Petrology and geochemistry of the Middle Pennsylvanian (Langsettian) Clintwood coalbed, Pike County, Kentucky

Hower, James C.; Eble, Cortland F.; Hopps, Shelley D.; Morgan, Tonya D.; Edwards, Vivian A.

doi:10.1007/s40789-025-00764-7

Title: Petrology and geochemistry of the Middle Pennsylvanian (Langsettian) Clintwood coalbed, Pike County, Kentucky

Journal Article · 05 March 2025 · International Journal of Coal Science & Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40789-025-00764-7 · OSTI ID:2528120

; Eble, Cortland F.; Hopps, Shelley D.; Morgan, Tonya D.; Edwards, Vivian A.

Abstract The Middle Pennsylvanian, Langsettian sub-stage Clintwood coal, along with its correlatives, was one of the more important energy resources in eastern Kentucky. The coal thickens from the NE-SW-trending Belfry anticline in central Pike County to the southeast, towards the Virginia-Kentucky border. Much of the thickness increase is in the bright lithotypes below a dull lithology. The bright lithologies transition from a bright clarain + vitrain + fusain lithology to a clarain + fusain lithology to the southeast. Half of the lithotypes in the three analyzed sections exceed 1000-µg/g Rare earth elements + Y + Sc (REYSc) (ash basis). The La _N /Sm _N vs. Gd _N /Yb _N and La _N /Sm _N vs. Ce _N /Ce _N * plots suggest that the top lithotype may have had best indication of an oxidizing environment. Positive Gd _N /Gd _N * and Eu _N /Eu _N ^* in some of the lithologies suggests that there may have been a hydrothermal influence in the sediment sources and/or in the diagenesis of the coal. Consideration of La _N /Sm _N and Zr (µg/g; ash basis), Zr vs. Sr, and V/Cr vs. inertinite/(inertinite + vitrinite) indicates that the dull lithotypes existed in a distinct geochemical environment compared to the brighter lithotypes. The isolation of the dull lithotypes from the bright lithotypes is supported by principal components analysis on inertinite/(inertinite + vitrinite), La _N /Sm _N , V/Cr, Sr, and either Zr or Ln(100(TiO ₂ )/Al ₂ O ₃ ).

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0032054

OSTI ID:: 2528120

Journal Information:: International Journal of Coal Science & Technology, Journal Name: International Journal of Coal Science & Technology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 12; ISSN 2095-8293

Publisher:: Springer Science + Business MediaCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: China

Language:: English

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