Characteristics of type III kerogen in coal-bearing strata from the Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous) in the Ruhr Basin, Western Germany: Comparison of coals, dispersed organic matter, kerogen concentrates and coal–mineral mixtures

Quality, quantity and maturity of coal and dispersed terrigenous organic matter were studied on six coal-bearing intervals in Duckmantian strata (Pennsylvanian/Upper Carboniferous) of the Ruhr Basin, Western Germany. Between 10 and 40 samples were collected from fresh drill cores of each interval typically consisting of a coal seam as well as clastic roof and floor strata (sandstone, siltstone, claystone). Coal seams constitute about 8 vol.% of the succession studied. The samples were analysed by organic petrological methods and Rock-Eval pyrolysis. Maturity expressed in terms of vitrinite reflectance is between 0.75 and 1.0 %. For the six successions studied, the total amount of dispersed organic matter in clastic rocks is about half of that stored in coal seams, both containing predominantly vitrinite. Significant differences between Rock-Eval parameters determined on whole rock samples and kerogen concentrates were observed, especially with respect to Hydrogen Index (HI) values. Thus, the HI of the coal is about twice as high as that of the dispersed organic matter, although the maceral composition is similar. The effects of minerals were further examined by Rock-Eval pyrolysis of artificial mixtures of coal (lignite) powder and different minerals. Reduced HI values are partly explained by the retention of generated hydrocarbons on mineral surfaces and partly by reactions of generated fluids with pyrite in kerogen concentrates.