Document Type
Conference Item
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Abstract
Tertiary coals from Mukah-Balingian (MB) and Merit-Pila (MP) areas of Sarawak Basin, Malaysia were investigated using organic petrographic, bulk geochemical and biomarker analyses to determine the maturity, generation potential, organic matter input and depositional environment of the samples. Rock-Eval Tmax (390-420oC) and hydrogen index (68-258 mgHC/g TOC) data indicate the samples are immature, contains mainly type-III kerogen and thus, possess poor liquid hydrocarbon generation potential. Measured reflectance of 0.27-0.41%Ro and 0.37-0.43%Ro in the MB and MP coals, respectively, corroborates the Tmax data. The aliphatic fractions are characterized by a dominance of high molecular weight alkanes with strong odd-over-even predominance in the C25-C33 range and preponderance of hopenes and hopanes. High pristane/Phytane ratios in the MB (0.9-7.2) and MP (3.0-14.1) coals indicate that MB and MP coals were mainly deposited under sub-oxic to oxic and fully oxic conditions, respectively. Phenanthrene, dibenzothiophene and dibenzofuran were observed in the samples and the variations in their distribution can be useful indicators of organic matter input and depositional environment. The MB coals are dominated by phenanthrene (82%) with low relative abundance of dibenzothiophene (11%) and dibenzofuran (7%), which is deemed typical of terrestrial organic matter in freshwater depositional environments. In contrast, the MP coals have similar relative average abundances of phenanthrene (49%) and dibenzothiophene (48%), suggesting a greater marine influence in the MP coals and thus, indicative of terrestrial organic matter deposited in paralic environment.
Keywords
Coal, Sarawak, Thermal maturity, Generation potential, Depositional environment
Divisions
GEOLOGY
Event Title
13th International Geological Conference (SSG 2020)
Event Location
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Event Dates
2-5 March 2020
Event Type
conference
Additional Information
Conference paper