Electron-probe microanalysis of light elements in coal and other kerogen

Recent advances in electron microprobe technology including development of layered synthetic microstructures, more stable electronics and better matrix-correction programs facilitated routine microanalysis of the light elements in coal. Utilizing an appropriately equipped electron micro-probe with suitable standards, it is now possible to analyze directly the light elements (C, O and N, if abundant) in coal macerals and other kerogen. The analytical results are both accurate compared to ASTM methods and highly precise, and provide an opportunity to access the variation in coal chemistry at the micrometre scale. Our experiments show that analyses using a 10 kV accelerating voltage and 10 nA beam current yield the most reliable data and result in minimum sample damage and contamination. High sample counts were obtained for C, O and N using a bi-elemental nickel-carbon pseudo-crystal (2d = 9.5 nm) as an analyzing crystal.Vitrinite isolated from anthracite rank coal proves the best carbon standard and is more desirable than graphite which has higher porosity, whereas lower rank vitrinite is too heterogeneous to use routinely as a standard. Other standards utilized were magnesite for oxygen and BN for nitrogen. No significant carbon, oxygen or nitrogen X-ray peak shifts or peak-shape changes occur between standards and the kerogen analyzed. Counting rates for carbon and oxygen were found to be constant over a range of beam sizes and currents for counting times up to 160 s. Probe-determined carbon and oxygen contents agree closely with those reported from ASTM analyses. Nitrogen analyses compare poorly to ASTM values which probably is in response to overlap between the nitrogen K α peak with the carbon K-adsorption edge and the overall low nitrogen content of most of our samples.Our results show that the electron microprobe technique provides accurate compositional data for both minor and major elements in coal without the necessity and inherent problems associated with mechanically isolating macerals. Studies to date have demonstrated the level of compositional variability within and between macerals in suites of Canadian coals.     

Organic petrographic investigations of the Kupferschiefer in northern Germany

Results of an organic petrographic study of the Kupferschiefer (Zechstein, Upper Permian) in northern Germany are presented. Because vitrinite occurs only sporadically in this black shale, the random reflectance (R_r) of a relatively high reflecting, vitrinite-like variety of bituminite was measured as a maturity parameter and the problems connected with this procedure were investigated.The main organic component is bituminite, generally with an abundance of more than 90%. Sporomorphs and algae are relatively scarce, inertinite is usually a trace component, and vitrinite is present only in some samples taken close to the coast of the Zechstein sea. Migrabitumen also occurs in small amounts in a few samples. The range of the bituminite reflectance values is often considerable and depends on rank, anisotropy, particle size, porosity, and shearing. Interpretation of the reflectance values is made difficult by differences of up to 0.4% R_r between layers within the Kupferschiefer. Hydrothermal alteration may also be present. The difference between the reflectance of the light and normal varieties of bituminite disappears between 0.9 and 1.2% R_r.Bituminite behaves in a way very similarly to vitrinite during coalification. Their reflectance is identical between 2 and 4% R_r. Below 2% R_r, the reflectance of bituminite is lower than that of vitrinite. Linear regression curves valid up to 4% R_r were calculated for R_max versus R_r and for R_r versus R_max. Taking certain limitations into consideration, bituminite reflectance may be used as a coalification parameter.     

The application of FAMM (Fluorescence Alteration of Multiple Macerals) analyses for evaluating rank of Paraná Basin coals, Brazil

Combining vitrinite reflectance (VR) and fluorescence alteration of multiple macerals (FAMM) analyses provide insights into the chemical nature of vitrinites (i.e., perhydrous vs. orthohydrous vs. subhydrous compositions) in Permian Gondwana coals of the Paraná Basin, Brazil. The FAMM-derived equivalent VR (EqVR) values and relationships with VR can be determined according to calibration curves based largely on Permian Gondwana coals of eastern Australia.The analytical results indicate that vitrinites in the Paraná Basin coals studied generally range from orthohydrous to perhydrous, with interpreted VR suppression ranging up to 0.2% absolute for the most perhydrous case. The EqVR values of the Santa Catarina coals, which range from about 0.85% to 0.95% differ from VR values by about 0.10–0.15% absolute, potentially having significant implications on coal utilization.The causes of vitrinite reflectance suppression in the Paraná Basin coals are as yet poorly understood, but are likely to be related to a combination of factors.     

Peat-forming environments of Westphalian A coal seams from the Lower Silesian Coal Basin of SW Poland based on petrographic and palynologic data

The petrographic and palynologic compositions of coal seams of the acler formation (Upper Carboniferous, Westphalian A) from northwestern and southeastern part of the Lower Silesian Coal Basin (LSCB) were examined. Coals studied are highly volatile bituminous coal, where R_o ranges from 0.91% to 1.09%. Seam 430 from the northwestern part of the basin contains high vitrinite percentage with rather low inertinite and liptinite contents, while percentage of mineral matter is variable. This petrographic composition is associated either with a predominance of Lycospora in miospore assemblage, or with a miospore assemblage of mixed character. The abundance of Lycospora reflects vegetation composed of the arborescent lycopsids while the mixed miospore assemblage is connected with diverse palaeoplant communities, namely, arborescent lycopsids, calamites and ferns. Seams 409 and 412/413 from the southeastern part of the LSCB are rich in inertinite and liptinite, while the vitrinite content is moderate. Their characteristic feature is the occurrence of a diagnostic crassisporinite (densosporinite). Amount of the mineral components in these coals is very low. Densosporites and related crassicingulate genera are main components of these miospore assemblages and were produced by herbaceous and/or sub-arborescent lycopsids. These petrographic and palynologic features were the basis for distinguishing three maceral–miospore associations: an arborescent lycopsid and mixed associations, occurring in the seam 430 and a herbaceous and/or sub-arborescent lycopsid association which was recorded in seams 409 and 412/413. The first two assemblages are interpreted as having been deposited in a planar rheotrophic mire, whereas the herbaceous and/or sub-arborescent lycopsid association is thought to have developed in an ombrotrophic, domed mire.     

从显微煤岩学角度探讨六盘水地区龙潭煤系低煤级煤的生烃状况

摘 要　 从显微煤岩学角度探讨了贵州六盘水地区晚二叠世龙潭煤系煤的生烃状况。研究表 明‚树皮体和基质镜质体是研究区煤岩显微组成中主要的两种富氢组分‚“富镜质体 较富树 皮体” 是主采煤层典型的煤岩组合特征‚在成烃演化过程中‚富氢镜质体和树皮体对生烃作 出了主要贡献。渗出沥青体充填于镜质体微裂隙或细小孔洞以及丝质体胞腔中。这些微裂隙 和胞腔对煤成油的保存、富集和运移起到关键作用。显微组分间的这种配置关系为煤成油藏 的形成提供了非常有利的条件。六盘水地区具有形成煤成油藏的母质条件‚同时在煤层中具 有较好的保存富集以及运移条件‚如果存在有利的地质背景与之相配合‚研究区煤成油藏的 勘探开发工作将具有十分乐观的前景。     

准噶尔盆地侏罗系生烃特征有机岩石学研究

通过显微镜反射光及荧光分析研究,认为准噶尔盆地侏罗纪煤系中存在大量的生烃组分。煤系的生烃性与主要生烃组分的多少密切相关。本区存在相当数量的煤有机质类型Ⅱ2型,部分达到了Ⅱ1型,而暗色泥岩多为Ⅲ型和Ⅱ2型。成熟度研究表明,本区煤系已达到或超过生烃门限并产出大量的液态烃。