Link between the yield of volatile matter from hard coals and their reflectance

The paper derives a relationship between vitrinite reflectance and volatile matter for macerals from coals of known maceral content from the Ostrava-Karvina Basin and from coalfields in other countries. The average inertinite reflectance of Czech coals rich in inertinite and with the same degree of vitrinite coalification varies considerably. The inertinite reflectance zone is significantly displaced towards the vitrinite reflectance zone and in some cases covers it. The close relationship of the series: vitrinite-semivitrinite-semifusinite also shows differences in transition between the gelification and fusinisation processes which is responsible for minor differences in properties of vitrinite, semivitrinite and semifusinite. It is therefore assumed that the different properties of semifusinite are retained during subsequent coalification right up to the bituminous coal stage. The relationship between the micro-components in this series is adequately reflected in the close correlation between reflectance and volatile matter. (6 refs.)