Experimentally induced compaction and coalification in peat from the Okefenokee Swamp

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:6685671

Cecil, C B; Stanton, R W; Dulong, F T; Neuzil, S G; Ruppert, L F

The effects of temperature (T) and pressure (P) on compaction and coalification of peat were studied in experiments that simulated open and closed systems of burial. In the open system, normal hydrostatic and lithostatic pressure conditions were simulated; in the closed system, hydrostatic and lithostatic pressures were equal. Samples consisted of fibric Taxodium peat and wood collected from the Okefenokee peat swamp. The experimental conditions were increased from ambient T and P to conditions simulating a depth of 900m at 100/sup 0/C over the span of one month and held constant for a second month until the experiment was terminated. The results indicate that more compaction and coalification occurred in the open system than in the closed system. The relative amount of CO/sub 2/ and CH/sub 4/ evolved in the open-system was more than four times the amount evolved in the closed system. The fluorescence spectra of pollen grains also indicate that the artificially induced coalification was greatest in the open system. The experimental data indicate that both compaction and coalification are controlled by peat composition and by P and T conditions during burial. At least in the early stages of coalification, wood in peat is not as compactible as the fibric peat. Anomalies in coal rank and in organic-maturation indicators may be the result of variable pressure conditions that affected or controlled the fugacity or activity of the reaction products during coalification.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Reston, VA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6685671
• Report Number(s): CONF-8510489-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States) Journal Volume: 17
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL RANK
COALIFICATION
COMPACTIFICATION
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEORGIA
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC MATTER
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PALYNOLOGY
PEAT
PRESSURE EFFECTS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESOURCES
SWAMPS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
USA
WETLANDS