Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
R
R
H
H
Tm
BNH
A
M
No
Tricyclics
Subbituminous
coal A
Hams Fork Region WY
PSOC 1487
NH
H32
S
R
S
H35
S
Ts
R
S
S
R
R
H
Tm
NH
B
S
M
R
High-volatile
bituminous coal
C Uinta Region UT
PSOC 1503
H32
BNH
R
S
Ts
H35
S
H34
S
R
R
S
R
H
Tm
NH
S
C
M
R
High-volatile
bituminous B
Uinta Region CO
PSOC 1501
S
BNH
R
S
R
Ts
R
S
S
R
NH
D
H
Tm
High-volatile
bituminous A coal
Breathitt Formation
Hazard Bed No. 7
Perry County, KY
KY 4530
H31
S
R
M
S
BNH
Ts
SR
SR
S
R
Retention time
Figure 11.3.4. Triterpane biomarker patterns (
191) in selected coals by increasing rank. These geochemical
signatures constitute one of the more unique signatures for differentiating fossil fuel sources: (A) subbituminous A
coal contains pentacyclic hopanes and NHs and no significant tricyclic triterpanes frequently observed in
petroleum, (B) high-volatile bituminous C coal contains less BNH relative to NH when compared to the
subbituminous coal and distinct
m
/
z
ratios among the homohopanes stereoisomers, and (C) high-volatile
bituminous B coal also from the Uinta Formation retains the triterpane signature of the lower rank coal from the
same formation, and (D) high-volatile bituminous A coal from the Breathitt Formation exhibits high proportions of
NH relative to hopane (H).
R
:
S
