, it thus may be possible to predict gas and water flow paths in a seam from microlithotype analyses, thereby leading to the development of a rapid method for assessing the comparative permeabilities of coal plies.     

Maceral/ microlithotype partitioning with particle size of pulverized coal: Examples from power plants burning Central Appalachian and Illinois basin coals

Pulverized coals from eleven power plants burning Central Appalachian coal blends and eight power plants burning Illinois Basin coal blends were studied in order to assess the petrographic nature of industrial-scale coal grinding. All coals were high volatile bituminous. Coals were wet screened at 100 (150 μ), 200 (75 μ), 325 (about 40 μ), and 500 (about 25 μ) mesh. Petrographic analysis of the whole coals and size fractions consisted of a combined maceral and microlithotype analysis. Microlithotype analysis, in particular, provides a reasonable approximation of the whole-particle composition at the scale of utility coal pulverization. In the size fractions, duroclarite, the most abundant trimaceral microlithotype, is most abundant in the coarsest fraction and least abundant in the finest fraction. Vitrite, the most abundant monomaceral microlithotype, exhibits the opposite trend. Duroclarite becomes more enriched in vitrinite towards the finer sizes. The partitioning of microlithotypes and the partitioning of macerals within the microlithotypes is indicative of the relative brittle nature of vitrite compared to the hard-to-grind trimaceral microlithotypes. Increased vitrinite in duroclarite is an indication that the microlithotype within the particular size fraction is more brittle than relatively vitrinite-depleted duroclarite in coarser fractions. The relative grindability of microlithotypes will, in turn, impact combustion efficiency.     

The role of coal petrographic characteristics in evaluating the non-coking nature of the coals of ramagundam and Kothagudem coalfields,Godavari Valley Basin,Andhra Pradesh,India

The maceral and microlithotype compositions of coals representative of the different coal seams of the Ramagundam and Kothagudem coalfields, Godavari Valley Basin, are compared with those of the Ib River, Talcher, South Karanpura, Hura, and Brahmani coalfields. The vitrite + clarite—“Intermidiates”—durite + fusite + shale (<20%) triangular diagram places these coals in the area of non-coking coals, clearly distinct from the coking and semi-coking coals. The vitrinite reflectance is low (R_ormoil^aver: 0.38–0.71%), far below the coking-coal range. Thus, based on petrographic composition and rank, these coals are of non-coking nature. A triangular diagram is proposed delineating the coking, semi-coking and non-coking coal areas for the Gondwana coals of India.     

A model for the statistical distribution of microlithotypes in coal

Microlithotype composition of a coal sample is often summarized by examining a large number (~500) of subsamples of a grain mount and estimating proportions of vitrite, intermediates, and inertite, where, for samples we have investigated, the proportion of intermediates is generally less than 0.4. This suggests that most subsamples are either greater than 95% vitrinite or greater than 95% inertinite, so that the statistical distribution of vitrinite has most of its weight in its tails. Two distributions which may have this shape are the beta and the logistic normal, and these have been fitted to the microlithotype distribution of some coal samples. Parameters of these fitted distributions are related to the proportion of vitrinite in the sample and thickness of microscopic bands in the coal. For coals in the Sydney Basin, at least, it was found that the parameter relating to band thickness is approximately constant over a coal seam; therefore, fitting one or other of these distributions to such data leads to directly interpretable parameters.     

Swelling-induced volumetric strains internal to a stressed coal associated with CO2 sorption

It is generally accepted that typical coalbed gases (methane and carbon dioxide) are sorbed (both adsorbed and absorbed) in the coal matrix causing it to swell and resulting in local stress and strain variations in a coalbed confined under overburden pressure. The swelling, interactions of gases within the coal matrix and the resultant changes in the permeability, sorption, gas flow mechanics in the reservoir, and stress state of the coal can impact a number of reservoir-related factors. These include effective production of coalbed methane, degasification of future mining areas by drilling horizontal and vertical degasification wells, injection of CO₂ as an enhanced coalbed methane recovery technique, and concurrent CO₂ sequestration. Such information can also provide an understanding of the mechanisms behind gas outbursts in underground coal mines.The spatio-temporal volumetric strains in a consolidated Pittsburgh seam coal sample were evaluated while both confining pressure and carbon dioxide (CO₂) pore pressure were increased to keep a constant positive effective stress on the sample. The changes internal to the sample were evaluated by maps of density and atomic number determined by dual-energy X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT). Early-time images, as soon as CO₂ was introduced, were also used to calculate the macroporosity in the coal sample. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photographic images of the polished section of the coal sample at X-ray CT image location were used to identify the microlithotypes and microstructures.The CO₂ sorption-associated swelling and volumetric strains in consolidated coal under constant effective stress are heterogeneous processes depending on the lithotypes present. In the time scale of the experiment, vitrite showed the highest degree of swelling due to dissolution of CO₂, while the clay (kaolinite) and inertite region was compressed in response. The volumetric strains associated with swelling and compression were between ± 15% depending on the location. Although the effective stress on the sample was constant, it varied within the sample as a result of the internal stresses created by gas sorption-related structural changes. SEM images and porosity calculations revealed that the kaolinite and inertite bearing layer was highly porous, which enabled the fastest CO₂ uptake and the highest degree of compression.     

