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Coal Geological Studies Related to Coalbed Methane |
Coal Technology Research Group, Chemical Engineering Department, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Density separated coal fractions from 1.30 floats to 1.70 sinks of Point of Ayr coal for the particle sizes –3350+2800, –1000+850, –300+212 and –38+20µm, have been studied for major element and mineral content. Low temperature ash residues were analysed using Fourier transform infra-red and X-ray diffraction spectrometry. Major elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K Mg, Mn, Na and Si) were determined in high-temperature ash residues using atomic absorption spectrometry and atomic emission spectrometry. The minerals identified in the samples were kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite, quartz, dolomite, anhydrite, calcite, gypsum, mica, bassanite and interlayer smectite. The study suggests the origin of the minerals, on the basis of their association with the organic or mineral matter fractions, and indicates that there is a correlation between some major elements and mineral distribution in the coal fractions. It is shown that both the organic affinity of the elements and the abundance of specific minerals are related to the particle size.
