Geology, resource potential and organic petrography of the Neogene coals in the Miri area of Northwest Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract

There are three coal-bearing geological formations in the Miri area, viz. the Belait Formation, the Lambir Formation, and the Liang Formation. Of the three coal-bearing geological formations, only the sub-bituminous B Tutoh coals from the Belait Formation, with an estimated resource of 203 million tonnes, are believed to be of economic potential. The Tutoh coals are dominated by vitrinite group, especially desmocollinite. The sub-bituminous B from the Lambir Formation and the lignite from Liang Formation are of low economic potential due to the limited area of the hosting formations.