Coal from the swash zone - Herrin (no. 11) coal in western Kentucky
The Herrin is typically a bright, banded coal, with abundant vitrain and bright clarain, and has a parting, the ''blue band,'' in the lower third of the seam. Herrin coal from a core in the transition zone, however, is largely a coarse breccia with calcite cement. The blue band is present in its usual position as a slickensided clay rather than as indurated siltstone as at nearby sites. A fossiliferous limestone is present in the upper third of the seam. Breccia lithotypes are duller than would be expected in the Herrin coal, but do include fragments with appearance of vitrain and bright clarain. Microscopically, however, the predominate macerals of the lithotypes are not vitrinite, as would be expected, but rather semifusinite. Vitrinite group macerals are frequently ''pseudovitrinite'' or forms showing signs of degradation. The presence of limestone ''offshore'' and as a parting within the coal and the pervasive calcite cementing between breccia fragments points to the strong influence of marine conditions on the peat. Nonbrecciated bands indicate that at least some of the seam is autochthonous. The breccia suggest a high-energy environment where peat fragments were ripped up in place or transported in from elsewhere. Any peat transport was probably along the strike of the transition zone. The peat was oxidized during fragmentation and transport, resulting in alteration of humic macerals to semifusinite and fusinite.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington
- OSTI ID:
- 6577059
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8405216-
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 68:4; Conference: AAPG annual convention, San Antonio, TX, USA, 20 May 1984
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Petrography and depositional environment of the Herrin (No. 6) seam in central, eastern and northwestern Illinois
Data base for the analysis of compositional charateristics of coal seams and macerals. Final report, Part 6. Petrography and depositional environment of the Herrin (No. 6) seam in central, eastern and northwestern Illinois
Related Subjects
COAL DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
KENTUCKY
DEPOSITION
LIMESTONE
MACERALS
PEAT
CARBONATE ROCKS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC MATTER
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA
011000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration