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Influence of depositional environment on coal quality in Jangwa-Shankodi and Lafia-Obi areas, Central Benue Trough, north-central Nigeria

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Abstract

The environment of deposition of coal-bearing strata not only controls the accumulation of coal seams but also determines the quality of coal deposits. In this study, the thickness and quality parameters of Jangwa-Shankodi and Lafia-Obi coal seams have been investigated and linked to the depositional palaeoenvironmental features. Lithofacies analysis was carried out to deduce the nature of the depositional environment of the coal-bearing strata. Geochemical characterization was performed on eight samples to determine the coal qualities using proximate and ultimate analysis. Nine lithofacies were identified and grouped into two facies associations (FA 1 and FA 2). FA 1 represents several repeated inclined and fining upward units and cycles, with erosional bases and trough cross-stratification, indicating a fluvial regime (meandering river setting). FA 2 consists of thicker deposits of laminated shales and coal seams in a swamp/lagoonal environment. Diminished seam thicknesses in the Jangwa-Shankodi area are due to early termination of peat growth and channel abandonment, whereas relatively thick seam development in the Lafia-Obi area is attributed to regular nutrient supply caused by persistent water coverage as well as high compaction rates of the underlying shaly sediments. The Jangwa-Shankodi and Lafia-Obi coal zones are high volatile C bituminous coal resources with ash, moisture, fixed carbon and volatile matter yield that range between 7.99–8.64% and 7.83–8.34%, 2.33–2.50% and 2.28–2.40%, 55.97–56.14% and 56.18–56.31% and 29.99–30.34% and 29.98–30.22%, respectively. Following the same order, the percentage ranges of elemental carbon and hydrogen are 52.92–53.19% and 53.99–54.52% and 4.47–4.55% and 3.89–4.06%, respectively. Sulphur content was lower in the Lafia-Obi coals (0.08–0.13%). Unlike the Lafia-Obi coals, the close proximity of the Jangwa-Shankodi area to channel and marine influences resulted in a higher sulphur content and ash yield of the coal-bearing strata. This translates to a lesser heating value and coking ability. Better peat growth and preservation points to a higher fixed carbon and better quality for the Lafia-Obi coals. Higher carbon and lower ash yield improve coal reservoir porosity and correlates positively with greater methane absorption capacity. The Lafia-Obi coal field is, therefore, of better quality compared to its Jangwa-Shankodi counterpart.

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Acknowledgements

The second author wishes to thank the entire academic personnel of the Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, particularly Prof. O. Igwe, Prof. A.W. Mode, Prof. O.A. Anyiam and Dr. O.S. Onwuka, for their support and encouragement during the course of this study. Our sincere appreciation also goes to Prof. Usman Onoduku of the Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, for providing guidance and technical input that improved the quality of the final thesis. The National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency is acknowledged for the provision of drilling data that aided the analysis of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria

    Johnson Ogonna Amobi, Itohowo Moses Ekpo, Ogechi Clementina Ekwenye, Ifeanyi Andrew Oha & Chidubem Okwudiri Emedo

  2. Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 460114, Nigeria

    Chidubem Okwudiri Emedo

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  1. Johnson Ogonna Amobi
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  2. Itohowo Moses Ekpo
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  4. Ifeanyi Andrew Oha
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Contributions

Itohowo Moses Ekpo and Johnson Ogonna Amobi conceptualized the project and, along with Chidubem Okwudiri Emedo, participated in data curation, formal analysis, data interpretation and manuscript drafting. Clementina Ogechi Ekwenye and Ifeanyi Andrew Oha provided immense technical support.

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Correspondence to Chidubem Okwudiri Emedo.

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Amobi, J.O., Ekpo, I.M., Ekwenye, O.C. et al. Influence of depositional environment on coal quality in Jangwa-Shankodi and Lafia-Obi areas, Central Benue Trough, north-central Nigeria. Arab J Geosci 14, 2614 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08925-z

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