THE VELENJE LIGNITE Its Petrology and Genesis
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Miloš Markič & Reinhard F. Sachsenhofer THE VELENJE LIGNITE Its Petrology and Genesis GEOLOŠKI ZAVOD SLOVENIJE Ljubljana, 2010 THE VELENJE LIGNITE – ITS PETROLOGY AND GENESIS © 2010, Geološki zavod Slovenije / Geological Survey of Slovenia Authors: Dr. Miloš Markič Geološki zavod Slovenije, Dimičeva ul. 14, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Univ.-Prof. Dr. Reinhard F. Sachsenhofer Montanuniversität Leoben – Department Angewandte Geowissenschaften und Geophysik Peter-Tunner-Strasse 5, A-8700 Leoben, Austria Reviewers: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jadran Faganeli Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bojan Ogorelec Language revision: Erna Urbanc, prof. Published by: Geološki zavod Slovenije / Geological Survey of Slovenia Online access: http://www.geo-zs.si (with colour figures) Cover pages: Photomicrograph of texto-ulminite with phlobaphinite (front cover) and textinite with pyrite (back cover) Print: Birografika Bori, d.o.o., Ljubljana Number of copies: 200 Financed by: Javna agencija za knjigo R Slovenije, Premogovnik Velenje in Geološki zavod Slovenije / Slovenian Book Agency, Velenje Lignite Mine, and Geological Survey of Slovenia CIP - Kataložni zapis o publikaciji Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica, Ljubljana 552.574(497.4Velenje) 552.11(497.4Velenje) MARKIČ, Miloš The Velenje lignite - its petrology and genesis / Miloš Markič & Reinhard F. Sachsenhofer. - Ljubljana : Geološki zavod Slovenije = Geological Survey of Slovenia, 2010 ISBN 978-961-6498-20-3 1. Sachsenhofer, Reinhard F. 250446080 Miloš Markič & Reinhard F. Sachsenhofer THE VELENJE LIGNITE – ITS PETROLOGY AND GENESIS GEOLOŠKI ZAVOD SLOVENIJE Ljubljana, 2010 CONTENTS CONTENTS PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS i-iv ABSTRACT v-viii 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1. Geographical and basic geological background 1 1.2 Discovery of coal in the Šalek valley 6 1.3. Production of lignite and electrical energy 7 1.4. Historical attempts to convert lignite into products of higher quality and value 8 1.5. General problems encountered with the Velenje lignite mining 11 1.6. Basic geological and geotechnical studies in the last 40 years 13 1.6.1. Geology of the Velenje basin 13 1.6.2. Hydrogeology 15 1.6.3. Geomechanics and studies related to coal and gas outbursts 15 1.6.4. Data management and elaboration of coal reserves 18 2. GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND FACTS ABOUT THE VELENJE LIGNITE 19 2.1. Geological setting 19 2.2. Facts about the Velenje lignite 23 3. PETROLOGICAL AND RELATED STUDIES OF THE VELENJE LIGNITE BEFORE 1992 25 3.1. Petrography 25 3.2. Estimation of coalification rank by reflectance of huminite 28 3.3. Palynology 29 3.4. Geochemistry 30 3.5. Quality of coal 30 4. REASONS TO STUDY THE VELENJE LIGNITE – THE AIMS, INTERESTING ASPECTS AND HYPOTHESES 31 4.1. Thickness 31 4.2. Regional geological position and type of the basin 32 4.3. Accumulation of biomass 35 4.4. Peat growth and development of coal facies 35 CONTENTS 4.4.1. Low-lying mires and raised mires 36 4.4.2. Topography, vegetation distribution and coal facies – hypothesis of aggradation 38 4.4.3. Acrotelm and catotelm 39 4.5. Ca-rich environment of peat formation and early coalification 41 5. METHODS OF PETROLOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THE VELENJE LIGNITE AFTER 1992 44 6. PETROGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THE VELENJE LIGNITE 47 6.1. Lithotype concept for macroscopic description of coal 48 6.2. Coal macerals and classification for soft brown coals 50 6.3. Macro-petrographic lithotype characterization of the Velenje lignite 54 6.3.1. Lithotype classification and codification for the Velenje lignite 55 6.3.1.1. Characterization of the fragmental pattern 56 6.3.1.2. Size limits of constituent elements of the lithotype components – introduction of the Uden scale into coal petrography 61 6.3.1.3. Shape and orientation of the constituent elements 63 6.3.1.4. Gelification 63 6.3.1.5. Ratios between lithotype components – petrographic composition 65 6.3.1.6. Lithotype classification and interpretation of peat-forming environments 69 6.3.1.7. Elemental and isotopic composition of macro-lithotypes 71 6.3.1.8. Codification of petrographic composition of lignite in borehole-cores 75 6.3.1.8.1. Codification by source codes and weight code values 77 6.3.1.8.2. Codification of bi-component lithotype varieties composed of non-neighbouring components 77 6.3.1.8.3. Codification of poly-component lithotype varieties 79 6.3.2. Petrographic logging of lignite in borehole cores 85 6.3.3. Petrographic mapping of lignite in the underground mine workings 93 6.3.3.1. Reasons for underground lignite mapping 95 6.3.3.2. Characteristics of the objects mapped 95 6.3.3.3. Selected examples of structural petrographic and tectonic interpretations at different localities of mining