New research progress on the ultrastructure of tectonically deformed coals

The structure of tectonically deformed coals shows some characteristics and regulations on the ultra-scale when influenced by different factors such as temperature, pressure and directional stress. Deformations of the macromolecular structure may induce changes in the nano-scale pore structure, which are very important for gas adsorption and pervasion. The geological impact of different mechanisms of deformation on different types of ultrastructure of tectonically deformed coals is not only of significance as a topic for scientific research, but also in studying environments of metamorphism–deformation at differing metamorphic stages. This research is also very important in studying the accumulation and occurrence conditions of coalbed methane gas, mechanisms of coal and gas outbursts, predictions of coalbed methane resources and dangers of coal and gas outbursts. This paper analyzes current research, within China and other countries, in the ultrastructure of tectonically deformed coals. The research includes (1) structural models of tectonically deformed coals; (2) the relationship between ultrastructure and stress; (3) the structure of tectonically deformed coals and its strain environment. These results are also based on our own experiments including vitirnite reflectance (Ro,max), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR (CP/MAS + TOSS)). We discuss the important effects of the structure of tectonically deformed coals and their physical properties, and then point out some problems concerning the research progress of tectonically deformed coals.