THE NATURE AND OCCURRENCE OF ASH FORMING MINERALS IN ANTHRACITE

Special Research Report SR-22 This Report summarizes progress thus far made in a program t of research aimed at providing useful information concerning the nature t and distribution of mineral matter in Pennsylvanian anthracite. Spe- 1 cifically, the objectives are focused upon development of: 1. Descriptions of preferential geographic distribution of particular mineral constituents; 2. Descriptions of preferential stratigraphic distribution of particular mineral constituents; 3. Descriptions of preferential concentration of contained minerals at particular levels within the seams under study; 4. Descriptions of the extent to which any of the minerals are preferentially associated with particular macerals or lithotypes; 5, Descriptions of the properties of any distinctive maceralmineral associations as a basis for development of effective beneficiation practices; 6. Interpretations concerning the relationships between the mineral content of the coal and the chemical composition of the residual ash. This Report presents some of the qualitative mineralogical data, the preliminary results of maceral analyses, and a discussion of the relationships of certain minerals to seam level and ash content. As such, it constitutes presentation of the results of the initial phase of the investigation.