Influence of the geotectonic regime on property formation of coal in the northern edges of the Donetsk basin

Abstract

Purpose. To determine the influence of the geotectonic regime during accumulation of carbon formation on development of coal-bed properties of the northern Donbas. Methodology. To perform the tasks set, a number of research methods were used which include petrographic, chemical and technological, facies and tectonic, computational, statistical and analytical, informational, chronological, genetic, comparative and other methods. Findings. The effect of the geotectonic regime on the formation of coal properties has been established. It is proved that the change in the number of maceral groups is of a regular nature. The reduction in the number of maceral groups of liptinith and irtinitis, in the light of the increase in the number of maceral wind group, is taking place in the direction of the growth of the total amplitude and average speed of the oscillating movements of the Earth’s crust during the accumulation of carbon formation. Originality. Coal formation is considered regarding a unified geodynamic perspective as an integral part of a complex set of natural processes that accompanied the development and interaction of deep structures (plates) of the lithosphere. The main attention is paid to the peculiarities of the composition and quality of coal formed under geodynamic conditions with different motion nature of the lithosphere. For the first time, comparative analysis of the coal-bearing formation of the middle Carboniferous period of the Old and Northern Donbas has been performed. Detailed petrographic and chemical-technological characteristics are given to the coal seams of the Northern Donbas. The peculiarities of the composition and quality of the coal of the deltaic-bog-marine formation have been determined for the first time compared to the coal of other formations of the Middle Carboniferous. Practical value. Regional (“provincial”) peculiarities of coal composition and quality of deltaic-bog-marine and alluvial-bog- marine formations of northern Donbas regions have been defined, which will allow substantiating the directions of its rational use. The proposed approach makes it possible to predict coal content as well as composition and quality of coal in the areas of distribution of bituminous coal. The expediency and prospects of adding the coal of northern Donbas to the fuel base of Ukraine are proven.