Table of Contents

Page

Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ... .iii

List of Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xii

List of Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xix

Acknowledgements                        .                        .                        .                        .                        .                        .                        .                        .                        .                        .                        .                        .                        .                        .xxii

Chapter 1. Introduction and Objectives of Study . . . . . . . .1

Chapter 2. Previous Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

          A. Coal Petrographic Terminology . . . . . . . . . .3

          B. Coal Rank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

          C. Field Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

          D. Coal Physicochemical Studies . . . . . . . . . .11

 

Chapter 3. Sampling Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

 

Chapter 4. Description of Variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       24

B. Variables of the Proximate Analysis . . . . . . .27

1. Moisture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            28

2. Volatile Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            29

3. Ash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            30

C. Variables of the Ultimate Analysis . . . . . . .30

1. Carbon and Hydrogen . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

2. Nitrogen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            32

3. Sulfur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            32

4. Oxygen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            35

D. Calorific Value . . . . . . . . . .            . . . . . .            36

E. Computing Coal Data to Different Bases . . . . .36

F. Petrographic Variables . . . . . . . . . . . . .            42

1. Reflectance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            42

2.Maceral s            .                       .            43

a. Macerals of the Vitrinite Group . . . . .            45

(1) Properties of the Vitrinite Group .            45

(2) Chemistry of the Vitrinite Group . .50

b. Macerals of the Liptinite Group . . . . .            52

(1) Sporinite . . . . . . . . . . . . .            54

(2) Resinite . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            55

(3) Cutinite . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            57

(4) Alginite . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            58

(5) Other Macerals of the Liptinite Group            59

c. Macerals of the Inertinite Group . . . .60

(1) Fusinite . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            61

(2) Semifusinite . . . . . . . . . . . .63

(3) Micrinite . . . . . . . . . . . . .            63

(4)Micrinite..            .            .            .65

(5) Sclerotinite . . . . . . . . . . . .66

G. Variables of the Coal Ash Analysis . . . . . . .66

 

Chapter 5.

5.	Statistical Tests on Entire Set of Whole Seam Coals .	69
	A. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	70
	l. Calorific Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	86
	2. Variables of the Proximate Analysis . . . . .	88
	a. Moisture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	88
	b. Volatile Matter . . . . . . , . . . . . .	89
	3. Variables of the Ultimate Analysis . . . . .	90
	a. Organic Sulfur . . . . . . . . . . . . .	90
	b. Carbon, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	92
	c. Hydrogen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	94
	d. Nitrogen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	95
	e. Oxygen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	96
	4. Petrographic Variables . . . . . . . . . . .	97
	a. Total Liptinite Group Macerals . . . . .	98
	b. Total Inertinite Group Macerals . . . . .	99
	c. Total Vitrinite Group Macerals . . . . .	100
	d. Reflectance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	102
	B. Bivariate Analyses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	103
	C. Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	104
	1. Procedure for Factor Analysis . . . . . . . .	106
	2. Analysis of Factor Components . . . . . . . .	113
	D. Cluster Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	118
6.	Statistical Tests on All Coals Except Those of High
	Rank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	134
	A. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	135
	1. Calorific Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	135
	2. Moisture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	144
	3. Volatile Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	145
	4. Organic Sulfur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	145
	5. Carbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	146
	6. Hydrogen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	146
	7. Nitrogen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	147
	8. Oxygen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	148
	9. Total Liptinite Group Macerals . . . . . . .	149
	10. Total Inertinite Group Macerals . . . . . .	149
	11. Total Vitrinite Group Macerals . . . . . . .	150
	12. Reflectance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	150
	B. Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	150
	C. Cluster Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	165
7.	Statistical Tests on Groups Separated by-Cluster
	Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	176
	A. Group I (Low Rank, Low Organic Sulfur Coals) . .	179
	1. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . .	179
	2. Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	182
	3. Interpretation of Analysis of Group I Coals .	189
	B. Group II (Intermediate Rank, Low Organic Sulfur
	Coals) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	191
	1. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . .	191
	2. Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	194
	3. Interpretation of Analysis of Group II Coals.	200

