Paleogeography of a Middle Pennsylvanian coal seam in the eastern Kentucky coal field

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

OSTI ID:5830430

Jamal, M A ^[1]; Kusky, T M ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Houston, TX (United States). Allied Geophysical Labs.
2. Boston Univ., MA (United States). Dept. of Geology

The middle Pennsylvanian Upper Elkhorn No.3 coal bed of the Breathitt Formation represents a swamp facies of a fluvial/deltaic complex eroded from the Appalachian hinterland. Geologic conditions during the peat formation and burial stages of the coal were determined by correlating measured sections, using maps of the thickness, number of partings, roof lithologies, and sulfur- ash-, and Btu-content of the Upper Elkhorn No. 3 coal. A paleogeographic reconstruction of the peat stage shows areas of marine-influence, in addition to well-protected and poorly-protected swamps. The peat swamp which deposited the coal developed on a very broad coastal plain consisting of deltaic-type sediments with increasing terrestrial conditions to the east and increasing marine conditions to the west. Prograding fluvial systems buried peat initially deposited in brackish to marine environments of the flood-basin. Pre-mining basin analysis leads to more effective exploration and exploitation, in particular coal quality (including sulfur and ash content), mineability, roof lithology and locations of channels can be predicted before mining.

• OSTI ID: 5830430
• 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
GEOMORPHOLOGY
KENTUCKY
ASH CONTENT
CALORIFIC VALUE
CARBONIFEROUS PERIOD
COAL SEAMS
DEPOSITION
GEOGRAPHY
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
LITHOLOGY
MAPPING
PEAT
SULFUR CONTENT
SWAMPS
THICKNESS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIMENSIONS
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
MATTER
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC MATTER
PALEOZOIC ERA
PETROLOGY
RESOURCES
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
USA
WETLANDS
011000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration