Distribution, abundance, and maceral content of the lithotypes in the Beulah-Zap bed of North Dakota

Conference · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6876225

Kleesattel, D R

Relationships between the maceral contents of the megascopically observable components (lithotypes) of the Beulah-Zap lignite bed follow patterns similar to those of bituminous coals. The lignite seam was divided into 10 lithologic units (lithobodies) on the basis of petrographic features within the units. These lithobodies range in size from 5 to 85 cm. Lithotypes within the lithobodies were physically separated for various analyses and their relative abundances estimated. Three distinct lithotypes have been identified in the Beulah-Zap lignite: vitrain (35%), fusain (5%), and attritus (60%), by volume. Maceral identification was made using reflected light microscopy. Distribution of the maceral groups within the lithotypes of the Beaulah-Zap lignite was found to resemble the distribution patterns in bituminous coals. The lithotype fusian was found to be rich in the intertinite macerals such as fusinite, semifusinite, and macrinite. The attritus is composed of all three maceral groups of variable percentages, huminite (41 to 82%), inertinite (10 to 65%), and liptinite (4 to 13%). The identified liptinite macerals include sporinite, resinite, cutinite, and subrinite. The huminite maceral goup, consisting mainly of ulminite, was found to be the major constitutent of the vitrain lithotype. Elemental compositions were determined by proximate/ultimate analysis and scanning electron microprobe. Microprobe analyses show slight compositional variation of individual macerals included in the vitrain and fusain lithotypes. Macerals in the attritus lithotype were observed to have a varied calcium concentration compared to the other lithotypes.

• Research Organization: North Dakota Univ., Grand Forks (USA). Energy Research Center
• DOE Contract Number: FC21-83FE60181
• OSTI ID: 6876225
• Report Number(s): DOE/FE/60181-54; CONF-841048-2; ON: DE84009531
• Resource Relation: Conference: Rocky Mountain coal symposium, Bismarck, ND, USA, 2 Oct 1984
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
COAL DEPOSITS
PETROGRAPHY
MACERALS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
NORTH DAKOTA
ASH CONTENT
CALORIFIC VALUE
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
LITHOTYPES
MICROSCOPY
SULFUR CONTENT
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
DATA
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
INFORMATION
MICROANALYSIS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
RESOURCES
USA
011000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
010600 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Properties & Composition