           C. Group III (Intermediate Rank, High Organic Sulfur Coals) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201

                         1. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . .202

                          2. Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205

                          3.Interpretation of Analysis of Group III Coals      211

            D. Group IV (High Rank Coals) . . . . . . . . . . .212

                        1. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . .213

                         2.Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217

                        3.Interpretation of Analysis of Group IV Coals.224

 

Chapter 8. Statistical Tests of Groups Separated by Rank . . . .225

A. Lignites and Subbituminous Coals . . . . . . . .           230

1. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . .            230

2. Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            233

3.  Interpretation of Analysis for Lignites and Subbituminous Coals . . . . . . . . . . . 237

B. High Volatile C Bituminous Coals . . . . . . . .245

1. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . .            245

2. Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            248

3. Interpretation of Analysis for High Volatile C Bituminous Coals . . . . . . . . . .252

C. High Volatile B Bituminous Coals . . . . . . . .           255

1. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . .            255

2. Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            259

3.  Interpretation of Analysis for High Volatile B Bituminous Coals . . . . . .  . . .264

D. High Volatile A Bituminous Coals . . . . . . . .265

1. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . .            266

2.Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .269

3.  Interpretation of Analysis for High Volatile A Bituminous Coals . . . . . . .274

E. Medium Volatile and Higher Rank Coals . . . . . .            276

1. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . .            277

2.Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .281

3.Interpretation of Analysis of Medium Volatile and Higher Rank Coals .  . . . .287

F. Chapter Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .289

 

Chapter 9. Bivariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .291

A. Interrelationships Among Rank-Dependent Variables  . . 301

1.	Carbon versus Oxygen . . . . . . . .  294
2.	Carbon versus Hydrogen . . . . . . .  301
3.	Carbon versus Reflectance . . . . .  303
4.	Carbon versus Moisture . . . . . . .  305
5.	Reflectance versus Moisture . . . .  310
6.	Carbon versus Calorific Value . . .  314
7.	Reflectance versus Calorific Value .  317
8.	Moisture versus Calorific Value . .  321
9.	Carbon versus Volatile Matter . . .  327
10.	Reflectance versus Volatile Matter .  330
11.	Reflectance versus Hydrogen . . . .  333
12.	Volatile Matter versus Hydrogen . .  336

B. Interrelationships Between Other Variables . . .338

     1. Carbon versus Organic Sulfur . . . . . . . .338

     2. Carbon versus Nitrogen . . . . . . . . . . .341

     3. Organic Sulfur versus Nitrogen . . . . . . .343

     4. Total Liptinite versus Organic Sulfur . . .345

 

