Multivariate study of the interrelationships among selected variables of the organic fraction of samples of United States' coals

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6289174

Gerencher, Jr, J J

Multivariate statistical techniques have been used to study interrelationships among 12 variables within a data set for 277 coals representing whole-seam channel, column, and core samples obtained from the 6 coal provinces of the United States, and varying in rank from ligite to anthracite. The data are maintained in a computerized data base at the Pennsylvania State Universty Coal Research Section. The variables chosen are components of the elemental analysis, selected components of the proximate analysis (volatile matter and moisture), calorific value, reflectance of vitrinite, and the relative proportions of the 3 maceral groups. Cluster analyses indicated that the most significant partitioning produces 4 groups which are differentiated primarily on the basis of the followng factors: rank, maceral composition, and organic sulfur content. These 3 factors are the most important independent sources of variation for the entire data set and for these subsets. Factor analyses of these individual groups, of 5 classifications of coal grouped by ASTM rank, and of coals grouped by province provide insights into the coalification processes of these more homogeneous coal associations.

• OSTI ID: 6289174
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
ANTHRACITE
BLACK COAL
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL RANK
COAL SEAMS
COALIFICATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
LIGNITE
MACERALS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICS
MEMORY DEVICES
MINERAL RESOURCES
MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC MATTER
RESOURCES
SAMPLING
STATISTICS
SULFUR CONTENT
USA
VARIATIONS