within the Velenje lignite seam 96 CONTENTS 6.3.3.3.1. Incline and the mining road to access the exploitation field D at the -5 height level in the Pesje sector 96 6.3.3.3.2. Mining roads and long-walls in the Preloge sector 101 6.3.3.3.3. Location of the gas outburst in the road »8« at the level -90C on the 6th of February 2003 111 6.3.3.3.4. G1/D and G2/A roads in the northern wing of the Preloge sector 113 6.4. Micro-petrographic characterization of the Velenje lignite 116 6.4.1. Petrographic analysis of lignite in boreholes P-9k/92 and P-8z/92 117 6.4.1.1. Megascopic description of lignite in boreholes P-9k/92 and P-8z/92 117 6.4.1.2. Core sampling, preparation of polished blocks, and microscopic method 121 6.4.1.3. Microscopic appearance of macerals composing the Velenje lignite 121 6.4.1.4. Results of micro-petrographic analysis in boreholes P-9k/92 and P-8z/92 128 6.4.1.4.1. Maceral groups 128 6.4.1.4.2. Application of the petrographic facies indices 134 6.4.1.4.3. Sulphur content 135 6.4.1.4.4. Paleo-environmental interpretation based on Diessel's (1986) facies diagrams 136 6.4.1.4.5. Relationship between the ash yield and the gelification index 138 7. COAL RANK ESTIMATION OF THE VELENJE LIGNITE 141 7.1. Rank determination by huminite reflectance 145 7.2. Rank determination by the moisture content, gross calorific value, and the volatile matter and carbon contents 146 7.2.1. Moisture content 146 7.2.2. Gross calorific value (GCV) 147 7.2.3. Volatile-matter and carbon contents 150 7.3. Variation of the GCV throughout the P-9k/92 lignite seam profile 151 8. INORGANIC-GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE VELENJE LIGNITE 154 8.1. Samples, methods, analytical results, and accuracy of analytics 154 8.2. Short discussion whether to analyze “whole coals” or ashes of coals, and relation between the ash yield and mineral matter content 160 CONTENTS 8.3. Origin of mineral matter in coal 161 8.4. Mineral matter and inorganic matter in coal 163 8.5. Results of geochemical analysis 164 8.5.1. Minor-element geochemistry 164 8.5.2. Mineralogical investigations 168 8.5.3. Trace-element geochemistry 172 9. FINAL DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 179 9.1. General geological setting 179 9.2. Initiation, development and termination of the peat formation 179 9.3. Lignite facies, segmentation of the seam, lithotype classification, and interpretation of the peat-forming environments on the basis of micropetrographic indices 181 9.4. Paleofloristic evidences and petrography-based interpretations 185 9.5. Coal rank evaluation of the Velenje lignite 187 9.6. Relationships between petrographic, organic geochemical, inorganic geochemical and isotopic parameters, and related interpretation of the lignite's genesis 188 9.7. Minor- and trace-element geochemistry of the Velenje lignite 190 10. EPILOGUE 193 REFERENCES - published 195 OTHER SOURCES 214 PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Preface and acknowledgements Petrological study of the Velenje lignite presented and discussed in this monograph started in 1992. It was initiated by Aleksander BREZIGAR and Dr. Bogomir JELEN, two excellent geologists working for the Geological Survey of Slovenia at that time. They informed the first author about a possibility to do systematic logging, petrographic description and sampling of lignite in the cores of boreholes P-8z/92, P-9k/92, and P-12o/92 situated in the northern marginal and central area of the Velenje basin. When this initial work was completed, Aleksander BREZIGAR organized a presentation of the study results at the Velenje Lignite Mine. On this basis, a long lasting and still ongoing cooperation with the colleagues at the coal mine, especially with Dr. Simon ZAVŠEK, was established. It also should be highlighted, that the petrological investigations during the whole duration of the project were financed exclusively by the Velenje Lignite Mine (VLM) led during the last twenty years by the following directors: Dr. Franc ŽERDIN, Dr. Evgen DERVARIČ and Dr. Milan MEDVED. The first author worked many hours in the underground mine and spent a lot of time with geological investigations in the geomechanical laboratory of the VLM. We thank Janez JEZERŠEK and Edo BURIČ, who led this laboratory, as well as the entire laboratory staff for their permanent assistance, taking care of safety, and enabling best possible working conditions, which contributed significantly to the success of this study. Sincere thanks are also given to groups of unnamed miners who transported hundreds of core boxes from the mine into the laboratory, thus providing ideal conditions for core logging and sampling. In this laboratory, also low temperature ashing of lignite samples was performed. We appreciate the great help of Mrs. Jožica ROUŠNIK, who did this work with great patience and accuracy. The decision to restart petrological research of the Velenje lignite following Dr. Milan HAMRLA's pioneering studies in the 1950s was highly influenced by the work of Dr.