Coal petrology, sedimentology and depositional environment of the Parvadeh coals in the Upper Triassic, Tabas Block of Central-East Iran

Abstract Peat forming environment strongly influences the economic value of any coal seam and coal-bearing strata. Hence, palaeoenvironmental studies provide important information for coal resource exploration. In this context, detailed studies on selected coals from the Parvadeh Area, Iran, were co...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ziba Zamani, Hossain Rahimpour-Bonab, Ralf Littke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2023-07-01
Series:International Journal of Coal Science & Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40789-023-00600-w
_version_ 1797774456536432640
author Ziba Zamani
Hossain Rahimpour-Bonab
Ralf Littke
author_facet Ziba Zamani
Hossain Rahimpour-Bonab
Ralf Littke
author_sort Ziba Zamani
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Peat forming environment strongly influences the economic value of any coal seam and coal-bearing strata. Hence, palaeoenvironmental studies provide important information for coal resource exploration. In this context, detailed studies on selected coals from the Parvadeh Area, Iran, were conducted using sedimentology, coal petrology, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy- energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (SEM-EDX), and proximate analysis. The sedimentary facies above and below the coal seams are mainly marine or marine-influenced facies, supporting that the coal-forming mires in the Parvadeh Area developed in a paralic environment, where the base level must be closely related to sea level. Sulfur contents are moderate to high and mark the influence of brackish/marine water, especially during transgression after peat growth in a lower delta plain environment. The peat-forming mires extended on coastal/delta plain lobes. The lower delta plain/coastal plain coals are characterized by lateral continuity and substantial thickness, whereas few coals possibly representing the upper delta plain are thin and more discontinuous. The detrital nature and composition of the numerous partings and the overall high ash yield in the coal seams indicate an active tectonic area with high rates of creation of accommodation space over peat growth. Coal petrology and coal facies analysis exhibits a permanently high water table within a forest swamp and mostly rheotrophic conditions, sometimes with connection to the seawater. According to paleoenvironmental reconstructions, it seems that coal layers may be thicker, with less sulfur (pyrite), but more clastic minerals and partings toward the western part of the area. Although these coal seams presently have low economic potential for the mining operation, partly due to great depth, this humic, high-volatile to medium-volatile bituminous coal may be suitable for exploration of coal bed methane resources.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T22:20:22Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ffdd4b9740f84cdea7b147b32ee9b6bc
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2095-8293
2198-7823
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T22:20:22Z
publishDate 2023-07-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series International Journal of Coal Science & Technology
spelling doaj.art-ffdd4b9740f84cdea7b147b32ee9b6bc2023-07-23T11:04:05ZengSpringerOpenInternational Journal of Coal Science & Technology2095-82932198-78232023-07-0110112010.1007/s40789-023-00600-wCoal petrology, sedimentology and depositional environment of the Parvadeh coals in the Upper Triassic, Tabas Block of Central-East IranZiba Zamani0Hossain Rahimpour-Bonab1Ralf Littke2School of Geology, College of Science, University of TehranSchool of Geology, College of Science, University of TehranEnergy and Mineral Resources (EMR), RWTH Aachen UniversityAbstract Peat forming environment strongly influences the economic value of any coal seam and coal-bearing strata. Hence, palaeoenvironmental studies provide important information for coal resource exploration. In this context, detailed studies on selected coals from the Parvadeh Area, Iran, were conducted using sedimentology, coal petrology, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy- energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (SEM-EDX), and proximate analysis. The sedimentary facies above and below the coal seams are mainly marine or marine-influenced facies, supporting that the coal-forming mires in the Parvadeh Area developed in a paralic environment, where the base level must be closely related to sea level. Sulfur contents are moderate to high and mark the influence of brackish/marine water, especially during transgression after peat growth in a lower delta plain environment. The peat-forming mires extended on coastal/delta plain lobes. The lower delta plain/coastal plain coals are characterized by lateral continuity and substantial thickness, whereas few coals possibly representing the upper delta plain are thin and more discontinuous. The detrital nature and composition of the numerous partings and the overall high ash yield in the coal seams indicate an active tectonic area with high rates of creation of accommodation space over peat growth. Coal petrology and coal facies analysis exhibits a permanently high water table within a forest swamp and mostly rheotrophic conditions, sometimes with connection to the seawater. According to paleoenvironmental reconstructions, it seems that coal layers may be thicker, with less sulfur (pyrite), but more clastic minerals and partings toward the western part of the area. Although these coal seams presently have low economic potential for the mining operation, partly due to great depth, this humic, high-volatile to medium-volatile bituminous coal may be suitable for exploration of coal bed methane resources.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40789-023-00600-wCoal petrologySedimentologyCoal facies analysisUpper TriassicNayband FormationTabas Block
spellingShingle Ziba Zamani
Hossain Rahimpour-Bonab
Ralf Littke
Coal petrology, sedimentology and depositional environment of the Parvadeh coals in the Upper Triassic, Tabas Block of Central-East Iran
International Journal of Coal Science & Technology
Coal petrology
Sedimentology
Coal facies analysis
Upper Triassic
Nayband Formation
Tabas Block
title Coal petrology, sedimentology and depositional environment of the Parvadeh coals in the Upper Triassic, Tabas Block of Central-East Iran
title_full Coal petrology, sedimentology and depositional environment of the Parvadeh coals in the Upper Triassic, Tabas Block of Central-East Iran
title_fullStr Coal petrology, sedimentology and depositional environment of the Parvadeh coals in the Upper Triassic, Tabas Block of Central-East Iran
title_full_unstemmed Coal petrology, sedimentology and depositional environment of the Parvadeh coals in the Upper Triassic, Tabas Block of Central-East Iran
title_short Coal petrology, sedimentology and depositional environment of the Parvadeh coals in the Upper Triassic, Tabas Block of Central-East Iran
title_sort coal petrology sedimentology and depositional environment of the parvadeh coals in the upper triassic tabas block of central east iran
topic Coal petrology
Sedimentology
Coal facies analysis
Upper Triassic
Nayband Formation
Tabas Block
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s40789-023-00600-w
work_keys_str_mv AT zibazamani coalpetrologysedimentologyanddepositionalenvironmentoftheparvadehcoalsintheuppertriassictabasblockofcentraleastiran
AT hossainrahimpourbonab coalpetrologysedimentologyanddepositionalenvironmentoftheparvadehcoalsintheuppertriassictabasblockofcentraleastiran
AT ralflittke coalpetrologysedimentologyanddepositionalenvironmentoftheparvadehcoalsintheuppertriassictabasblockofcentraleastiran