Lithology, petrography, and geochemistry of the Fire Clay coal, eastern Kentucky: Implications concerning the peat-forming environment

Conference · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:5818354

Ferm, J C ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States). Dept. of Geological Sciences

In a study of polished block samples of ten columns of the Fire Clay coal seam in the Hyden East, Hazard South, and Vicco geological quadrangles, eastern Kentucky, eight different lithotypes were recognized on the basis of brightness, texture, and percentage of vitrain bands versus matrix. The lithotypes are: A, very bright luster, banded (vitrain bands > 90%); B, very bright luster, non-banded; C, bright luster, highly banded (vitrain bands > 50%); D, medium luster, moderate banded (vitrain bands 30--50%); E, medium luster, slightly banded (vitrain bands < 30%); F, dull luster non-banded; G, silky luster, fibrous; and F, disturbed. Point-count analysis of the different lithotypes revealed that the lithotypes can be differentiated according to maceral composition (telocollinite content, desmocollinite content, and others which includes the liptinite, inertinite, and minerals). The Fire Clay coal contains thick-walled, dumbell-shaped sporinite and framboidal pyrite in the upper parts of the two benches which are divided by the flint clay parting. High ash contents occur near the base, the roof, and the parting. High sulfur contents occur near the top of the two benches, corresponding to the occurrence of framboidal pyrite. A coal facies analysis of the Fire Clay coal suggests that for individual benches the peat-forming environment developed from a low-lying swamp to a raised swamp. In the early stages of swamp development, the existence of a fresh-water, low-lying swamp is suggested by the presence of banded lithotypes in the lower portion of the seam. In the later stages of swamp development, there was a transition to a raised swamp, as suggested by the presence of dull, non-banded lithotype in the upper portion of the seam.

• OSTI ID: 5818354
• Report Number(s): CONF-921058-; CODEN: GAAPBC
• Journal Information: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Vol. 24:7; Conference: 1992 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), Cincinnati, OH (United States), 26-29 Oct 1992; ISSN 0016-7592
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
COAL DEPOSITS
GEOCHEMISTRY
LITHOLOGY
PETROGRAPHY
KENTUCKY
ASH CONTENT
COAL SEAMS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
MACERALS
PEAT
PYRITE
SULFUR CONTENT
SWAMPS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
MATTER
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC MATTER
PETROLOGY
RESOURCES
SULFIDE MINERALS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
USA
WETLANDS
011000* - Coal
Lignite
&amp; Peat- Reserves
Geology
&amp; Exploration