Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Pyrolytic condensation
A reaction at high temperature in which two molecules combine with the elimination
of H
2
O or other small molecule.
Rank
Describes the stage of coalification attained by a given coal; the place occupied by a
coal in a classification of coals according to their degree of metamorphism, or
progressive alteration, in the order: lignite, subbituminous, bituminous, anthracite.
Red dog
Material of a reddish color resulting from the combustion of carbonaceous shale and
other mine waste in surface mine dumps or waste banks.
Roof coal
The layer immediately over the main-coal seam. It may be coal of poor quality or
carbonaceous shale, and is frequently left in place.
Room-and-pillar mining A system of mining in which typically flat-lying beds of coal are mined in rooms
separated by pillars of undisturbed coal left for roof support.
Syngenetic
A mineral formed contemporaneously with the enclosing rocks.
Ultimate composition
The elements contained in a compound, as distinguished from proximate analysis,
which is the determination of the compounds contained in a mixture. In the case of
coal and coke, the determination of carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen.
Vitrinite reflectance
As coal rank increases, the vitrinite macerals become increasingly reflective. The
percentage reflection of a beam of normal incident white light from the surface of
polished vitrinite is a function of the rank (maturity) of the maceral. The reflectivity
(
R
o
%. Both are measurements of the
percentage of light reflected from the sample, calibrated against a material which
shows ~100% reflectance.
R
) may either be recorded as
R
v
max% or
Wasted-coal fires
Wasted coal is that left in mines or disposed of on the surface. Wasted-coal fires occur
in inactive or abandoned coal mines and coal-waste banks. Also called
“
Abandoned
Mined Lands
”
fires.
References
Ashley, G.H., 1928. Bituminous Coal Fields of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Geological Series, Fourth Series,
Bulletin M6, Part 1.
ASTM, 2002. D3176-89(2002) Standard Practice for Ultimate Analysis of Coal and Coke. American Society for
Testing and Materials, Book of Standards v 05.06
—
Gaseous Fuels; Coal and Coke. ASTM, West Consho-
hocken, PA.
ASTM, 2005. D388-05 Standard Classification of Coals by Rank. American Society for Testing and Materials,
Book of Standards v 05.06
—
Gaseous Fuels; Coal and Coke. ASTM, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM, 2007. D3172-07 A Standard Practice for Proximate Analysis of Coal and Coke. American Society for
Testing and Materials, Book of Standards v 05.06
—
Gaseous Fuels; Coal and Coke. ASTM, West Consho-
hocken, PA.
Banerjee, S.C., 1985. Spontaneous Combustion of Coal and Mine Fires. Oxford and IBH Publishing Company,
New Delhi, 168 p.
Barghoorn, E.S., 1952. Degradation of plant materials and its relation to the origin of coal. Second
Conference on the Origin and Constitution of Coal, Nova Scotia Department of Mines, Crystal Cliffs,
NS, pp. 181
203.
Bennett, A.J.R., 1963. Origin and formation of coal seams. Australia CSIRO, Division of Coal Research,
Miscellaneous Report No. 239.
Brownfield, M.E., Affolter, R.H., Cathcart, J.D., Brownfield, I.K., Hower, J.C., Stricker, G.D., 1999. Dispersed
volcanic ash in feed coal and its influence on coal combustion products. International Ash Utilization
Symposium, Lexington, KY, October 18
-
-
20, 1999. Center for Applied Energy Research, University of
Kentucky, 8 p., CD-ROM.
Bruhn, R.W., Michalski, S.R., 1989. Control of an underground mine fire in Pennsylvania
s anthracite region.
Proceedings of 11th Annual Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs Conference, Williamsburg, VA,
October 16
'
-
19, 1989, pp. 56
-
62.
