Mineralogical Studies of Mahanadi Basin coals based on FTIR, XRD and Microscopy: A Geological Perspective

This paper is an attempt to investigate the mineral matter constituents in Permian coals of Mahanadi basin, India. Twenty two bulk samples from the working mines have been selected for the study. Analytical techniques such as X-Ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with coal microscopy have been used in this study for rapid characterization. The chief mineral phases are quartz, kaolinite, orthoclase, muscovite, and chlorite in order of increasing abundance in all the samples. Petrographic analysis reveal the dominance of Vitrinite (36.17%) followed by the Inertinite (32.33%), Liptinite (14.30%) group of macerals and mineral matter (17.18%). Mineral matter in the voids and cell lumens is common mode of occurrence in the coals which can be attributed to syngenetic and epigenetic types. The proximate analysis suggest the coals have high ash yield (8.37% to 38.46% on air dried basis) with high volatile matter (10.8% to 35.51% on air dried basis) making it suitable for thermal power plants.