Distribution and origin of minerals in high-rank coals of the South Walker Creek area, Bowen Basin, Australia

• Published in: International journal of coal geology 2013-09, Vol.116-117, p.185-207
• Main Authors: Permana, Asep K., Ward, Colin R., Li, Zhongsheng, Gurba, Lila W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonian illite; Australia; Coal; Diaspore; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Fluids; Hydrothermal alteration; Mineralogy; Minerals; Seams; Surface layer; Texture; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0166-5162; 1872-7840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coal.2013.03.001

The coals of the South Walker Creek area in the northern Bowen Basin, with a vitrinite reflectance (Rvmax) of 1.7 to 1.95%, are among the highest rank coals currently mined in Australia. X-ray diffraction studies have identified an unusual mineral variation through the vertical sequence, with kaolinite-rich assemblages typical of other Australian coals at the top and bottom of the seam section and an illite–chlorite assemblage resembling a metamorphic association in the middle. Calcite and ankerite are also abundant in parts of the vertical sequence. Diaspore is abundant in the middle section of the seam in some areas, and paragonite, dickite or nacrite occurs in some locations as well. The distribution of the non-carbonate mineral assemblages cross-cuts the seam stratigraphy, and appears to be primarily controlled by faults and other structural features. Integration of the mineral distribution with optical and electron microscope data on the coal and non-coal bands, chemical data from coal ash analysis, and information from X-ray micro-tomography, suggests that the illite–chlorite and diaspore-bearing assemblages resulted from hydrothermal effects associated with fluid migration through the middle part of the coal seam. This is further confirmed by the development of metamorphic textures in a tonstein band, also altered to illite and chlorite, in the illite-rich part of the seam section, in contrast to a tonstein with more normal sedimentary textures and a kaolinite composition in the kaolinite-rich upper part of the seam. Detailed studies of cleat mineralisation suggest that fluids rich in Ca, Mg and Al were introduced relatively early in the seam's post-depositional history, associated with heat flow sufficient to alter the minerals in the coal and tonstein in the affected part of the seam section. The relatively uniform vitrinite reflectance profile observed through the seam section may indicate that the coal was already of high rank before the fluids were introduced, or that any localised heat effects on the organic matter associated with the changes in clay mineralogy were overprinted by subsequent wider-ranging rank advance processes. •Major mineralogical variation through profile of a low-volatile bituminous coal seam.•Kaolinite, I/S in upper and lower sections; NH4-illite, chlorite, diaspore in middle.•Minerals mainly in pores of inertinite, plus cleats and fracture fillings.•Distribution controlled mainly by structural features of seam.•Minerals