Organic components in thermally altered coal waste: Preliminary petrographic and geochemical investigations

The petrographic and geochemical composition of coal wastes exposed to fire in the minestone dump of Piekary Ślą¹skie town (Upper Silesia, Poland) was investigated using samples collected at various distances from a recent fire site. The question as to whether geochemical biomarker maturity parameters could be applied to assess thermal changes in organic matter caused by waste dump fires, was examined using the data obtained. Geochemical parameters were correlated with observed petrographic changes in the organic matter caused by oxidation and heating. Petrographic analyses included the determination of maceral group contents (vitrinite, liptinite and inertinite), mineral matter and coke contents, and reflectance measurements on organic matter. All results were supported by proximate and ultimate analyses. Geochemical analysis included ultrasonic solvent extraction of bitumen followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) of the extracts. In petrographic terms, the influence of heating was seen in reflectance variations and as oxidation rims, cracks, pores and coke development. Some zoned oxidation rims may be interpreted as re-heating episodes. In terms of chemical fingerprints, less thermally-stable compounds such as lighter n-alkanes, cyclic isoprenoids, methyl- and dimethylnaphthalenes, methyphenanthrenes and five-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were destroyed or evaporated in the most fire-affected material. The presence/absence of particular compound groups was used to assess heating temperatures. Biomarker parameters of thermal maturity were used to assess alterations in organic matter around the waste dump fires, especially those indices and ratios with higher maturity ranges, e.g. (3-methylbiphenyl + 4-methylbiphenyl)/dibenzofurane and Σdimethylbiphenyls/Σmethyldibenzofuranes.     

Geochemical features of re-deposited organic matter occurring in fluvioglacial sediments in the Racibórz region (Poland): A case study

The erosion of rocks rich in organic matter typically leads to the complete mineralization of the organic material. However, in some cases, it is re-deposited to become a part of sediments once more. This process should be considered to be a part of global carbon cycle, possibly much more significant than assumed to-date. The research presented here aims to characterize re-worked organic matter occurring in post-glacial sediments of southern part of Poland, in the Oder river valley (the Racibórz town region, Miocene, Pleistocene and Holocene age). Organic substances extracted from the sediments originated from organic matter that had resided in rocks eroded by glaciers. Sediments were sampled in two boreholes which sediments were correlated. Sediments were extracted and extracts analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to assess distributions of biomarker groups. Organic matter of selected samples was pre-concentrated and analyzed with Py/GC-MS. In the extracts several biomarker parameters of source/environment and thermal maturity were calculated. Organic substances in the investigated sediments come from variable re-deposited organic matter occurring in rocks eroded by glaciers. Three main parent types of re-deposited organic material are identified showing variable geochemical features: 1) organic matter of recent or almost recent age being the source of polar labile compounds; probably formed in situ, 2) re-deposited organic matter of the middle diagenesis showing features similar to lignites (huminite reflectance Rf ~ 0.25–0.35%) deriving from angiosperm remains, mainly monocotyledons and to the lower extend also deciduous trees, 3) re-deposited organic matter at the middle catagenesis (Rf ~ 0.65–0.75%) being the source of most of aromatic hydrocarbons and biomarkers such as steranes, hopanes of the more thermally advanced distribution type. Its geochemical properties and assumed directions of sediment transport indicate bituminous coals of Upper Silesian Coal Basin together with coaly shales as a possible source of this organic matter. Such mixed origin of organic matter caused large discrepancies in values of thermal maturity parameters depending on input from the particular sources and occurrence both geochemical biomarkers and their biochemical precursors in the same samples.     

珠江口及南海沉积物碳黑的放射性碳年龄

放射性碳同位素(14C)是含碳物质年代测定的有效手段,它的半衰期是5730年.研究了珠江口及南海沉积物碳黑的放射性碳年龄,碳黑样品采取化学氧化方法提取,用加速器质谱仪(AMS)测定珠江三角洲沉积柱中碳黑的放射性碳同位素剂量.研究结果表明,位于珠江口的钻孔3的碳黑的14C年龄是倒置的,邻近香港的钻孔30的碳黑14C年龄旱现老.新.老的趋势,而钻孔E2的碳黑的14C年龄则儿乎是不变的.碳黑的这种14C年龄的变化趋势与碳黑的来源相关,化石燃料来源的碳黑的增加使得碳黑的14C年龄偏老.     

Palynofacies and organic geochemistry studies of organic matter from a wetland system of southern Brazil influenced by different hydrological regimes in the Quaternary

The main goal of this study was to quantitatively and qualitatively characterize the sedimentary organic matter (OM) and demonstrate the usefulness of geochemistry and palynofacies analysis for obtaining paleoenvironmental data for the Holocene in southernmost Brazil. The results indicate that during the time interval from 10,586 cal yr BP to the present, the study area housed a wetland characterized by different hydrologic regimes. The basal peaty deposits correspond to a phase influenced mainly by the groundwater table, whereas the upper deposits composed of silty organic mud indicate fluvial influence related to river overflow events. In a similar manner, the TOC (total organic carbon) and TS (total sulfur) contents are higher in the basal portion of the profile, decreasing toward the top. These findings could be related to granulometry alterations that are linked to hydrologic regimes or anthropogenic interference in the landscape dynamics. Anomalous TS content observed in one of the samples might be due to an external source and perhaps related to the presence of thermal springs in the region. These types of areas have potential as a modern reference that can be applied in the reconstruction of past analogous environments such as coal deposits associated with fluvial paleoenvironments.     

南华北地区石炭-二叠纪煤系生烃潜力与二次生烃探讨

综合运用岩石热解、有机岩石学及有机地球化学等方法,对南华北地区石炭-二叠纪煤系烃源岩有机质丰度、类型以及成熟度和热演化史进行了分析,综合评价了烃源岩的生烃潜力。评价结果表明,石炭系(太原组+本溪组)烃源岩要好于二叠系山西组、石盒子组;有机质类型以Ⅲ型干酪根为主、Ⅱ型干酪根为辅;有机质热演化程度大部分处于成熟-高成熟阶段,部分地区达到过成熟,以生气为主。文中结合构造-热演化史资料分析了煤系二次生烃的条件,指出谭庄-沈丘凹陷和倪丘集凹陷初始成熟度较低,且具有合适的埋藏史类型,并有二次生烃油气勘探前景。