The No. 5 Block in Eastern Kentucky: a Critical Re- Examination of the Petrology with Special Attention to the Origin of Inertinite Macerals in the Splint Lithotypes
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University of Kentucky UKnowledge University of Kentucky Master's Theses Graduate School 2010 THE NO. 5 BLOCK IN EASTERN KENTUCKY: A CRITICAL RE- EXAMINATION OF THE PETROLOGY WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ORIGIN OF INERTINITE MACERALS IN THE SPLINT LITHOTYPES Allison Ranae Richardson 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 Richardson, Allison Ranae, "THE NO. 5 BLOCK IN EASTERN KENTUCKY: A CRITICAL RE-EXAMINATION OF THE PETROLOGY WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ORIGIN OF INERTINITE MACERALS IN THE SPLINT LITHOTYPES" (2010). University of Kentucky Master's Theses. 16. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_theses/16 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Kentucky Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT OF THESIS THE NO. 5 BLOCK COAL IN EASTERN KENTUCKY: A CRITICAL RE- EXAMINATION OF THE PETROLOGY WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ORIGIN OF INERTINITE MACERALS IN THE SPLINT LITHOTYPES Microbes, including fungi and bacteria, and insects are responsible for the consumption and subsequent degradation of plant materials into humus. These microbes directly and indirectly affect the physical and chemical characteristics of coal macerals. Efforts to understand and determine the origins of inertinite macerals are largely misrepresented in the literature, conforming to a single origin of fire. This study focuses on the variability of physical and inferred chemical differences observed petrographically between the different inertinite macerals and discusses the multiple pathways plant material may take to form and or degrade these macerals. Petrographic results show that fungal activity plays a fundamental role in the formation of inertinite macerals, specifically macrinite and non-fire derived semifusinite. Fungal activity chemically removes the structural framework of woody plant tissues, forming less structured to unstructured macerals. Insect activity within a mire also greatly influences the inertinite maceral composition. Wood-consuming insects directly degrade wood tissue leading to the formation of less structured inertinites, as well as producing large conglomerates of inert fecal pellets chemically similar to the original plant tissue that may be represented in the inertinite maceral composition. Keywords: coal, Appalachian Basin, petrology, maceral, microbial Allison R. Richardson ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6/17/2010 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE NO. 5 BLOCK COAL IN EASTERN KENTUCKY: A CRITICAL RE- EXAMINATION OF THE PETROLOGY WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ORIGIN OF INERTINITE MACERALS IN THE SPLINT LITHOTYPES By Allison Ranae Richardson Dr. James C. Hower ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Co-Director of Thesis Dr. Cortland F. Eble ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Co-Director of Thesis Dr. Alan E. Fryar ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Director of Graduate Studies 6/17/2010 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ RULES FOR THE USE OF THESES Unpublished theses submitted for the Master’s degree and deposited in the University of Kentucky Library are as a rule open for inspection, but are to be used only with due regard to the rights of the authors. Bibliographical references may be noted, but quotations or summaries of parts may be published only with the permission of the author, and with the usual scholarly acknowledgments. Extensive copying or publication of the thesis in whole or in part also requires the consent of the Dean of the Graduate School of the University of Kentucky. A library that borrows this thesis for use by its patrons is expected to secure the signature of each user. Name Date ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ THESIS Allison Ranae Richardson The Graduate School University of Kentucky 2010 THE NO. 5 BLOCK IN EASTERN KENTUCKY: A CRITICAL RE-EXAMINATION OF THE PETROLOGY WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ORIGIN OF INERTINITE MACERALS IN THE SPLINT LITHOTYPES ________________________________________________________ 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 Allison Ranae Richardson Lexington, KY Co-Directors: Dr. James C. Hower, Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Dr. Cortland F. Eble, Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Lexington, KY 2010 Copyright© Allison Ranae Richardson 2010 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to first and foremost thank my advisor, Dr. James Hower, for his support and dedication; without his guidance this thesis would not have been possible. I would also like to thank him for his excellent mentorship and kind-heartedness throughout the toughest times of this project and for believing in me and my ability to succeed in all things. Lastly, I would like to thank Jim for his approach to thesis advising, allowing me to grow and develop as a scientist, and providing an open environment for debate and discussion of my ideas and feelings. I would also like to thank my co-advisor Dr. Cortland Eble for his commitment to this project, including his helpful laboratory guidance, feedback, and overall witty disposition on life and academia. His perspective and advice has allowed me to enjoy the graduate school experience. I would also like to thank committee member Dr. Alan Fryar for his helpful feedback and commitment to this project. Special thanks go to Dr. Jen O’Keefe at Morehead State University for sharing her exciting research and aiding in all aspects of completing this thesis. Her expertise and time were very immensely valuable. I would also like to thank her for her unwavering emotional support throughout this process. I would also like to thank Anne Satterwhite for being my closest confidant during this process and providing a lifetime of valuable advice and encouragement. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements……......................................................................................iii List of Tables…….............................................................................................vi List of Figures…….............................................................................................vii Chapter One: Introduction...................................................................................................1 Purpose.....................................................................................................................1 Overview..................................................................................................................2 Coal overview..............................................................................................2 Lithotypes....................................................................................................2 Rank.............................................................................................................3 Macerals......................................................................................................3 Microlithotypes...........................................................................................8 Splint coal....................................................................................................8 Geologic setting.......................................................................................................9 Stratigraphy.................................................................................................9 Tectonics.....................................................................................................9 Paleoenvironment......................................................................................11