Nature of petrographic variation in Taylor-Copland Coal of middle Pennsylvanian Breathitt Formation of eastern Kentucky

Conference · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5745494

Trinkle, E J; Hower, J C; Tully, D G; Helfrich, C T

The Taylor-Copland Coal is petrographically distinctive in that it has lowest average vitrinite content (63%) and concomitant highest inertinite (25%) and exinite (12%) of all eastern Kentucky coals. Additionally, average total sulfur is 3.4%, or nearly twice the 1.8% figure determined for all eastern Kentucky samples. Deviations from the maceral averages are equally distinctive. Particularly interesting is an areally extensive, though discontinuous, sample sequence showing significantly lower vitrinites (commonly 40%), very high inertinites (40%), and high exinite content (15-20%). The high-inertinite and high total-sulfur trends and variations for each were presumed to be related to proximity to the coal of marine lithologic units of the overlying Magoffin Member. However, it was found that maceral and possible sulfur trends are probably unrelated to roof rock variation, but are related to existence or absence of a thick durain coal lithotype toward the middle of some coal beds. Palynology reveals that spores in the durain-rich samples are poorly preserved (micrinitized), but assemblages and relative percentages of genera forming the assemblages remained unchanged from those found in high-vitrinite (durain-free) samples. Unchanged spore assemblages possibly indicate that unchanging plant communities existed through the durain-forming episode of the Taylor-Copland swamp. Rather, the effect of the durain phase on the Taylor-Copland swamp was to accelerate degradation (oxidation) of peat deposits associated with the surrounding plant community.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington
• OSTI ID: 5745494
• Report Number(s): CONF-8410269-
• Journal Information: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 68:12; Conference: AAPG Eastern Section meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 10 Oct 1984
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
COAL SEAMS
PETROGRAPHY
KENTUCKY
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
MACERALS
PENNSYLVANIAN PERIOD
SULFUR CONTENT
COAL DEPOSITS
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PALEOZOIC ERA
RESOURCES
USA
010600* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Properties & Composition
011000 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration