Handout 2 MIN 454 Coal Geology (from Coal Mining Technology Theory and Practice, by Stefanko) Coal is formed

d due to transformation of the vegetal matter. As the vegetal matter goes through the various stages of transformation, the quality of coal changes, and depending on the conditions, its quality, in terms of fixed carbon, improves. herefore, !hen coal formation is tracked chronologically, different types of coal are encountered. Genesis" #eat is the first stage in coal formation. $t starts in !ater%logged areas such as bogs, s!amps or lakes. $nitially, vegetation gro!s near the edges of the lake. his vegetation eventually decays and settles at the bottom of the lake. &ver a period of time, the edge of the lake gets covered in the decaying vegetation. his causes formation of peat. As the peat covers the edges, the vegetation is pushed to the center of the lake, and the !hole cycle is repeated until the lake is covered !ith peat. $t is estimated that the rate of peat formation in the Carboniferous era !as about t!ice of the present day due to abundant vegetation and regular rainfall in the past. #eat eventually gets transformed to lignite, bituminous coal, and anthracite if the proper conditions exist. 'etter quality coals (see section on ranks of coal) generally require larger amounts of peat to begin !ith. $t is estimated that the peat required to form ( foot of lignite, bituminous and anthracite coal is deposited in ()*, +)* and ,-* years.. Sediments from neighboring areas settled on peat formations !hen peat s!amps subsided. his overburden on the peat formations could be from several feet to several thousands of feet. he pressure of the overburden eventually converted the peat to lignite, !hich is the lo!est form of coal. /hen there !ere movements in the earth0s crust that caused extremely high hori1ontal pressures, the peat that !as under large overburden, transformed into coals of higher rank. herefore, higher ranks of coal are normally found in regions of high crustal movements such as formations of mountains. his is seen in the anthracite formations of #ennsylvania that formed during the formation of the Appalachian mountains. Sometimes, igneous intrusions into peat caused higher rank coals. Nature" Coal bearing strata is generally characteri1ed by sandstone, shale, limestone and conglomerates. 2igh thrusts during the coal transformation period caused the hard layers to be distorted, causing the plastic coal in the middle to s!ell and compress accordingly. he quality of coal and its geologic age are not necessarily correlated. his is because the quality is a function of both the geologic age and the transformation conditions. 2igh pressures and heat cause oxygen, moisture and volatile matter (C&, C&+, and other gases) contents to decrease. herefore, if the same conditions exist for a longer period of time the quality !ill improve. 2o!ever, in another area, a better quality may be achieved in shorter duration by higher pressures and temperatures. Some other factors that affect coal quality are structural deformation, heat from igneous intrusions and the base matter (vegetation). Ranks of Coal he term rank generally refers to the coals of different quality (i.e. carbon content or coalification, and heating value) that arise out of progressive change from lignite to anthracite. Another term that refers to quality of coal is grade. 3rade addresses specific components of coal such as ash, sulfur or moisture, !hile rank implies the location in the chain of progression. 4or example, high grade
.

his does not mean that coal forms in a fe! hundred years. 5ost coal mined in the 6.S. is (%7** million years old.

coal refers to a coal of relatively pure quality !hile a high rank coal refers to a coal high up on the evolutionary ladder. he ma8or ranks of coal are given belo! (Stefanko, (-97)" Anthracite" he composition of anthracite ranges from -+: to -9: fixed carbon and + to 9: volatile matter. $t is generally not used for fuel in utilities or coking coal; its use is primarily in space heating at homes. 5ost of it is mined in eastern #ennsylvania. here are t!o variations of anthracite < meta%anthracite and semi%anthracite. 5eta%anthracite has a fixed carbon content of -9: or above and volatile matter content of +: or belo!. $t is rarely found. Semi%anthracite has a fixed carbon content ranging from 9): to -+:. =ue to the higher volatile matter content, it kindles more rapidly than anthracite. 'ituminous" his is divided into > sub%groups < lo! volatile, medium volatile, high volatile A, high volatile ' and high volatile C. he table belo! lists their contents" Group ?o! @ol. 5ed. @ol. 2igh @ol. A 2igh @ol. ' 2igh @ol. C Fixed Carbon Limits %1
3reater than or equal to ?ess than

Volatile Matter Limits %1

3reater than or equal to ?ess than

Calori i! Value "#$%lb2&'

3reater than or equal to ?ess than

A9 )-

9) A9 )-

(, ++ 7(

++ 7( (,*** (7*** (*>**

7" ' 6 B (.*>>*>) C kD

(,*** ((>**

(" on a dry mineral%matter%free basis

+" on a !et mineral%matter%free basis

?o! volatile coals are nearly smokeless in burning. he finest among them have the highest calorific (heating) values among all coals. ?ike medium volatile coals, they are very friable, due to fine 8ointing. he rest of the coals in this group are generally laminated. he luster of the various layers varies from silky, pitchy, dull or earthy. Sub%bituminous" he heating values of the three classes, A, ' and C, in this group, varies from 97** to ((>** ' 6. hese coals have a variety of physical properties from laminated, like bituminous, to being cannel like. ?ignite" his group has t!o classes, lignite and bro!n coal. he heating values are generally less than 97** ' 6. 'oth these classes are bro!n in color, but !hile lignite is consolidated, bro!n coal is not. heir chemical properties may be similar.

C()L in t*e $+,+- 2..5 Fa!ts and Fi/ures (from ECoal Fevie!G, 5ining Hngineering, 5ay +**)) Coal production " (.(7 billion st (up (.-:) - 2igher than +**, - Consumption increased in electricity sector due to economy and the !eather. " Fecord high I +A.> mt " Fose for third consecutive year to ,> 5t " =eclined. " /ent up. - Hlectric utility prices !ent up (7: - Coking coal !ent up by 7):.

$mports Hxports Coal stocks Coal prices

Alaska Coal 4acts

'ituminous and sub% bituminous

% -: of the state underlain by coal

% Fesources estimated at >.) trillion tons o (>: of /&F?=0S reserves JJJ o ()* billion tons identified o ?o! sulfur mostly % &nly one operating coal mine 6sibelli Coal 5ine, 2ealy, AK Surface mine L( million tons per year ?o! rank coal ()>**%9>** 'tuMlb) 4ixed Carbon " +-: @olatile matter " 7): 5oisture " +): Ash " -: o Supplies interior po!er plants and intermittently to S. Korea o o o o

?ignite and sub% bituminous

Anthracite