Studies of the relationship between coal petrology and grinding properties

The maceral and microlithotype composition of selected coals has been investigated with respect to the grinding properties, specifically Hardgrove grindability index (HGI), of the coals. The study expands upon previous investigations of HGI and coal petrology by adding the dimension of the amount and composition of the microlithotypes. Coal samples, both lithotypes and whole channels, were selected from restricted rank ranges based on vitrinite maximum reflectance: 0.75–0.80% R_max, 0.85–0.90% R_max and 0.95–1.00% R_max. In this manner, the influence of petrographic composition can be isolated from the influence of rank. Previous investigations of high volatile bituminous coals demonstrated that, while rank is an important factor in coal grindability, the amount of liptinite and liptinite-rich microlithotypes is a more influential factor. In this study, we provide further quantitative evidence for the influence of microlithotypes on HGI and, ultimately, on pulverizer performance.     

Coal petrology of coal seams from the Leão-Butiá Coalfield, Lower Permian of the Paraná Basin, Brazil — Implications for coal facies interpretations

In the Leão-Butiá Coalfield, Rio Grande do Sul the coal seams occur in the Rio Bonito Formation, Guatá Group, Tubarão Supergroup of the Paraná Basin, Brazil and are of Permian (Artinskian–Kungurian) age.This study is the first detailed investigation on the coal petrographic characterization of the coal-bearing sequence in relation to the depositional settings of the precursor mires, both in terms of whole seam characterization and in-seam variations. The study is based on the analyses of nine coal seams (I2, CI, L4, L3, L2, L1, S3, S2, S1), which were selected from core of borehole D-193, Leão-Butiá and represent the entire coal-bearing sequence.The interpretation of coal facies and depositional environment is based on lithotype, maceral and microlithotype analyses using different facies-critical petrographic indices, which were displayed in coal facies diagrams. The seams are characterized by the predominance of dull lithotypes (dull, banded dull). The dullness of the coal is attributed to relatively high mineral matter, inertinite and liptinite contents. The petrographic composition is dominated by vitrinite (28–70 vol.% mmf) and inertinite (> 30 vol.% mmf) groups. Liptinite contents range from 7 to 30 vol.% (mmf) and mineral matter from 4–30 vol.%. Microlithotypes associations are dominated by vitrite, duroclarite, carbominerite and inertite. It is suggested that the observed vertical variations in petrographic characteristics (lithotypes, microlithotypes, macerals, vitrinite reflectance) were controlled by groundwater level fluctuations in the ancient mires due to different accommodation/peat accumulation rates.Correlation of the borehole strata with the general sequence-stratigraphical setting suggests that the alluvial fan system and the coal-bearing mudstone succession are linked to a late transgressive systems tract of sequence 2. Based on average compositional values obtained from coal facies diagrams, a deposition in a limno-telmatic to limnic coal facies is suggested.     

煤层显微煤岩类型与裂隙分布的关系

综合利用显微地层学和统计学方法,以河东煤田中北部8#煤层为例,研究了煤层显微煤岩类型与煤层裂隙分布的关系。结果表明,裂隙在不同显微煤岩类型煤体中的分布存在较大的差异,同时裂隙分布的位置与显微煤岩类型的组合序列有关。其结果对煤层气资源评价和煤层渗透性预测具有重要的指导意义。      

Petrographic characteristics and depositional conditions of Permian coals of Pench, Kanhan, and Tawa Valley Coalfields of Satpura Basin, Madhya Pradesh, India

