scholarly journals Petrography, Palynology, and Organic Geochemistry of Neogene Paralic Coal, Mukah,Sarawak, Malaysia: Implications For Paleomires, and Peat-Forming Conditions

Author(s):  
Nor Syazwani Zainal Abidin ◽  
Khairul Azlan Mustapha ◽  
Wan Hasiah Abdullah ◽  
Zainey Konjing

Abstract The eight coal seams of Neogene paralic coals from Mukah coalfield, Sarawak, Malaysia, were investigated using petrographical, palynological, and organic geochemical analyses to describe coal-forming vegetation, conditions during peat development and precursor mires, and their associations in a sequence-stratigraphic context. The petrographic data of the coals implies the existence of oxygen-deficient and water-saturated conditions in the precursor mires. The condition of low mire oxidation was followed by biomass loss from the mires. The Mukah coals are suggested to be deposited in freshwater peat swamps, and the rich preservation of angiosperm pollens indicates that the organic matter in dense and lowland forest vegetation was mostly terrigenous. The overwhelming presence of Casuarina and Calamus types, suggesting the paleomires were closely linked to Kerapah/Kerangas peat forest and marginally bordered by rattan and supported by the biomarker data. Rheotrophic–ombrotrophic mires were temporarily formed because of water table fluctuations, which strongly depend on ever-wet climate changes and syn-depositional tectonic during the Neogene, resulting in balanced to high peat accumulation and preservation. A maximum thickness of 35m of peat deposits that formed between 10,000 and 175,000 years ago is suggested. The coals are proposed to be influenced by transgressive to initial highstand cycles within the paralic setting.

GeoArabia ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 137-174
Author(s):  
Haytham El Atfy ◽  
Rainer Brocke ◽  
Dieter Uhl

ABSTRACT Palynological results of a detailed study carried out on 56 samples retrieved from two selected wells (GH 404-2A and SA-E6A) of the Hilal and Shoab Ali fields within the southern part of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt, are presented. This study is mainly focused on the poorly dated Nukhul Formation, for which very little information from palynology is available despite its importance from a petroleum viewpoint. The assemblages discovered in our study are moderately preserved and reveal a sparse but significant record of spores and pollen and dinoflagellates together with highly diverse fungi and algal taxa, e.g. Botryococcus and Pediastrum. A latest Oligocene–Early Miocene (Chattian–Aquitanian) age has been suggested for the Nukhul Formation, based on compiling palynostratigraphic and ecologic data obtained from palynomorphs that have previously been assumed to be representatives for this period on a regional scale. In addition, the Oligocene/Miocene Boundary (OMB) could be lithostratigraphically defined within the studied formation, most likely at the boundary between the lower Shoab Ali Member and upper Ghara Member. A fungal/algal ‘event’ within the interval from 11,370–11,430 ft in the GH 404-2A Well may be associated with a strong regressive phase. Such a regression was previously observed in the Nile Delta and other locations around the Red Sea province, and may be assigned to the global Mi-1 glaciation event at the OMB. However, not only glacial-driven eustacy but also tectonic activity related to the Gulf of Suez rifting may have contributed in forming such an event. Palynofacies investigations were carried out under both transmitted and fluorescence microscopy and the results were partly supplemented by existing organic geochemical analyses (GH 404-2A Well) involving Rock-Eval pyrolysis and total organic carbon (TOC) measurements. The analysis was used to interpret the depositional regime, paleoenvironment and thermal maturation history of the studied succession. These results support the temporary existence of shallow, pond- or lake-like aquatic habitats during deposition of the lower Shoab Ali Member that evolved into a shallow-marine environment with the onset of the deposition of upper Ghara Member of the Nukhul Formation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 630-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Therrien ◽  
Darla K. Zelenitsky ◽  
Annie Quinney ◽  
Kohei Tanaka

Dinosaur tracksites recently discovered in exposures of the Belly River Group in the Milk River Natural Area (MRNA) and Dinosaur Provincial Park (DPP) of southern Alberta represent a novel type of ichnofossils. The tracks, all referable to hadrosaurs, occur as sideritic or calcareous concretions protruding above fine-grained deposits and are here termed concretionary tracks. Detailed sedimentological, petrographic, and geochemical analyses reveal that, although the MRNA and DPP tracks are of different mineralogical compositions (calcium carbonate versus siderite, respectively), they display similar internal structures (microscopic convoluted laminations) and occur in depositional settings indicative of wet paleoenvironments, where the ground was soft and water saturated. These characteristics suggest that concretionary tracks are footprint casts that formed as groundwater rich in dissolved carbonates flooded depressions left in the soft substrate. As the ponded water evaporated, minerals began to precipitate and mix with clastic material transported into the depressions, settling as finely laminated mud within the tracks and filling them either completely or partially. The geochemical composition of the precipitate would depend on the prevalent groundwater conditions (e.g., pH, dissolved carbonate and sulphate concrentrations). Cementation of the tracks occurred relatively soon after burial (<100 years), possibly in response to microbial activity and saturation by mineral-rich groundwater, and modern erosion exposed the concretionary tracks by removing the softer host unit. Recognition of this novel type of ichnofossils suggests dinosaur tracks may be more common than previously thought. Unfortunately, concretionary tracks tend to break apart rapidly when the encasing and underlying substrate erodes away, altering their diagnostic shape and rendering them indistinguishable from nonichnogenic concretions. As such, concretionary tracks may be transient ichnofossils in the badlands, explaining why they are rarely recognized.


Author(s):  
Theophile Mugerwa ◽  
Francois Hategekimana ◽  
Olugbenga A. Ehinola ◽  
Ibrahim A. Oladosu ◽  
Digne Rwabuhungu ◽  
...  

