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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 64 (1980)

Issue: 5. (May)

First Page: 725

Last Page: 725

Title: Petrographic Variation in Western Kentucky # 11 Coal Seam: ABSTRACT

Author(s): James C. Hower, Garry D. Wild

Article Type: Meeting abstract

Abstract:

Vitrinite reflectance (rank) and maceral percentages were studied on 90 samples of the western Kentucky #11 coal (and the correlative Illinois #6 coal) from 14 mines (13 in Kentucky, 1 in Illinois). The coals were collected in 3 benches from 2 to 3 channels per mine. The petrographic data were subjected to analysis-of-variance tests of the rank and of the percentage of reactive macerals.

The rank varies from high volatile C to high volatile B, the highest occurring in Webster County, Kentucky, and Gallatin County, Illinois. The seam has a consistently low percentage of inert macerals (generally less than 10%) throughout the field. The percentage of total vitrinite is usually greater than 80% with a decrease in telocollinite accompanied by an increase in "pseudovitrinite" rather than by an increase in the exinite or inertinite macerals. The consistent petrography, along with the large quantity of the reserves (second largest reserve base in western Kentucky), should make the seam an important resource for the synthetic fuels industry.

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