This paper attempts to characterize the coals of Satpura Gondwana basin using a large number of pillar coal samples drawn from the working coal mines of Pench, Kanhan, and Tawa (Pathakhera) Valley Coalfields of this basin. This westernmost Gondwana basin of Peninsular India is graben/half-graben type and occupies an area of 12 000 km² with sedimentary fills (>5000 m) ranging in age from Permian to Cretaceous. The Barakar Formation (Permian) is exclusively coal-bearing with a total coal reserve of nearly 2000 Mt. The results show that the coals of this basin are equally rich in inertinite (22.8–58.7%, 24.5–62.0% mmf basis) and vitrinite (24.4–52.4%, 24.4–56.0% mmf basis). The concentration of liptinite ranges from 8.8% to 23.2% (9.0–26.0% mmf basis). The dominant microlithotypes of these coals are inertite and vitrite with comparatively low concentrations of vitrinertite and clarite. The vitrinite reflectance (Rom% values) suggests that the Pench Valley (0.30–0.58%) coals are subbituminous C to high volatile C bituminous in rank, while the Kanhan and Tawa Valley coals (0.52–0.92%) are subbituminous A to high volatile A bituminous in rank. The localized enhancement of rank in the latter two basins has been attributed to the extraneous heat flow from deep-seated igneous intrusions in the basin. The microlithotype composition of these coals is suggestive of their evolution in limno-telmatic zones, under fluvio-lacustrine control with the development of upper deltaic and lower deltaic conditions near the fresh water lacustrines. The floral input is characteristic of forest swamps with intermittent floods, leading to the development of reed moor and open moor facies, particularly in the Pench Valley basin. The Gelification Index (GI) and Tissue Preservation Index (TPI) are suggestive of terrestrial origin with high tree density. Further, moderately high GI and exceedingly high telovitrinite based TPI along with high ash content, particularly for the coals of Kanhan and Tawa Valley Coalfields, are indicative of the recurrence of drier conditions in the forested swamps. Furthermore, lateral variation in TPI values is indicative of increase in the rate of subsidence vis-à-vis depth of the basin from east to west (Pench to Tawa Valley Coalfield). The Ground Water Index (GWI) suggests that these coals have evolved in mires under ombotrophic to mesotrophic hydrological conditions. The Vegetation Index (VI) values are indicative of the dominance of herbaceous plants in the formation of Pench Valley coals and comparatively better forest input in the formation of Kanhan and Tawa Valley coals.     

Variation in pyrite size, form, and microlithotype association in the springfield (no. 9) and herrin (no. 11) coals, Western Kentucky

Channel samples of the Springfield (No. 9) and Herrin (No. 11) (Pennsylvanian, Desmoinesian/Westphalian D) coals were acquired in three mines each in the Western Kentucky coal field. Pyrite was characterized petrographically in terms of its size, form, and microlithotype association. Within each coal seam significant variations in the amount of pyrite of certain forms occurred between the sites. Pyritic sulfur as determined chemically did not exhibit significant variation between the seams or between the sites. The variation in dendritic pyrite in vitrite plus clarite between seams and between sites was highly significant and the variation in framboidal pyrite in vitrite plus clarite between sites was also highly significant.     

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 and origin of coals from the lower Carboniferous Mattson formation, southwestern district of Mackenzie, Canada

Petrographic analyses were carried out on thin coals and coaly sediments from the Lower Carboniferous Mattson Formation at Clausen Creek and Jackfish Gap-Yohin Ridge in the northern part of the Liard Basin, northern Canada. The composition and optical characteristics indicate that the coals are high-volatile bituminous B, predominantly sapropelic (canneloid) and accumulated subaquatically.The coals are dominantly composed of inertinite-rich and exinite-rich durities with subsidiary inertites and clarodurites; vitrite is minor and liptite is rare. The inertinite-rich microlithotypes are dominated by semifusinite, but micrinite, semimacrinite and ?resino-inertinites are abundant. Sporinite, comprising megaspores, crassispores, tenuispores and miospores, is the dominant liptinite maceral with subsidiary cutinite and minor alginite. Except for pyrite, mineral matter is minimal.Three populations of telocollinite are observed: a low-reflectance variety (I), commonly associated with micrinite (as vitrinertite), displays weak brown fluorescence and a reflectance some 0.4-0.5% lower than type II; type II is non-fluorescing telocollinite, with intermediate reflectance (0.67-0.74% R_om), it occurs as vitrite and is also associated with micrinite; and a higher-reflectance telocollinite (III), having no fluorescence or association with micrinite, has variable reflectance (0.74-0.8% R_om) implying higher oxidation or gelification levels.The abundance of semimacrinite, macrinite and ?resino-inertinites in inertites and durites (I) suggests that much of the peat accumulated subaquatically. Furthermore, fluorescing vitrinite and an abundance of micrinite (derived by oxidation or coalification of bituminite), suggest that the coal accumulated under anaerobic conditions. The predominance of semifusinite in humic laminae and micrinite in sapropelic layers suggests extensive surface or near-surface oxidation of the peat. Oxidised sporinites suggest that they were wind-borne.Depositional environment is interpreted as marginal marine, perhaps in shallow lakes in the middle to upper delta plain. Peat accumulations probably began subaquatically at the oxygen-hydrogen sulphide interface, but periodic subaerial exposure and natural oxidation gave rise to the high inertinite coals. Upper Mattson coals are interbedded with algal laminites and probably accumulated in a lagoonal setting.     

