PETROGRAPHIC COMPOSITION OF COALS IN THE U. S. S. R. AND SOME OF ITS CHANGES

Abstract

Over 1,000 representative coal samples from the Donets, Kuznetsk, Karaganda, Moscow, Kama, Minusinsk, Kizel, Chelyabinsk, Aldan (South Yakutian), Turgay, and other basins were studied petrographically. Coal microcomponents were divided into four broad groups (vitrinite, semivitrinite, fusinite; and leiptinite) that were used to classify coal types, to deduce conditions of accumulation and transformation, and to compute reserves. Vitrinite type coals constitute about 65 percent of Soviet coal reserves. High vitrinite contents (82-90%) typify Middle and Upper Carboniferous coals from the Donets and South Yakutian basins, and from the Kol'chugino series of the Kuznetsk basin. Coals from the Pechora and Minusinsk basins are also high (70-79%) in vitrinitous components. Fusinitous coals form about 32 percent of the U. S. S. R. coal reserves. Fusinite coal predominates in the Permian coals of the Tungus and Kuznetsk basins, in Lower Carboniferous seams of the Karaganda basin, and in Jurassic coals of the Angren...