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Boletín de Ciencias de la Tierra
Print version ISSN 0120-3630
Abstract
RODRIGUEZ-CASTELLANOS, Billy A. and CASTRO-RODRIGUEZ, Adriana. Geochemical characterization and maturity of the thermal coals from Norte de Santander, Colombia. Bol. cienc. tierra [online]. 2023, n.54, pp.72-85. Epub Mar 03, 2024. ISSN 0120-3630. https://doi.org/10.15446/rbct.n54.107357.
Due to the growing global concern about the high rates of environmental pollution and global warming as a result of human activities, restrictions have begun to be generated for the use of fossil fuels, including coal. Colombia, being a country rich in this mineral resource, needs to evaluate its potential use in other fields and to know in detail the possible environmental implications associated with its chemical composition. Currently, the Colombian Geological Service has been developing various projects aimed at this purpose. This work presents the geological, physicochemical and petrographic characterization of the thermal coals of Norte de Santander, emphasizing the composition of elements of environmental interest. 87 coal samples were taken from mine fronts in the municipalities of Arboledas, Salazar, San Cayetano, Sardinata, Toledo and Tibú in the department of Norte de Santander. The samples were prepared and the following analyzes were carried out: equilibrium humidity, proximate analysis, determination of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, total sulfur, forms of sulfur, calorific value, swelling index (FSI), grinding index (HGI), mercury, major, minor and trace elements and average reflectance of vitrinite. The coal seams, taking into account their classification according to the average reflectance values of the vitrinite, correspond to low and medium range coals that correspond to subbituminous and bituminous, which indicates that they are not coals with high thermal maturity.
Keywords : petrography; proximate analysis; elemental analysis; thermal maturity.