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Project Details

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Project Information Sheet 1999-20

Petrographic and chemical characterization of Indiana coals and their use in the steel industry

Funding Source:	Indiana Department of Commerce
Period of Contract:	5 Jun 1997 to 5 Jun 2000
Status:	completed — Definition of status type
Project Director:	Maria Mastalerz

Issue

Environmental restrictions related to the Clean Air Act adversely affected coal mining in Indiana. Finding applications other than burning coal for electric utilities is vital for keeping the mining industry in Indiana alive, retaining jobs, and bringing revenue to Indiana. Utilizing Indiana coal in the steel industry, either as pulverized fuel or as coke, would be beneficial. The initial step toward utilization of Indiana coals in steel manufacturing is the demonstration of their suitability to this application.

Objective

The purpose of this project was to provide a detailed chemical and petrographic characterization of selected coal seams in Indiana, with the main focus on the Danville Coal Member of the Carbondale Formation and the Lower Block Coal Member of the Brazil Formation.

Approach

Coal samples (benches and channels) have been collected from several coal mines along with drill-hole data. Analyses performed include proximate, ultimate, sink/float, ash chemistry, ash fusion, coking properties, trace elements, and petrographic composition. All these data were added to a coal-quality database. Prediction of coke stability has been made using the U.S. Steel Company methods and carbon strength after reaction (CSR) using the Inland Steel method.

Products

A confidential database (in Microsoft Access) of coal-quality was created and, together with a report, distributed to the participating parties--Black Beauty Coal Company and Inland Steel.

Benefits

The Indiana coal and steel manufacturing industries stand to benefit from the results of this research.

Locations Affected:

Clay

Greene

Knox

Vigo

Information Updated February 2, 2007

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