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Petrographic, mineralogy, and geochemistry of coals of Pabedana, Kerman Province, Central Iran

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Abstract

This paper discusses the result of the detailed investigations carried out on the coal characteristics, including coal petrography and its geochemistry of the Pabedana region. A total of 16 samples were collected from four coal seams d2, d4, d5, and d6 of the Pabedana underground mine which is located in the central part of the Central-East Iranian Microcontinent. These samples were reduced to four samples through composite sampling of each seam and were analyzed for their petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical compositions. Proximate analysis data of the Pabedana coals indicate no major variations in the moisture, ash, volatile matter, and fixed carbon contents in the coals of different seams. Based on sulfur content, the Pabedana coals may be classified as low-sulfur coals. The low-sulfur contents in the Pabedana coal and relatively low proportion of pyritic sulfur suggest a possible fresh water environment during the deposition of the peat of the Pabedana coal. X-ray diffraction and petrographic analyses indicate the presence of pyrite in coal samples. The Pabedana coals have been classified as a high volatile, bituminous coal in accordance with the vitrinite reflectance values (58.75–74.32 %) and other rank parameters (carbon, calorific value, and volatile matter content). The maceral analysis and reflectance study suggest that the coals in all the four seams are of good quality with low maceral matter association. Mineralogical investigations indicate that the inorganic fraction in the Pabedana coal samples is dominated by carbonates; thus, constituting the major inorganic fraction of the coal samples. Illite, kaolinite, muscovite, quartz, feldspar, apatite, and hematite occur as minor or trace phases. The variation in major elements content is relatively narrow between different coal seams. Elements Sc,, Zr, Ga, Ge, La, As, W, Ce, Sb, Nb, Th, Pb, Se, Tl, Bi, Hg, Re, Li, Zn, Mo, and Ba show varying negative correlation with ash yield. These elements possibly have an organic affinity and may be present as primary biological concentrations either with tissues in living condition and/or through sorption and formation of organometallic compounds.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Prof. B. Krishna Rao for critical examination of the earlier version of the manuscript. The authors are grateful to Mr. M. Hoseini, Director, coal mining company, Kerman province for providing logistic support during the field work and laboratory investigations. Authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for the constructive comments and to the editor-in-chief for the meticulous editorial work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kerman Coal Company, University of Applied Science and Technology, Kerman, Iran

    S. M. Moosavirad & M. R. Moghadam

  2. Department of Earth Science, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

    J. Rasouli

  3. Department of Earth Science, Yuvaraja’s College, University of Mysore, Mysore, 570005, India

    M. R. Janardhana

  4. Department of Studies in Earth Science, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore, 570006, India

    M. Shankara

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  1. S. M. Moosavirad
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Correspondence to S. M. Moosavirad.

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Moosavirad, S.M., Rasouli, J., Janardhana, M.R. et al. Petrographic, mineralogy, and geochemistry of coals of Pabedana, Kerman Province, Central Iran. Arab J Geosci 6, 3623–3634 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0618-2

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