Rwanda hosts million tons of peat deposits and that of western province is of great importance as it close to Kivu Lake. The discovery of methane gas in Kivu Lake has attracted investors in methane gas utilization as source of power supply and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Researchers identified Kivu Lake and adjacent area as an area of interest for hydrocarbon exploration. However, organic geochemical prospecting for hydrocarbon and energy content assessment is inadequate for the identified areas. The study aimed at determining the organic geochemistry of peat deposits in southwest, Rwanda. Forty (40) subsurface peat samples (1 to 10 m depth) were collected, air-dried and pulverized and screened. Five (5) samples with high organic matter content were subjected to biomarkers analysis using GC-GCMS. The n-alkanes distribution comprised mainly n-C11 to n-C 37. The Pr/Ph ratios (3.3-10.4, the waxiness index (0.09-0.87), CPI (3.6-7.8), OEP (3.5-6.0), C29 steranes (63.0–100.0%), C28 (0.0–28.0%), C27 (0.0–18.0%) and C27/ C29 sterane ratios (0.0-0.28). The ββ/ (ββ + αα) and 20S/ (20S + 20R) are 0.5 and 0.46 respectively. The C30 -moretane/ C30 -hopane ratios ranged from 1.56 to 2.42, while the oleanane index ranged from 0.07 to 0.26. The Ts/ (Ts + Tm) ratios ranged from 0.13 to 1.05. The dominance of C-29 sterols and C29/C27 sterane ratio which ranged from 3.5 to 100 indicating derivation from terrigenous higher plant material. The Pr/Ph ratio (>3) reflect the oxic to sub-oxic environmental condition during peat deposition. The peat deposits in Western Province, Rwanda are very rich in organic matter of mainly terrestrial precursor deposited in dry and cold climate.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boroh Andre William ◽  
Sore-Gamo Koutou Yvan ◽  
Ayiwouo Ngounouno Mohamed ◽  
Gbambié Mbowou Isaac Bertrand ◽  
Ngounouno Ismaïla

Abstract This paper is devoted to determine whether the addition of geological information can improve the resource estimate of mineral resources. The geochemical data used come from 116 drill holes in the Nkout East iron deposit in southern Cameroon. These geochemical data are modeled on Surpac and Isatis softwares to represent the 3D geochemical distribution of iron in the deposit. Statistical analysis and then a variographic study is performed to study the spatial variability of iron. Estimation domains were defined based on the results of geological and geochemical analyses. Four domains were determined. These domains are in particular, the saprolitic domain; the poor domain or fresh rocks such as amphibolites, granites and gneisses; the rich domain or oxidized rocks (BIF) and the metasediment domain. Block modeling of the deposit is performed to estimate the resource. The grade of each block was estimated by using ordinary kriging and composites from each domain. This study also consisted of comparing two types of estimate, notably the domain estimate and the global estimate. The cross-validation made it possible to authenticate the obtained models. From this comparison, the domain estimation brings more precision the global estimate precisely on the error analysis while if we take into account the point clouds of the predicted and estimated values, the estimation by geochemical modelling provides the best results.


2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
A.W. Boroh ◽  
K.Y. Sore-Gamo ◽  
Ngounouno Ayiwouo ◽  
Mbowou Gbambie ◽  
I. Ngounouno

This paper is devoted to determining whether the addition of geological information can improve the resource estimate of mineral resources. The geochemical data used come from 116 drill holes in the Nkout East iron deposit in southern Cameroon. These geochemical data are modeled on Surpac and Isatis softwares to represent the 3D geochemical distribution of iron in the deposit. Statistical analysis and then a variographic study is performed to study the spatial variability of iron. Estimation domains were defined based on the results of geological and geochemical analyses. Four domains were determined. These domains are the saprolitic domain in particular; the poor domain or fresh rocks such as amphibolites, granites, and gneisses; the rich domain or oxidized rocks (BIF) and the metasediment domain. Block modeling of the deposit is performed to estimate the resource. The grade of each block was estimated by using ordinary kriging and composites from each domain. This study also consisted of comparing two types of estimate, notably the domain estimate and the global estimate. The cross-validation made it possible to authenticate the obtained models. From this comparison, the domain estimation brings more precision the global estimate precisely on the error analysis while if we take into account the point clouds of the predicted and estimated values, the estimation by geochemical modeling provides the best results.


Author(s):  
Yueyue Bai ◽  
Qingtian Lü ◽  
Zhaojun Liu ◽  
Pingchang Sun ◽  
Rong Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Meihe Basin is an important Paleogene coal-bearing basin located in the Dunhua-Mishan Fault Zone, northeastern China. Based on a comprehensive study of well logs, seismic profiles, cores and rock geochemical properties, the coal distribution, paleoenvironment evolution within a sequence stratigraphic framework and the accumulation model to explain how coal seams developed in small fault basin were discussed in detail. Three-third-order sequences were identified in the Paleogene Meihe Formation of Meihe Basin and the two coal-bearing sequences are the Lower Coal-bearing Member of Sequence I and the Upper Coal-bearing Member of Sequence III. All three types of system tracts are developed in both sequences, i.e., the lowstand systems tract (LST), the transgressive systems tract (TST), and the highstand systems tract (HST). In LST of Sequence I, fan delta plain marsh is the main coal accumulating environment where coal seams are thin, discontinuous and therefore uneconomic for mining, and it is the same with all coal seams developed in Sequence III. While in TST and HST of Sequence I, lake swamp is the main sedimentary environment where coal seams are thick, continuous, widely distributed, and thus economically attractive for mining. In the study area, the nice thick economical coal seams are usually developed in an ideal stable depositional environment where organic matter accommodation space grows at a balanced rate with peat, in other words, free of sediment input or channel migration. The key findings of this study could provide guidance for the exploration of coal seams in the Meihe Basin and other similar basins.


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