Characters of Liptinites in Different Seams of Talcher Coalfield, Odisha, India

Abstract

Lower Gondwana coals of Talcher coalfield extends along the south-eastern part of the Mahanadi valley. Coal samples from six different seams, viz. Seam-I, II, III, IV, VIII and IX of Nandira, Lingaraj and Hingula colliery of Talcher coalfield were taken for study. The detailed petrographic study was carried out with special emphasis on identifying and calculating the distribution of various types of liptinite macerals. The coal seams overall are found to be dominated by vitrinite followed by inertinite and liptinite. The liptinite group macerals were characterized with the help of fluorescence microscopy. It is observed that sporinites, particularly microspores, were predominant in all the above seams. Megaspores and resinites were identified in Seams-I and II only. Seams-I and VIII with comparatively higher liptinite content (3-16 vol.%) could be considered favourable for coal liquefaction and gasification. However, the overall low liptinite content (<5 vol.%) of Talcher coals indicates a telmatic swampy paleoenvironment of deposition. The generated data on various liptinite types can serve as facies indicators and help in seam correlation.