Depositional setting and characterization of deep-basin Oak Hill lignite deposit (middle Paleocene) of southwest Alabama

Conference · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6849984

Mancini, E A

In southwest Alabama, deep-basin lignite with economic potential occurs in the Oak Hill Member of the Naheola Formation. This middle Paleocene lignite is the thickest (2 to 11 ft, 0.6 to 3.3 m) and most extensive ignite in the southwest Alabama region. The Oak Hill lignite deposit accumulated in lower delta plain coastal marshes located in interchannel areas behind a barrier system. The source area for the deltaic sediments was probably to the west and/or northwest of Choctaw County, Alabama. The lignite occurs in a clay-dominated sequence. Oak Hill interdistributary bay ripple-laminated clays are interbedded with ripple-laminated, crevasse splay sands generally < 15 ft (5 m) in thickness. The glauconitic sands of the overlying Coal Bluff Member of the Naheola Formation represent marine encroachment into the interchannel basin area. An estimated 8 billion short tons of hypothetical Oak Hill deep-basin lignite may be available in southwest Alabama. The lignite is of good quality and is characterized on an as determined basis as having 20 to 27% moisture, 8 to 10% ash, 0.8 to 3.0% sulfur, 0.1 to 1.0% pyritic sulfur, 30 to 39% volatile matter, and 28 to 36% fixed carbon. The calorific value of the lignite is 9,070 to 9,970 Btu/lb and averages 9,530 Btu/lb. Presently, this deep-basin lignite resource is beyond the depth for effective surface mining and, therefore, must be recovered by underground mining or in situ gasification or liquefaction recovery methods.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Alabama, University
• OSTI ID: 6849984
• Report Number(s): CONF-8310301-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 67:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600 -- Coal
Lignite
&amp; Peat-- Properties &amp; Composition
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
&amp; Peat-- Reserves
Geology
&amp; Exploration
ALABAMA
BROWN COAL
CALORIFIC VALUE
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBONATE ROCKS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
ENERGY SOURCES
EVAPORITES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FOSSIL FUELS
FOSSILS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
LIGNITE
LIMESTONE
MATERIALS
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
REEFS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STRATIGRAPHY
USA