Module Name: Coal and organic petrology

Staff Involved: A/Prof C.R. Ward; Dr L.W. Gurba (UNSW)

Module Objectives: To develop an understanding of organic petrology, including modern research developments and relevant practical techniques, with special reference to coal characterisation and coal-bed methane, and to dispersed organic matter as a hydrocarbon source.

Module program:

Application of microscope to the study of organic particles, including fluorescence characteristics and reflectance measurement techniques.
Characteristics of coal macerals, kerogen types, lithotypes and microlithotypes, including practical work in maceral analysis.
Factors affecting maceral reflectance with special reference to vitrinite; reflectance measurement and mapping; interpretation of stress patterns and burial history.
Chemistry of coal macerals using electron microprobe, FTIR and related techniques.
Mineral matter in coal, including quantitative mineralogical analysis, mineral occurrence, origin and significance; relationship to key trace element concentrations.
Relation of coal and organic petrology to coal utilisation, petroleum generation and coal-seam methane occurrence.

Format, duration and timing: Four full day classes at UNSW involving lectures, demonstrations and practical work, plus individual tasks using particular instruments. Dates TBA.

Assumed knowledge: Basic familiarity with coal and petroleum formation; conceptual understanding of coal rank (maturation), coal type and coal grade; some knowledge of basic coal properties (e.g. proximate and ultimate analysis) and of fundamental coal constituents.

Text and/or reference material:

Ward, C.R. (ed), Coal Geology and Technology, Blackwells, Melbourne, 1984.
Taylor, G.H. et al., Organic Petrology, Borntrager, Berlin, 1998
Diessel, C.F.K., Coal-bearing Depositional Systems, Springer, 1992.
Ward, C.R. et al. (eds), Geology of Australian Coal Basins. Geological Society of Australia Coal Geology Group, Special Publication 1, 1995.

Assessment: Individual practical work and assignment tasks - 100%

Module contact person and co-ordinator:

A/Prof Colin Ward
School of BEES,
University of New South Wales.
Phone: (02) 9385 4285
Fax: (02) 9385 5935
E-mail: C.Ward@unsw.edu.au

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