What can be learned about the deposition and compaction of peat from the Miocene lignite seam exposed in the Chłapowo Cliff on the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea?
Journal Title: Geology, Geophysics & Environment - Year 2019, Vol 42, Issue 2
Abstract
This study focuses on discussing the relationship between the accumulation of peat and its compaction in the overbank zone of the Miocene river system. The examined 2nd Lusatian lignite seam is characteristically interbedded with sandy deposits and these are less compressible than peat. Therefore, in favourable conditions such as those found at Chłapowo Cliff (on the Baltic Sea coast in northern Poland), it is possible to identify the effects of an even or uneven lowering of the mire surface, resulting from diversified compaction of the underlying phytogenic beds. The research problem was applied to two examples located close to each other within the lignite seam. The first case shows the accumulation of fresh peat layers of almost equal thickness, while the second one presents a reduction in the thickness of fresh peat beds over the fossilised channel-fill sandy body. Only the latter example allows us to calculate the peat-to-lignite compaction ratio. The results of the compaction ratio obtained, Cr ≈ 7.37, mean that the youngest, fresh peat layers were compacted at least 7 times, transforming them into lignite beds. However, such a high compaction value, estimated for the top layers of the Miocene mire, cannot be directly taken into account when reconstructing the total thickness of the peat seam prior to covering it with mineral overburden. The published peat-to-lignite compaction ratios, determined using other research methods, for the 2nd Lusatian lignite seam or its stratigraphic equivalents range from 1.7 to 6.0 in most cases, with averages of 2.2 to 4.0. The differences between the data in the literature and the results given in this paper are due to the fact that the process of peat/lignite compaction is ongoing and cumulative.
Authors and Affiliations
Marek Widera
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP635843
- DOI 10.7494/geol.2019.45.2.111
- Views 58
- Downloads 0
The magnetic response of hydrothermal alteration in iron-oxide basement complex, NW Nigeria
Aeromagnetic data was processed in order to delineate structural trends which may be indicative of potential gold mineral traps in the Watari hill gold prospect located between longitude 5°8''and 5°16'', and latitude 11°...
A comparative study on the removal of Pb(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and As(V) by natural, acid activated and calcinated halloysite
With the intensive development of the global industry trace elements like lead, zinc, cadmium and arsenic spread and infiltrate into soil and water, what results in contamination. Clay minerals play an important role in...
Assessment of the geological environment in respect of waste disposal in salt mine workings
The concept of waste storage in underground salt mines is to use the host rock environment as a geological barrier, preventing the migration of hazardous substances. European and Polish law defines the geological conditi...
Paleogene of the Magura Nappe adjacent to the Pieniny Klippen Belt between Szczawnica and Krościenko (Outer Carpathians, Poland)
The present authors investigated the Paleogene deposits of the internal zone of the Magura Basin known as the Krynica Subunit or Krynica zone in Poland. These deposits crop out in the peri-Pieniny zone, in the area betwe...
The Rietveld refinement studies of pyromorphite-vanadinite and mimetite-vanadinite solid solution series
Mimetite Pb 5 (PO 4 ) 3 Cl, vanadinite Pb 5 (VO 4 ) 3 Cl and pyromorphite Pb 5 (PO 4 ) 3 Cl belong to the apatite supergroup. They form in oxidation zones of lead ore deposits. These minerals have high thermal stability...