Occurrence of detrital, authigenic and adsorbed inorganic constituents in lignite from the Beulah Mine, North Dakota

Conference · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6614345

Benson, S A; Zygarlicke, C J; Karner, F R

Inorganic constituents in the lignite of the Beulah-Zap Bed consist primarily of: (1) detrital and authigenic quartz, clay minerals and pyrite with lesser silicates, carbonates, and accessory minerals; and (2) organically adsorbed and bound S, Ca, Na, Al, Mg and other elements. Samples from the Beulah Mine were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and microprobe (EMPA) techniques. Mineral constituents were investigated in polished sections by SEM-EPMA study of samples from nine seam locations. Abundant quartz was observed as 20 to 30 micron diameter subangular grains. Clay minerals occurred as fine-grained masses in specific mineralized areas 30 to 400 microns in diameter. Members of the kaolinite, smectite and mica/illite groups were observed. Pyrite occurred as rounded blebs or framboids 20 to 30 microns across. Samples at the base of the seam contained massive pyritic replacements of wood. Carbonates included small amounts of calcite, magnesite, and dolomite predominantly in fractures. Minor minerals included hematite, feldspars, rutile, zircon, barite and gypsum. Adsorbed constituents were investigated by SEM-EPMA techniques in the study of fractured surfaces. Some correlation of element distribution and SEM appearance was noted. For example, some obviously woody fragments had high Na values with relatively lower Ca and S when compared to other morphological forms of organic material. Many elements showed distinctly polymodal distributions when results from all morphological types were grouped. Results of the studies reported here show that major types of inorganic constituents are highly variable in the coal in both mode of occurrence and distribution within the seam. This suggests a complex depositional, diagenetic and post-diagenetic geologic history for the Beulah-Zap Bed. 13 references, 14 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: North Dakota Univ., Grand Forks (USA). Energy Research Center
• DOE Contract Number: FC21-83FE60181
• OSTI ID: 6614345
• Report Number(s): DOE/FE/60181-53; CONF-841048-3; ON: DE84010295
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALUMINIUM SILICATES
BARITE
BARIUM COMPOUNDS
BARIUM SULFATES
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CARBONATE MINERALS
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CLAYS
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COAL DEPOSITS
DATA
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ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION VIII
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FOSSIL FUELS
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GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GYPSUM
HEMATITE
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IRON ORES
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OXIDE MINERALS
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OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
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RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
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SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SILICATE MINERALS
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SILICON COMPOUNDS
SMECTITE
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TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TITANIUM OXIDES
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