Relations Between Diagenesis of Organic and Inorganic Phasesand Tectonic Processes: Formation of Anthracite Coal

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Two orthogonal cleat (fracture or joint) sets in anthracite coal from eastern Pennsylvania contain mineralogically and chemically distinct authigenic clay minerals which formed during coalification. Minerals in one cleat suggest that metasomatic, hydrothermal fluids flowed through these fractures. This study will test the hypothesis that the hydrothermal circulation was driven by Alleghanian-age uplift and associated deep basinal flow, and will evaluate the contribution of heat by the hydrothermal fluids to coalification in this region. The goal is to gain a better understanding of the interaction between tectonic processes and diagenesis of inorganic and organic phases. To achieve this objective, analytical procedures willinclude synchrotron X-ray microprobe, hydrothermal experiments (for selected distribution coefficient values), deuteron probe, K/Ar and oxygen isotopes, SEM, XRD, petrography, fixed carbon analysis, electron microprobe, IR spectroscopy and computer modeling of the composition, temperature and hydrology of paleofluids. Results may suggest important modifications to existing models of coalification and should have impact to studies of sedimentary diagenesis, thermal and burial histories of sedimentary basins and structural/tectonic studies of the Alleghany orogeny. Finally, we expect to obtain fundamental new information on the trace element composition of clay minerals.