Coalification patterns of the Pennsylvanian coal measures in the Appalachian foreland basin, western and south-central Pennsylvania

Abstract

Research Article| February 01, 1993 Coalification patterns of the Pennsylvanian coal measures in the Appalachian foreland basin, western and south-central Pennsylvania ETUAN ZHANG; ETUAN ZHANG 1Energy and Fuels Research Center, 205 Research Building East, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ALAN DAVIS ALAN DAVIS 1Energy and Fuels Research Center, 205 Research Building East, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1993) 105 (2): 162–174. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1993)105<0162:CPOTPC>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation ETUAN ZHANG, ALAN DAVIS; Coalification patterns of the Pennsylvanian coal measures in the Appalachian foreland basin, western and south-central Pennsylvania. GSA Bulletin 1993;; 105 (2): 162–174. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1993)105<0162:CPOTPC>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Detailed vitrinite reflectance (Ro) profiles have been constructed for nine boreholes penetrating the Pennsylvanian coal measures of the Appalachian foreland basin in western and south-central Pennsylvania. A revised regional coal rank map was compiled with new and pre-existing data. By comparing the calculated Ro profiles with those of measured Ro maximum burial depth, coalification temperature, heat flow, and geothermal gradient were estimated for the coal measures using a one-dimensional transient heat-conductive model combined with the Lopatin-Waples, diagram. The results indicate that increase in coal rank (0.7%-1.9% Ro) and in Ro gradient (0.38%-1.45% Ro/km) across the study area coincides regionally with variation in calculated maximum burial depth (3-5 km), paleotemperature (90-155 °C), paleoheat flow (53 to >75 mW/ m2), and geothermal gradient (26 to >33 °C/ km), and that the region represents different burial and thermal regimes as well as different structural provinces.At the western margin of the Intraplateau Structural Front, coalification continued after the Alleghanian orogeny. Regional geothermal heating due to depositional burial is thought to have been the dominant heat source responsible for the coalification level in the area. Closer to the eastern edge of the Intraplateau Front, both regional geothermal heating due to burial and advective heating due to the fluid flow accompanying the Alleghanian orogeny were important in creating the observed coalification patterns. A higher coal rank and reflectance gradient, together with a concentric isorank pattern centred in northern Somerset County, appear to represent an area where advective heating due to fluid flow was the dominant heat source. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.