Liptinite as an indicator of environmental changes during formation of coal seam No. 207 (Upper Silesia, Poland)

The coal seam No. 207 was a subject of palynological and petrographic studies. According to the results of the vitrinite random reflectance measurements supplemented by moisture and calorific value determinations, the rank of this coal is matching the boundary between sub-bituminous and bituminous coals. The aim was to reconstruct the environmental conditions during the biochemical stage of seam formation, as well as the facies development throughout the seam profile. The maceral (incident and fluorescence mode) and microlithotype compositions (incident light) supplemented by palynological analyses, show that there were two main facies developments. In the authors opinion, they correspond with a phase of ombrogenous, raised bog marked by the presence of crassidurite with Densosporites variabilis and a wet-forest swamp phase represented by vitrite and clarite with more diverse spore assemblage including densospores. Other minor but distinctive sediments, a cannel layer and a reeds facies, both occurring in the lower part of the seam. Above the tonstein horizon, a dry forest type of sedimentation is recognized.     

Petrographyof some fraser river delta peat deposits: Coal maceral and microlithotype precursors in temperate-climate peats

Peat deposits on the recent lobe of the Fraser River delta, British Columbia, have accumulated in a variety of depositional settings. The study of the decomposition of the plant components associated with each depositional area has enabled prediction of the occurrence and distribution of the precursors of the loal macerals and microlithotypes.On inactive portions of the distal lower delta plain, thin sedge-grass peats ave developed. These peats were influenced by marine conditions near the base and freshwater conditions higher in the section. A high ratio of cellulose to lignin in marsh plants and limited exposure of these tissues to desiccation and oxidation prodcue primarily desmocollinite. Smaller amounts of cernite, cutinite, and alganite origginate from algal and sedge lipids. In the transition to freshwater peats, oxyfusinite, pyrofusinite and micrinite partially replace former exinite and vitrinite-group maceral precursors. Subsequent transgression by marine waters has further promoted decomposition of the peat. Laterally extensive but thin and discontinouus coal seams which would develop from such peat will contain vitrite bands near the base and grade upsection into interlamlaminated durite and vitrinertite.Peats deposited between the upper and lowerdelta plain originate from brackish water. As such, earliest peat horizons contain similar maceral compositions to thoce encountered in distal delta plain deposits. Crevasse and fire splays disrupt gradational changes in fabric upsection and along channel margins. Flooding by oxygenated, neutral pH waters, followed by extended periods of desicaation, result in increases of inertodetrinite, macrinite, sclerotinite, and oxyfusinite. Interlaminated durites and vitrinertites will form common microlithotypes. Interbedded bands of telinite, cutinite and cerinite are produced by later freshwater sedge-grass peat accumulations. In this biofacies, clarite replaces durite. After colonization by Sphagnum, lignin-rich tissues from ericaceous shrubs and Pinus contorta provide precurssors for subernnite, telocollinite, and telinite. Stumps of massive telinite interrupt these banded macerals. Coal seams originating from such peats would be thick, laterally extensive and characterized by vitrite with laminae of liptite and lenses of clarite in the upper part     

Chemico-petrographic studies of some lignite core samples from Kalol oilfield,Cambay Basin,Gujarat, Western India

