Environments Of Coal Deposition

The recent increase in the search for coal has initiated a dramatic growth in sedimentological research on the origin, formation and environment of coal deposition. This publication is concerned with perhaps the most important field of coal research, that of coal environments. This subject involves many interrelated disciplines, including the sedimentology, petrology, geochemistry, palaeobotany and palaeogeography of coal deposits. In the past, workers in these fields have operated independently, and only recently have their research efforts been integrated to provide a more comprehensive understanding of coal depositional environments.

The author presents examples of coal deposits two different continents: from the European Carboniferous and the Permian Gondwana sequence of Australia. The organic and petrographic composition of the coal content of palaeo-environmentally well defined groups of sediments allow the discrimination of two coal facies indices as suitable indicators for distinct settings. Combining the analytical methods of coal petrography, sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy an integrated view of coal formation is attained.

Happy he who could learn the causes of things (Virgil, Georgics 11) There is clearly a place for a book on the environmental aspects of trace elements in coal, especially with the increasing use of coal for power production. Our aim is to provide relevant background information and to update the situation regarding trace elements during beneficiation, combustion, .atmospheric deposition, leaching from wastes anti reclamation. The outcome is a balanced account of the overall situation. The initial chapter gives the rationale behind the planning of the book and puts the topics into the context of trace elements in the environment, while the final chapter summarises the subject matter and conclusions of each chapter. The choice of authors was based on their specialised knowledge. Although every effort has been made to ensure uniformity in layout, use of units, references and the like, authors have been given some latitude in expression and their styles have not been curbed. This book is intended primarily for coal scientists and technologists involved in environmental aspects of trace elements during the mining of coal, its beneficiation and usage, especially for power generation, and for regulatory bodies. It is considered to be suitable for relevant postgraduate courses. Just as it has been said that one of Bruckner's symphonies has enough melodies for a Beethoven to have written ten symphonies, so this book has several chapters that could be themes for other books.