Chapter 10. Analysis of Coals from Individual Coal Provinces . .348

A. Eastern Province Coals . . . . . . . . . . . . .           354

1. Geologic Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354

a. Appalachian Region . . . . . . . . . . .            357

b. Anthracite Region . . . . . . . . . . . .            358

c. Atlantic Coast Region . . . . . . . . . .            359

2. Statistical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . .            360

a. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . .            360

b. Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . .            370

3. Variation Due to Stratigraphic Position . . .            375

a. Description of Stratigraphic Groups . . .            376

b. Analysis of Stratigraphic Groups . . . .            379

4. Interpretation of Analysis of Eastern Province Coals . . . . . . . . . . .. 384

B. Interior Province Coals . . . . . . . . . . . . .           385

1 .Geologic Setting. . . . . . . . . . . . . .385

a. Eastern Region . . . . . . . . . . . . .            386

b. Western Region . . . . . . . . . . . . .            386

c. Southwestern Region . . . . . . . . . . .            387

d. Northern Region . . . . . . . . . . . . .            387

2. Statistical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . .            388

a. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . .            388

b. Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . .            398

3. Discussion of Analyses of Interior Province Coals . . . . . . . . 403

C. Northern Great Plains Province Coals . . . . . .413

          1. Geologic Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .413

                 a. Fort Union Region . . . . . . . . . . . .414

                 b. North-Central Region . . . . . . . . . . 415

                 c. Denver Basin Region . . . . . . . . . . .415

     d. Raton Mountain Region . . . . . . . . . .            416

2. Statistical Analyses . . . . . . . . . . . .            416

a. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . .            417

b.Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . .            420

 c. Interpretation of Statistics for the North­ern Great Plains Province Coals .            423

D. Rocky Mountain Province . . . . . . . . . . . . .426

l. Geologic Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         426

a. Bighorn Basin Region . . . . . . . . . .            426

b. Green River Region . . . . . . . . . . .            427

c. Uinta Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            427

d. Wind River Region . . . . . . . . . . . .            428

e. San Juan Region . . . . . . . . . . . . .            428

f. Hams Fork Region . . . . . . . . . . . .            429

g. Hanna Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            429

h. Southwestern Utah Region . . . . . . . .429

          2. Statistical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . .430

a. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . .            431

b. Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . .431

c. Interpretation of Statistics for Rocky Mountain Province Coals . . .443

E. Pacific Province . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            445

1. Geologic Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            445

2. Statistical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . .            446

F. Gulf Coast Province Coals . . . . . . . . . . .     446

1. Geologic Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            446

2. Statistical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . .447

G. Statistical Studies on Young Coals from Four Provinces . . . . . . 449

1. Statistical Procedure . . . . . . . . . .            449

2. Interpretation of Statistical Analysis . . .            451

H. Sources of Variation Within and Between Selected Provinces . . . . . . . . . .456

1. Analysis of Multiple Sample Site Data . . .            457

a. Carbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            460

b. Total Inertinite Maceral Group . . . . .462

c. Hydrogen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .462

2. Discussion of Variability Within and Between Mines . . . . . . . . .463

 

Chapter 11. Reconnaissance Analysis of Maceral Group and Oxide Ash Constituents . . . . . 465

                A. Ash Constituents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465

                      1. Iron Oxide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .469

                      2. Magnesium Oxide . . . . . . . . . . . . . .470

                      3. Calcium Oxide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .471

                      4. Sodium Oxide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .471

                      5. Potassium Oxide . . . . . . . . . . . . . .472

              B. Petrographic Constituents . . . . . . . . . . .472

              C. Univariate Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . .473

              D.  Factor Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .479

              E. Interpretation of Statistical Analysis . . . . .487

 

Chapter 12. Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations for Future Research . . . . .492

        A. Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .492

        B. Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .500

        C. Recommendations for Future Research . . . . . .507

 

Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 509

 

Appendix I.                        Location, ASTM Rank, and Seam Information . . . .530

 

Appendix II.                        Data Matrices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .535

 

Appendix III.                        Complete Matrices of Factor Loadings . . . . . . .553

 

Appendix IV.                        Pairwise Discriminant Weights for Cluster Analysis    571

Appendix V.	Factor Matrices, Rotated on Same Number of
	Components as Extracted . . . . . . . . . . . .	572
Appendix VI.	Summary Statistics for the 11 ASTM Rank Groups . .	588
Appendix VII.	Correlation Coefficients by Province for Bivariate
	Plots of Chapter 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	592
Appendix VIII.	Separation of Samples at Multiple Sample Sites . .	604
Appendix IX.	ANOVA Tables for Stratigraphic Groups from Eastern
	Province . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	605
Appendix X.	ANOVA Tables for Coals from Interior Province . .	608
Appendix XI.	ANOVA Tables for Coals of Different Ages . . . . .	610
Appendix XII.	ANOVA Tables for Multiple-Sample Sites . . . . . .	613