Petrographic Characters of Coals from Makum Coalfield, Assam

Abstract High sulphur coals from Makum Coalfield, Assam, give an interesting petrographic assemblage, the maceral vitrinite forming around 90 per cent of the constituent macerals. Separation of the macerals Vitrinite, Fusinite, Exinite and Micrinite is attempted by gravity separation technique and concentration of these macerals; of good petrographic purity, is obtained. Chemical analyses of the macerals thus separated, reveal among other things (regarding rank etc.) the presence of sulphur dominantly in the Exinite group. From this observation, the removal of sulphur of these coals is visualised.