Fluctuations in methane and carbon dioxide concentrations in the near-surface zone and their genetic characterization in abandoned and active coal mines in the SW part of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland

The objective of this paper is to determine the origin and variability of methane and carbon dioxide concentrations in the near-surface zone and of coalbed methane in the SW part of the Chwalowice Trough and adjacent areas of the Main Syncline of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB). For this purpose soil-gas samples were taken at 202 measuring points, arranged along 5 profiles located in the mining area of the abandoned 1 Maja mine and directly adjacent areas as well as in the vicinity of four abandoned and remediated mining shafts. The maximum methane and carbon dioxide concentrations in the gas samples measured exceeds 22 and 9 vol%, respectively. The carbon isotope composition of methane and carbon dioxide was determined in samples in which elevated concentrations of these gases were found. Moreover, seven coalbed gas samples and bituminous coals were collected from coal seams exclusively from virgin parts of the Anna, Marcel, Jastrzcbie, and Zofiowka mines. These data were supplemented with results of archival research for genetic interpretation of coalbed gases. Research reveals that typical humic low- and medium-volatile bituminous coals occur in Mississippian and Pennsylvanian coal-bearing strata in the study area. Fluctuations in methane and carbon dioxide concentration in the near-surface zone are related to the lithostratigraphy and tectonics of the area as well as to complicated methane depth distribution. Faults may play an important role in the microseepage of gases from deep to the near-surface zone. The connection of near-surface gases with subsurface gases was confirmed by similar stable carbon isotope composition in the methane recorded in the soil-gas samples and in the gas samples from the coal seams and sandstones of the Carboniferous formations. Distribution of anomalous methane concentrations recorded in soil-gas samples taken from profiles may indicate natural gas accumulations in the top zone of the Pennsylvanian coal-bearing formations. One example of this kind of accumulation is the Marklowice natural gas field, located within the mining area of the Marcel coal mine. Relatively high methane concentrations measured in soil gas in the vicinity of shafts I and III indicate that the degassing systems of closed and remediated mining shafts are not fully effective. Increases in carbon dioxide concentrations in the surface zone and frequent associated decreases in methane concentration were most often the result of microbial methane oxidation.