Maceral composition, coal quality and depositional environments of the middle Permian Ukhaakhudag coal deposit, South Mongolia

Authors

  • Batbold Demberelsuren Ukhaakhudag coal mine, Branch of Energy Resource LLC, Tsogttsetsii, 46000, Umnugovi, Mongolia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4407-002X
  • Said Lkhagva-Ochir Ukhaakhudag coal mine, Branch of Energy Resource LLC, Tsogttsetsii, 46000, Umnugovi, Mongolia
  • Adiya Tsolmon Ukhaakhudag coal mine, Branch of Energy Resource LLC, Tsogttsetsii, 46000, Umnugovi, Mongolia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4088-7027
  • Ranjin Ganzorig Ukhaakhudag coal mine, Branch of Energy Resource LLC, Tsogttsetsii, 46000, Umnugovi, Mongolia https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2782-2334
  • Khishigbuyan Avirmed Ukhaakhudag coal mine, Branch of Energy Resource LLC, Tsogttsetsii, 46000, Umnugovi, Mongolia
  • Togmid Mijiddagva Ukhaakhudag coal mine, Branch of Energy Resource LLC, Tsogttsetsii, 46000, Umnugovi, Mongolia
  • Bayasgalan Chinguun Ukhaakhudag coal mine, Branch of Energy Resource LLC, Tsogttsetsii, 46000, Umnugovi, Mongolia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5564/mgs.v28i57.3202

Keywords:

Coal measures, organic petrology, coal facies, depositional setting

Abstract

The Ukhaakhudag coal deposit is located c. 560 km SSE of the city of Ulaanbaatar in the northeastern sector the South Gobi Basin. The coal-bearing strata is part of the middle Permian Tavantolgoi Formation. This study aims to determine the coal petrographic composition and depositional environments of five coal seams in the lower part of the deposit based on petrographic and chemical analyses of 106 composite samples. Vitrinite ranges from 12 to 64 vol.%, and inertinite varies between 9 and 68 vol.%. Liptinite ranges from 1 to 7 vol.%. Microlithotype analyses indicate that coals are primarily vitrinertite, few coals are classified as trimaceralic microlithotypes duroclarite and clarodurite. The inorganic fraction in the studied coals is mainly composed of clay, small amounts of silica, carbonate, and pyrite minerals. The vitrinite random reflectance values of the samples vary between 0.93-1.16 %. Volatile matter content varies from 26.10 to 41.48 wt.% (dry ash free basis). Ash, moisture, and sulfur contents vary between 11.20-44.76 wt.%, 1.63-6.03 wt.% and 0.49-1.67 wt.%, (air dried basis) respectively. Based on random vitrinite reflectance values and volatile matter content, the studied coals are classified as coking (Ch4), fat (Ch5), 1/3 coking (Ch6), gas fat (Ch7) based on the Mongolian system and medium to high volatile bituminous coal when using the ASTM system. The Gelification Index and Tissue Preservation Index of the studied samples suggest most seams accumulated in wet forest swamps with a high tree density. The Middle Permian peats from this location accumulated in mostly alternate oxic and anoxic mire conditions. The climate was drier during the peat accumulation of Seam 0, but it became warmer, and humidity increased starting from Seam 3 accumulation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
83
PDF
121

References

Bat-Erdene, D. 1992. Nature of distribution and formational condition of coal basins in the Mongolian orogenic belt. Summary of Sc.Dr. thesis. Moscow, p. 6-52 (in Russian)

Bustin, R.M., Cameron, A.R., Grieve, D.A., Kalkreuth, W. 1983. Coal Petrology Its Principles, Methods, and Applications: Geological Association of Canada. Short Course Notes, v. 3, p. 248.

Byambaа, B., Tsolmon, A., Uranbayar, Ch., Bekhbat, P., Avirmed, Kh. 2022. Report on the results of additional exploration work and reserve of resources performed in 2018 and 2020 in the Ukhaakhudag coking coal deposit, v. I, p 130-138.

Dai, Sh., Bechtel, A, Eble, C.F., Flores, R.M., French, D., Graham, I.T., Hood, M.M., Hower, J.C., Korasidis, V.A., Moore, T.A., Püttmann, W., Wei, Q., Zhao, L., O’Keefe, J.M.K. 2020. Recognition of peat depositional environments in coal: A review. International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 219, p. 1-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2019.103383

Demberelsuren, B., Jargal, L., Munkhtsengel, B. 2021. The coal facies interpretations in the Baruunnaran coal deposit, Southern Mongolia. Geology journal of School of Geology and Mining Engineering, Mongolian University of Science and Technology, v. 36, p. 120-137. (in Mongolian)

Diessel, C.F.K. 1986. On the correlation between coal facies and depositional environments. Advances in the study of the Sudney Basin, Proceedings 20th symposium, Newcastle, Australia, p. 19-22.

