Occurrence of detrital mineral matter in Okefenokee peats

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6119429

Andrejko, M J; Raymond, R Jr

Peat, the precursor of coal, is predominantly composed of partially decomposed plant debris along with varying amounts of inorganic material. This inorganic matter (often referred to as ash) consists of a mixture of distinct mineral species and ionically-bound or complexed inorganic compounds. The composition of this inorganic fraction is controlled by a variety of botanical and depositional environments and processes. The peats used in this study are from the Okefenokee Swamp, a low-sulfur, exclusively fresh water analog of an ancient coal-forming environment. Unlike other peat deposits, the inorganic fraction of Okefenokee peats is primarily composed of silica, most of which consists of biologically-derived, authigenic particles. However, the peats do contain non-biogenic mineral particles of both a silica and non-silica composition. The purpose of this project was to determine grain textures and elemental compositions of the non-biogenic particles through use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis. Analytical results indicate that many of these mineral particles are detrital in origin.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6119429
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-83-837; CONF-830815-2; ON: DE83010078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DETRITUS
ECOSYSTEMS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MICROSCOPY
MINERALOGY
ORGANIC MATTER
PEAT
SWAMPS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
WETLANDS