Cleaning Potential of Selected Coals in Shanxi Province, China: Evaluation of Geological Factors Affecting the Cleaning Potential

The effects of geological factors on the cleaning potential of Chinese bituminous coals from Anping, Xizhuang, and Yitang exploration areas were studied. The cleaning potential was evaluated in terms of coal quality and cleanability. Distribution maps of resources with different cleaning potentials were prepared using mapping and geographical information software. To identify the geological factors responsible for the cleaning potentials of coal resources, the distribution of coal resources with different cleaning potentials was summarized with regard to the geological setting of the three exploration areas. The results are as follows: The depositional environment may have a large role in affecting the cleanabilities of coals, but it may not be the only factor. Coal which formed in an environment prone to producing pyrite can have a better cleanability than coal formed in a depositional environment that is more prone to producing organic sulfur. In contrast to the effects of depositional environment, the local structures (e.g., folds, faults, and collapse columns), where present, are generally considered to have little, if any, effect on the distribution of the coal with different cleaning potential characteristics.