BONE COAL CHARACTERISTICS IN COAL MINING AREA OF PT KITADIN AND PT MEGA PRIMA PERSADA, KUTAI BASIN, EAST KALIMANTAN

• Main Author: FURQANY (NIM : 12113067), MIQDAM
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/28931
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Coal is one of strategic materials, As it has many benefits based on its characteristics. Coal is still one of the world's major fuels especially used in power plants to generate electricity power. The forming of coal is a long process. During coalification, there is possibility of organic or anorganic sources entry which can eventually change chemical and physical properties of the coal. Based on field identification, there is a type of rock that resembles coal but shows very different physical properties such as hardness, texture, and density. The rock is dispersed in the coal seams randomly in space and sizes. It is very hard, very compact and often difficult to distinguish with the coal itself. In Indonesian mining companies, it is referred as bone coal which often causes several problems such as damaging excavator bucket during mining and crusher during processing. <br /> <br /> <br /> The purpose of this research is to determine the characteristics of bone coal and to reconstruct its genesis. The research was conducted by taking samples of bone coal in PT Mega Prima Persada and PT Kitadin in East Kalimantan. The samples were then prepared and analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Analysis - Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, X-Ray Diffraction analysis, Microscopic analysis, and Scanning Electron Microscope analysis. The analyses were conducted to determine the chemical and physical characteristics of bone coal. Based on the analyses results, the bone coal is dominated by SiO2 or silicon dioxyde in the form of quartz mineral. It can be interpreted that during coalification, silica solution entered to the coal layer and precipitated as authigenic mineral. <br />