COAL PETROGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MECSEK BITUMINOUS COAL BASIN, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE CONTACT-METAMORPHISM OF COAL SEAMS

The bituminous coals of the Mecsek Mountains were formed during the Early Lias and are of paralic origin. The limnic complex of the layers consists of sandstone, aleurite and coal, and the upper layer contains marl of marine origin. The 9-15 minable coal seams have a thickness of 1. 2-14. 0 m. The Mecsek Coal Field and the coal complex within it show a folded and fractured structure, and with regard to their mechanical behaviour, are strongly stressed. 75-90% of the coal material is vitrinite, and 1-14% is inertinite. The quantity of liptinite is smaller than 9%. The coal rank is that of gas coal and fat coal with a reflectivity of 0. 85-1. 5%, respectively.