A Petrographic Characterization of the Leatherwood Coal Bed in Eastern Kentucky
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University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences Earth and Environmental Sciences 2014 A Petrographic Characterization of the Leatherwood Coal Bed in Eastern Kentucky Michelle N. Johnston University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Johnston, Michelle N., "A Petrographic Characterization of the Leatherwood Coal Bed in Eastern Kentucky" (2014). Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences. 18. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/ees_etds/18 This Master's Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Earth and Environmental Sciences at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless an embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s thesis including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Michelle N. Johnston, Student Dr. Jim Hower, Major Professor Dr. Edward Woolery, Director of Graduate Studies A PETROGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LEATHERWOOD COAL BED IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THESIS A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky By Michelle N. Johnston Director: Dr. James C. Hower, Adjunct Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Lexington, Kentucky 2014 Copyright© Michelle N. Johnston, 2014 ABSTRACT OF THESIS A PETROGRAPHIC CHRACTERIZATION OF THE LEATHERWOOD COAL BED IN EASTERN KENTUCKY The Eastern Kentucky Coal Field is located in the central portion of the Appalachian Basin. The Pennsylvanian Breathitt Formation in this region is characterized by numerous sequences of bituminous coal-bearing sedimentary rocks. These coals have distinct maceral compositions due to variations in depositional environments. Coal characterization is an important method for determining conditions that influenced peat accumulation and overall depositional settings of mires. This study focuses on the characterization of the maceral composition of the Middle Pennsylvanian-age Leatherwood coal bed. It utilizes petrographical, palynological, and geochemical analyses to describe specific depositional environments and associated peat accumulation conditions. Petrographic analyses indicate that these coals have relatively high liptinite and varying inertinite content, along with trace amounts of mineral matter. Vitrinite, mainly in the form of collotelinite, is the most dominant maceral group. Geochemical data reveal low ash and sulfur content. Ancillary palynological data shows the palynomorph assemblage to be dominated by tree fern and large lycopsid tree spores, with lesser amounts of small lycopsid tree, small fern, and cordaites and calamites spores. The petrographic, geochemical and palynological data indicate that both domed, ombrotrophic, and planar, rheotrophic mire conditions, with limited local detrital influx, contributed to the formation of the Leatherwood coal. Keywords: Coal, Petrography, Leatherwood, Appalachian Basin, Palynology Michelle N. Johnston April 24, 2014 A PETROGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LEATHERWOOD COAL BED IN EASTERN KENTUCKY By Michelle N. Johnston Dr. James C. Hower (Director of Thesis) Dr. Edward Woolery (Director of Graduate Studies) April 24, 2014 This work is dedicated to my parents, Michael and Fran Johnston. I appreciate all of the love, support, and sacrifices my mother has made to help me succeed. I honor the memory of my father with my degree in geology. I love you both very much. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Foremost, it is with sincere gratitude that I acknowledge my advisor, Dr. James Hower, for his continuous support, motivation, and immense knowledge. This thesis would not have been possible without his guidance and dedication. Words cannot begin to express how appreciative I am for Jim providing me with a positive and enjoyable graduate school experience. It also gives me great pleasure in acknowledging the expertise of Dr. Cortland Eble, and would like to give him thanks for his commitment and efforts to this project. I would also like to thank committee member, Dr. Rebecca Freeman, for her helpful feedback and support to this project. In addition, a thank you to committee member, Dr. Jen O’Keefe, whose enthusiasm for research and science has allowed for the success of this project, and my career as a woman in the geosciences. Lastly, I would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Kate Bulinski, who introduced me to the wonderful field of geology. Without her continuous encouragement, valuable advice, support, and life-long friendship, I would not be where I am today. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments………………………………………….…………………………….iii List of Tables…………………………………………….…………………………….…vi List of Figures…………………...……………………………………………....…....…viii Chapter 1: Introduction……………………………………………………………..…..…1 1.1 Purpose……………………………..……………….……………….…………….1 1.2 Coal Overview………………………………….……………………..………..…2 1.2.1 Lithotypes……………...……………………………...……...……………..2 1.2.2 Maceral Groups……………….………………………………………..……3 1.2.3 Rank……………….…………………………………………………..……5 1.2.4 Grade……………………………………...…………..…………………….6 1.3 Geologic Setting………………………………………………………………..….6 1.3.1 Paleoenvironment………………………………………………………..…6 1.3.2 Palynology...…………………………………………………………….. …7 1.3.3 Stratigraphy………………………………………………………………....8 Chapter 2: Sampling and Analytical Methods………………………………...……..…..17 2.1 Sample Collection…………………………...……………...……………………17 2.2 Sample Preparation………………………………………………………..……..17 2.3 Etching Preparation………………………………………….…………….……..18 2.4 Data Collection…………………………………………………….…………….18 Chapter 3: Results……………………………………………………………………..…24 3.1 Quantitative Results……………………………………………………………...24 3.1.1 Coal Series 4477—4488…………………………..……………………......24 3.1.2 Coal Series 4489—4499……………………………………...……….…....25 3.1.3 Coal Series 4500—4511……………………………………..……...……...26 3.1.4 Coal Series 4599—4607…………..………………………………………..27 3.1.5 Coal Series 4978—4986………………………………………….....….…..28 3.1.6 Coal Series 41035—41041……………………………………………...…29 3.1.7 Coal Series 41042—41048…………………………………………..….…30 3.1.8 Coal Series 41049—41054……………………………...….……………...31 3.1.9 Coal Series 41055—41061………………………………………………...32 3.1.10 Coal Series 6468—6476……………………………………………..…...34 3.1.11 Coal Series 6477—6485………………………………………….…..…..35 3.2 Qualitative Results……………………………………………………..………...37 3.2.1 Coal Series 4477—4488………………………………………….………..38 3.2.2 Coal Series 4489—4499…………………………………………….……..38 3.2.3 Coal Series 4500—4511…………………………………………………...39 iv 3.2.4 Coal Series 4599—4607…………………………………………………...39 3.2.5 Coal Series 4978—4986…………………………………………………...39 3.2.6 Coal Series 41035—41041…………………………………….…….….…40 3.2.7 Coal Series 41042—41048……………………………………..……….…40 3.2.8 Coal Series 41049—41054……………………………………..……….…41 3.2.9 Coal Series 41055—41061………………………………………..…….…41 3.2.10 Coal Series 6468—6476……………………………………………...…..42 3.2.11 Coal Series 6477—6485……………………………………………...…..42 Chapter 4: Discussion and Conclusions………………………………………………...147 4.1 Depositional Environment Interpretations…………………………….………..147 4.1.1 Petrography……………………..…………...……………………………147 4.1.2 Geochemistry……………………………………………………...……...148 4.1.3 Palynology…………………………………………………………...…...149 4.2 Interpretations……………………………………………………...……….…..150 4.3 Conclusions………………………………………………………………….….154 Appendix A: Petrographic Data ……..…………………………………………….…...163 Appendix B: Palynological Data ……..………………………..………………….…...181 Appendix C: Geochemical Data ……..…………………………………...……….…...202 Appendix D: Correlation Coefficient Analyses ……..…………………………….…...213 Appendix E: Field Descriptions ……..…………………………………………….…...238 References……………………………………………………………………….…..….250 Vita……………………………………………………...…………………….….…..…254 v LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1, Sampled mines with associated quadrangle, county, mining company, Carter Coordinate section, and sample ID number……………………………………...19 Table 3.1, Vitrinite reflectance values for maximum reflectance, maximum reflectance standard deviation,