Sulfide minerals in Coal Bed V, minnehaha mine, Sullivan County, Indiana

Abstract

Polished and thin section examinations of samples from Indiana Coal Bed V (Springfield) have shown three sulfides to be present; namely pyrite, marcasite and sphalerite. Pyrite and marcasite are dominant forms whereas sphalerite is very minor. These sulfides appear to have formed in four distinct stages as judged on the basis of mineralogy and mineral texture. Pyrite occurs as framboids throughout the coal seam, as fibrous crystals in two horizons of the coal and in massive form as cleat fillings and cell fillings in fusinite and semi-fusinite. Marcasite occurs in spherical polycrystalline and twinned grains, as polycrystalline overgrowths on framboids, as cementing material for clusters of framboids, as blocky polycrystalline grains and with pyrite as cell fillings in fusinite and semi-fusinite. Sphalerite occurs exclusively as cell fillings in semi-fusinite. The paragenetic sequence indicates fluctuations in the overall coal bed chemistry. Individual sections display evidence of chemical variation on the micro scale.