Occurrence and morphology of pyrite in Bulgarian coals

Coals with different degrees of coalification (ranging from lignite to anthracite) from seven Bulgarian coal basins have been investigated. The forms of pyrite and their distribution have been established. The types found are: massive pyrite, represented by the homogeneous, cluster-like and microconcretionary varieties; framboidal pyrite, appearing in inorganic and bacterial forms; euhedral pyrite, which is either isolated or clustered; anhedral pyrite, in its infilling and replacement varieties; and infiltrational pyrite, as a replacement or infilling mineral.Most of the forms of the euhedral, framboidal and massive pyrite developed during peat deposition. The anhedral replacement pyrite formed in the peat bed during early diagenesis. Infiltrational pyrite filled fractures and cleats formed during the diagenesis, catagenesis and metagenesis.Both similarities and differences with respect to the distribution of the pyrite types have been determined between coals of different ranks from Bulgarian coal basins. These differences are due to: the presence of Fe and S in the rocks adjacent to ancient peat bogs; the activities of ground and surface waters which brought Fe and S into the peat bogs; the geochemical character (pH and Eh) of the peat bogs and the sulphur bacteria development; and the tectonic situation during diagenesis, catagenesis and metagenesis.