Diessel, C.F.K. 1992. Coal-Bearing Depositional Systems. New York, Springer-Verlag, p. 161-264. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75668-9_5

Díez, M.A., Alvarez, R., Barriocanal, C. 2002. Coal for metallurgical coke production: Predictions of coke quality and future requirements for cokemaking. International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 50(1-4), p. 389-412. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-5162(02)00123-4

Durante, M.V, 1976, Carboniferous and Permian stratigraphy of Mongolia on the basis of paleobotanical data: Nauka, Moscow, v. 19, p. 279 (in Russian).

Erdenetsogt, B., Insung, Lee., Bat-Erdene, D., Jargal, L. 2009. Mongolian coal-bearing basins: Geological settings, coal characteristics, distribution and resources. International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 80, p. 87-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2009.08.002

ICCP system 1994. International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology, 1998. The new vitrinite classification Fuel 77, 349-358. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-2361(98)80024-0

ICCP system 1994. International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology, 2001. The new inertinite classification. Fuel 80, 459-471. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-2361(00)00102-2

ISO 7404-2, 2009. International Standard. Methods for the petrographic analysis of coals-Part 2: Methods of preparing coal samples.

ISO 7404-3, 2009. International Standard. Methods for the petrographic analysis of coals-Part 3: Method of determining maceral group composition.

ISO 7404-5, 2009. International Standard. Methods for the petrographic analysis of coals-Part 5: Method of determining microscopically the reflectance of vitrinite.

ISO 351, 2001. International Standard. Method of determining sulfur content.

Pickel, W., Kus, J., Flores, D., Kalaitzidis, S., Christanis, K., Cardott, B.J., Misz-Kennan, M., Rodrigues, S., Hentschel, A., Hamor-Vido, M., Crosdale, P., Wagner, N., ICCP. 2017. Classification of liptinite-ICCP system 1994. International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 169, p. 40-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2016.11.004

Khosbayar, P., Byambaa, B., Dorj, Ts., Tumurbaatar, P. 1984. Results of geological mapping 1:50000 scale conducted in the territory around coal deposit Tavan Tolgoi, South Gobi during 1982-1983. Geological Information Center, Mongolia, Report #3740.

Lin, M.Y., Tian, L. 2011. Petrographic characteristics and depositional environment of the No. 9 Coal (Pennsylvanian) from the Anjialing Mine, Ningwu Coalfield, China. Energy Exploration & Exploitation, v. 29(2), p. 197-204. https://doi.org/10.1260/0144-5987.29.2.197

Manankov, I.N. 2012. Brachiopods, biostratigraphy, and correlation of the Permian marine deposits of Mongolia. Paleontological Journal, v. 46(12), p. 1325-1349. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030112120040

Michaelsen, P., Storetvedt, K.M. 2023. Tectonic evolution of a sequence of related late Permian transtensive coal-bearing sub-basins, Mongolia: A global wrench tectonics portrait. Mongolian Geoscientist, v. 28(57), p. 1-53. https://doi.org/10.5564/mgs.v28i57.3200

Michaelsen, P. and Storetvedt, K.M. (in press). Protracted destabilization and collapse of peat mire ecosystems at the Permo-Triassic boundary recorded by a sequence of related transtensive sub-basins in central and southern Mongolia. Permophiles.

MNS GB/T 212, 2015. Mongolian standard. Proximate analysis of coal. Methods of determining moisture, ash, and volatile matter contents.

Moore, T.A. Shearer, J.C. 2003. Peat/coal type and depositional environment-are they related? International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 56(3-4), p. 233-252. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-5162(03)00114-9

Jargal, L., Kuznetsova, A. A., Tserensodnom, P., Erdembat, L., 1990, Petrographic character of coals from major coal seam of Tavan Tolgoi deposit, in Geology and Mineral deposits of Mongolian People’s Republic: Nedra, Moscow,158–163 (in Russian)

Singh, M.P., Singh, P.K. 1996. Petrographic characterization and evolution of the Permian coal deposits of the Rajmahal basin, Bihar, India. International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 29, p. 93-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/0166-5162(95)00005-4

Teichmüller M., 1982. Origin of the petrographic constituents of coals. In: Stach E. (eds). Stach's Textbook of Coal Petrology, Gebr. Borntraeger, Berlin-Stuttgart, 219-294.

Wüst, R.A.J., Hawke, M.I., Bustin, R.M. 2001. Comparing maceral ratios from tropical peatlands with assumptions from coal studies: do classic coal petrographic interpretation methods have to be discarded? International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 48(1-2), p. 115-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-5162(01)00050-7

Downloads

Published

2023-12-24

How to Cite

Demberelsuren, B., Lkhagva-Ochir, S., Tsolmon, A., Ganzorig, R., Avirmed, K., Mijiddagva, T., & Chinguun, B. (2023). Maceral composition, coal quality and depositional environments of the middle Permian Ukhaakhudag coal deposit, South Mongolia. Mongolian Geoscientist, 28(57), 54–70. https://doi.org/10.5564/mgs.v28i57.3202

Issue

Section

Articles