The Kalol oilfield in the Cambay graben, Gujarat. western India, is known to contain thick seams of lignite in the Kalol Formation (Middle Eocene), overlying the oil-bearing Cambay Black Shale (Lower Eocene), at depths between 1110 m and 1500 m. The Kalol Formation occurs in the northern portion of the Cambay Basin as a wedge-shaped sequence of regressive and transgressive marine environments, the lignite being confined to the former phase.Chemically, the Kalol lignite is characteristically low in moisture (4.45–4.64%), quite low in ash (1.67-10.82%) and high in volatiles (43.56–55.25%). C is 72.39–77.18%, H is 4.47–5.93%, N is 1.16–1.58%, O is 15.73–18.62%, and S is 0.32–0.86%. According to Seyler's classification, the Kalol lignite can be classified as belonging to rank (a) lower than lignitous, (b) perlignitous, (c) ortholignitous, (d) metalignitous, and (e) bituminous. According to North American (ASTM) classification, utilising data on volatiles and R_{m oil}, the lignite belongs to lignite, sub-bituminous C and low volatile bituminous rank.Petrographically, the Kalol lignite is composed of huminite (50–81%), liptinite (1–16%), and inertinite (6–32%). Inertinite comprises mainly sclerotinite as plectenchyma, fusinite being absent. Exsudatinite is quite common. On the basis of microlithotype, the lignite comprises textile (1–13%), detrite (19–69%), liptitextite (1–10%), liptidetrite (4–16%), inertidetrite (1–25%), detrinertite (3–21%), and inertite (5–26%), with shale (5–12%). R_{m oil} varies from 0.30 to 0.40. The bituminous coal sample is high in shaly matter (53%) and composed of vitrinite (16%) and sclerotinite (29%), the former showing R_m 1.80.These studies indicate that the chemical and petrographic constitution of the lignite is favourable for underground gasification.     

宣东矿区下花园组岩矿、煤岩及孢粉组合特征

河北宣东矿区含煤地层为中侏罗统下花园组,含有5个煤组,煤层多,标志层不发育,煤层对比较为困难。钻孔岩、煤心样品的岩矿、煤岩鉴定和孢粉分析等成果资料揭示:①长石砂岩主要赋存于Ⅲ煤组岩段及其以上地层,Ⅴ煤组岩段分布极少;安山岩屑砂岩集中分布在Ⅴ煤组顶底板附近,Ⅲ煤组岩段及其以上岩段未见;泥化安山岩屑砂岩仅分布在Ⅴ煤组岩段的下部;石英砂岩分布在Ⅴ煤组岩段底部与煤系基底地层接触处;鲕状粘土岩仅分布于Ⅴ煤组岩段下部,并常为煤组底板。②Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ煤组显微煤岩类型以微镜煤、微亮煤为主;Ⅳ、Ⅴ煤组多为角质微亮煤、微亮暗煤及丝炭微暗煤。③Ⅰ、Ⅱ煤组的裸子植物花粉含量丰富,占孢粉总数的40%～60%;Ⅲ煤组低于Ⅰ、Ⅱ煤组;Ⅴ煤组除克拉梭粉及苏铁粉含量占15%左右外,其它松科花粉少见。该结论可作为矿区岩、煤组(层)划分和对比的依据,对指导煤矿开采生产和邻区的勘查工作具有实际意义。     

煤层显微序列数学模拟及其在煤储层物性评价中初步应用

应用马尔柯夫过程的原理和方法,建立起描述煤层形成过程或显微序列的数学模式,进而通过对研究实例中煤层结构以及煤岩分层孔比表面积的模式拟合,可以模拟出各种显微煤岩类型在煤层中的分布部位以及煤层中煤层甲烷的有利储存部位,对厚煤层物性和储气性能的非均质性特征作出预测,为煤层气开采地质条件评价提供了一条新的思路。     

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.     

Entropy in Markov analysis of late paleozoic cyclical coal measures of East Bokaro basin, Bihar, India

Randomness in the occurrence of lithologies in a cyclical succession is evaluated in terms of entropies which can be calculated from a Markov chain matrix. Two types of entropies are linked with every lithologic state; one is the entropy before deposition E ^(pre) and the other is that after deposition E ^(post),which together form an entropy set. The entropy sets for pebbly sandstone, sandstone, shale, and coal for the Karharbari coal measures, and sandstone, shale, carbonaceous shale, and coal for the Barakar coal measures were plotted separately and compared with Hattori's idealized plots. These coal measures probably were essentially of symmetrical cyclical pattern (Type-B)of Hattori. The entropy of the whole sedimentation unit readily fits under the broad framework of fluvial cycles.