Biopetrological study of Mulug coal belt, Godavari Basin, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Biopetrological investigation of 12 coal seams from Mulug coal belt of Godawari Basin has been carried OUID evaluate their economic potentials. The coal seams are associated with the Karharbari and Barakar of the Lower Gondwana sequence. The maceral study has revealed that seams IV A, IV , 111 B, II, I below index, I and IA contain vitric coal. However, IV below index, III and I B seams are characterized by a mixture of both vtric and fusic coals. Besides, III A and II below index seams contain fusic coal. The microlithotype analysis indicates that the vitric coal has the dominance of vitrite, clarite and duroclarite constituents. The mixed type of coal contains variable frequencies of vitrite and inertite with intimate association of clarite, durite, trimacerite and carbominerite microlithotypes. However, fusic coal has overall dominance of inertite with carbominerite. The reflectance study revealed that I B, I and I below index, IV below index and the lowermost IV A seams have attained high volatile bituminous C rank. Whereas coal of II below index seam is represented by transitional stage of rank between high volatile bituminous C and sub-bituminous A. the coal seams III B and III A contain coal of high volatile bituminous B rank. However, the seams III and II are characterized by coal having rank ranging between high volatile bituminous C to B. Seam I A contains coal of high volatile bituminous C to A rank. However, seam IV comprises coal having reached high volatile bituminous A stage.