Determination of an exploration model for prospecting for lignite in the Alabama coastal plain

Technical Report · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5073906

Mancini, E A

The primary objective of the research is to determine the depositional framework and geologic age of the Tertiary lignite-bearing sediments in Alabama. Determination of the geologic age of the units will permit accurate mapping of associated facies of a depositional system. Establishment of the depositional system will then provide a framework from which exploration models can be formulated. Such models can be employed as an exploration strategy in prospecting for lignite in the Alabama Coastal Plain and for estimating the amount and quality of lignite resources in Alabama. Results of the study are reported in this document. The Paleocene Oak Hill lignite of the Naheola Formation has the most economic potential of the Paleogene lignites in southwest Alabama. The Oak Hill is the thickest and most continuous lignite, usually consisting of a single bed, 7 to 10 ft in thickness in surface exposures. These near-surface deposits are characterized on a moisture free basis as having 11.2 to 40.3% ash, 2.9 to 5.8% sulfur, 32.4 to 43.5% volatile matter, 27.3 to 47.5% fixed carbon, and a calorific value of 6360-10,570 Btu/lb. The lignite is usually overlain by interlaminated dark, gray, micaceous carbonaceous clay and silt or by cross-bedded, green-gray, micaceous, clayey, fine- to medium-grained quartz sand. It is underlain by mottled, dark gray, silty carbonaceous clay. In the subsurface, the Oak Hill lignite consists of 1 or 2 seams with the lower one being 6 to 11 ft in thickness. The deep-basin deposits appear to have greater economic potential than the near-surface lignites. The deep-basin lower lignite seam is characterized on a moisture free basis as having 10.6 to 13.5% ash, 1.1 to 4.1% sulfur, 40.8 to 51.1% volatile matter, 37.4 to 47.5% fixed carbon, and a calorific value of 11,560 to 13,610 Btu/lb.

• Research Organization: Alabama Univ., University (USA). School of Mines and Energy Development
• OSTI ID: 5073906
• Report Number(s): NP-2906029; ON: DE82906029
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
58 GEOSCIENCES
580100 -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
ALABAMA
BROWN COAL
CALORIFIC VALUE
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
DIMENSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION IV
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
LIGNITE
MAPPING
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MOISTURE
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
THICKNESS
USA