Association and textural-compositional evolution of pyrite-organic matter in coals of the Tarakan, Barito, and Pasir Basins, Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

The Barito, Pasir, and Tarakan Basins in Kalimantan Island is the most extensive coal-bearing sedimentary basin in Indonesia, mined since 1989. The coal is notable in having high sulfur coal content, exceeding >10% in some cases, contributed by the presence of pyrite. The latter issue contributed to interest in the coal, forming economic mineral deposits hosted by the sedimentary pyrite and organic matter. Novel findings of this research providing valuable information of trace element behavior during the diagenetic conditions. This paper documents the textural and compositional evolution of pyrite-organic matter of coals using coal petrographic, proximate, ultimate, total sulfur content, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), electron probe micro analyser (EPMA), and Raman spectroscopy. Coals from Kalimantan are mainly characterized by medium-high sulfur content (>3%) and the maximum temperatures reached by organic matter during diagenesis are 166 ± 10 °C for the Pasir Basin, 136 ± 11 °C for the Barito Basin, and 132 ± 12 °C for the Tarakan Basin. Pyrite is mainly found as large size framboids (mostly >5 μm), indicating formation in the sedimentary layer with dysoxic bottom water conditions during early–late diagenetic stages. The framboidal pyrite was preferably formed in detrovitrinite and gelovitrinite under topogenous mire conditions, due to the degradation of macerals and biochemical gelification, which provided the organic templates. High concentrations of trace elements (TEs) of framboidal pyrite, such as 1) Cu, Ni, and Co in the Pasir Basin and 2) As in the Barito Basin, likely reflect the local sedimentary provenance and underlying basement rocks. Pyrite texture evolved with increasing diagenetic temperatures from 1) framboidal pyrite, 2) recrystallized framboidal pyrite rims, and 3) anhedral, anhedral-euhedral pyrite transition, and euhedral massive pyrite. This study shows a similar average TE concentrations of various pyrite textures, suggesting that the TEs are not remobilized during the evolution of pyrite at the diagenetic stages.