4
XRD has been conducted on 16 samples of clinker.
The minerals presented through the XRD analysis are var-
ied through each sample. Glass is present in all sample in
some amount, and varies from sample to sample depending
on the conditions the samples were exposed to. The intense
heat caused silicas in the rocks to melt, forming glasses,
and the amount of glasses present depended on the heat.
Silicates that formed in high temperatures, like cristobalite,
are present as a result of being altered by the heat [10].
COAL9 is a pyro-metamorphosed mudstone with
grains of quartz present as well as small sections of mobilized
quartz melted into glasses. (Figure 8). Dull orange-
brown in coloration, the sample is rich in hematite that
has come from organic sources. Small pieces of rutile are
also present, observable as bright red crystals. Metallic gray
hematite is also present, not yet oxidized (Figure 9).
COAL28 is a claystone/mudstone clinker contain-
ing abundant clay minerals. It also contains pyrobitumen,
a baked coal interbedded with the layer when it burned
(Figure 10). Rutile is present as fine red crystals with hema-
tite staining visible everywhere, small pockets of quartz
are also present but not as prevalent as the clay minerals
(Figure 11).
COAL36 is a fine-grained quartz arenite rich in iron
oxide (Figure 12). Bedding is defined by variations in grain
size and quartz content. Minerals observed are quartz, clay
minerals and is hematite rich (Figure 13).
Coal 88 is a modestly sorted sandstone with abun-
dant angular-subangular quartz grains (Figure 14). Clay
grains can be seen throughout the matrix that is moderately
hematite stained (Figure 15).
Coal 89 is a mature arkose sandstone, with rounded
grains suggesting a granitic source (Figure 16). Feldspars
and microcline are present, showing distinct twinning of
microcline. Biotite is present as small brownish crystals.
This sample was not exposed to high temperatures as little
glass is present in the sample (Figure 17)
Figure 8. Coal 9 thin section slide polarized light scan Figure 10. Coal 28 thin section slide polarized light scan
Figure 9. Coal 9 Plane polarized Light microscope image,
Mobilized quartz pocket with slight hematite mineralization
Figure 11. Coal 28 Plane Polarized Light microscope image.
Clay mineralization with hematite staining
XRD has been conducted on 16 samples of clinker.
The minerals presented through the XRD analysis are var-
ied through each sample. Glass is present in all sample in
some amount, and varies from sample to sample depending
on the conditions the samples were exposed to. The intense
heat caused silicas in the rocks to melt, forming glasses,
and the amount of glasses present depended on the heat.
Silicates that formed in high temperatures, like cristobalite,
are present as a result of being altered by the heat [10].
COAL9 is a pyro-metamorphosed mudstone with
grains of quartz present as well as small sections of mobilized
quartz melted into glasses. (Figure 8). Dull orange-
brown in coloration, the sample is rich in hematite that
has come from organic sources. Small pieces of rutile are
also present, observable as bright red crystals. Metallic gray
hematite is also present, not yet oxidized (Figure 9).
COAL28 is a claystone/mudstone clinker contain-
ing abundant clay minerals. It also contains pyrobitumen,
a baked coal interbedded with the layer when it burned
(Figure 10). Rutile is present as fine red crystals with hema-
tite staining visible everywhere, small pockets of quartz
are also present but not as prevalent as the clay minerals
(Figure 11).
COAL36 is a fine-grained quartz arenite rich in iron
oxide (Figure 12). Bedding is defined by variations in grain
size and quartz content. Minerals observed are quartz, clay
minerals and is hematite rich (Figure 13).
Coal 88 is a modestly sorted sandstone with abun-
dant angular-subangular quartz grains (Figure 14). Clay
grains can be seen throughout the matrix that is moderately
hematite stained (Figure 15).
Coal 89 is a mature arkose sandstone, with rounded
grains suggesting a granitic source (Figure 16). Feldspars
and microcline are present, showing distinct twinning of
microcline. Biotite is present as small brownish crystals.
This sample was not exposed to high temperatures as little
glass is present in the sample (Figure 17)
Figure 8. Coal 9 thin section slide polarized light scan Figure 10. Coal 28 thin section slide polarized light scan
Figure 9. Coal 9 Plane polarized Light microscope image,
Mobilized quartz pocket with slight hematite mineralization
Figure 11. Coal 28 Plane Polarized Light microscope image.
Clay mineralization with hematite staining