Indications of Hydrocarbon Generation in the Coal Deposits of the Rajmahal Basin, Bihar: Revelations of Flourescence Microscopy

Application of Fluorescence microscopy to the organic petrological study of Rajmahai Coals has been done with a view to have a correct qualitative and quantitative assessment of the Liptinite constituents of these low rank coals. The study has revealed the presence of hydrogen rich constituents which were recorded as mineral matter under white incident light due to their greater resemblance to clay minerals, being dark grey to black in colour. These constituents are bituminite, flourinite and exsudatinite which occur in considerably high concentrations and are proved to be a kind of expelled hydrocarbons. Further, it has been observed that the concentration of these expelled secondary constituents is much higher in the basal parts of the coal seams suggesting high activity of their generation in the over-pressured zones of the coal seams. Besides, the study suggests that the "birthline" or maturation level desired for the generation of liquid hydrocarbon is 0.5% Ro mean.