Vitrinite reflectance (Ro)

Vitrinite reflectance is the proportion of incident light reflected from a polished vitrinite
surface. Vitrinite is a maceral (an organic component) of coal. As vitrinite is heated in
the earth during burial, it systematically changes its reflective properties. These
changes are caused by increasing condensation of aromatic (carbon-ring) structures in
the coal matrix (Stach and others, 1992; Bustin and others, 1985; van Krevelen, 1992;
Mukhopadhyay and Hatcher, 1993).

Microscopic measurement of the relative reflectance of vitrinite macerals (Ro) compared

to coal rank, fixed carbon (FC), volatile matter (VM), moisture (M), and gas and oil
generation. (Figure by Cortland Eble, based on data in ASTM, Stach and others, 1992,
and Bustin and others, 1985).

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Vitrinite reflection is a standard method for calculating the relative amount
of coalification (rank, maturation) that a coal (or other organic substance) has
undergone. Measurements of reflectance are used in some international coal
classification systems. Although not officially used to define rank in the United States,
vitrinite reflectance is commonly used to corroborate rank determinations based on
calorific value, volatile matter, and fixed carbon contents.

The methods for vitrinite reflection analysis of coal samples are standardized in ASTM
method D2798-11 (American Society for Testing and Materials, 2013, p. 474-478). For
reflectance measurements of dispersed vitrinite in other sedimentary rocks ASTM
method D7708-11 (American Society for Testing and Materials, 2013, p. 846-853)
applies. To determine vitrinite reflectance, a sample of coal is ground to the consistency
of fine sand (-20 mesh = particle sizes less than 850 microns) and made into a pellet for
examination. The top surface of the pellet is polished and coated with a prescribed
(immersion) oil. The pellet is placed under a petrographic microscope. Reflectance
measurements are first taken with a glass standard of known reflectance to provide a
reference point for subsequent measurements. Following this calibration stage, a
number of reflectance measurements (usually 50 to 100) are collected from particles of
vitrinite in the coal sample. The amount of light being reflected is measured by a
photomultiplier tube, which converts light intensity to a numerical value. The relative
reflection (essentially, a gray-scale hue) of vitrinite macerals in the pellet is then
measured by observation and comparison to standard reflection values. Values range
from 0 (low reflectance) to 4 (high reflectance).

Several different types of vitrinite reflectance (Ro) measurements can be made:

Ro random: Random vitrinite reflectance is a measure of random orientations of vitrinite

in nonpolarized white light. The Ro value is generally a mean value of 50 to 100
measurements. Ro random is the value most often used in vitrinite reflectance
measurements.

Ro min: The minimum vitrinite reflectance is a measure of the minimum reflectance

when the stage is rotated 360°, using polarized white light. Coal begins at low rank as a

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uniaxial, isotropic material. This means that reflectance values are equal in all
directions. Coal becomes progressively more biaxial and anisotropic, however, with
increasing rank. This means that reflectance becomes increasingly directionally
dependent. As such, the difference between Ro min and Ro max increases with rank.
Within the bituminous coal rank (Ro = approximately 0.5 to 1.5), directional anisotropy in
vitrinite develops and increases with rank. Because of the anisotropy at higher rank, the
minimum and maximum reflectance values are commonly measured in higher rank
coals.

Ro max: The maximum vitrinite reflectance is a measure of the maximum reflectance

value obtained when rotating the stage 360°, using polarized light. Within the
bituminous coal rank (Ro = approximately 0.5 to 1.5), directional anisotropy develops
and increases with rank. For higher-rank coals, the minimum and maximum reflectance
values are commonly measured.

Vitrinite reflectance in other sedimentary rocks

Vitrinite particles are not only found in coal, they are preserved in other sedimentary
rocks as well. Organic-rich shales may contain significant amounts of vitrinite. Because
vitrinites essentially record the maximum heating the organic material has undergone,
they also record the maximum burial heating a sample has undergone. This is a very
important criteria in petroleum geology. Burial heating of organic-rich deposits has
distinctive ranges (windows) in which petroleum and gas are produced from source
rocks. Vitrinite reflectance measurements provide data for understanding if oil or gas in
a reservoir was sourced from the immediate vicinity or had to be sourced from a deeper
deposit. The data are also used to determine burial histories of petroleum and natural
gas generation, which are important for oil and gas exploration. A brief, yet thorough,
review of the use of vitrinite reflectance in petroleum exploration can be found in Bustin
and others (1983).