Understanding the paleomires of Eocene lignites of Kachchh Basin, Gujarat (Western India): petrological implications

Abstract

The present paper entails the results of the investigations carried out on the lignite deposits of Kachchh Basin. The lignite samples were drawn from five lignite seams from Panandhro lignite field (Seam-I to -V) and eight lignite seams (Seam-I to -VIII) from the Matanomadh lignite field which are currently operational. The petrographic analysis of the lignites indicates a dominance of huminite group of macerals which is mainly contributed by ulminite-A, ulminite-B, attrinite, densinite, and phlobaphinite. Liptinite (chiefly sporinite, cutinite, resinite, and liptodetrinite) and inertinite (chiefly fusinite, funginite, and inertodetrinite) groups occur in subordinated amount. The mineral matter occurs in moderate concentration. Though sulfur content is high in these lignites, there is no fixed trend of variation of sulfur from bottom seam to top seam. The investigation reveals a flooded forest swamp having high rate of degradation. However, there were a few drier periods indicated by relatively more inertinite macerals. The petrography-based models indicate that the Kachchh lignites of Gujarat evolved in coastal marshy setting under transgressive phase. However, there were few intermittent fluvial activities giving rise to supratidal flood plain. This led to the formation of the associated carbonaceous shales in the basin. © 2017, The Author(s).