Geology of the tertiary coal basins of Thailand

Abstract

Non-marine Cenozoic deposits are found in many small intermontane basins and larger regional basins in Thailand. These basins are fault-bounded grabens and half grabens. Coal seams of up to 35m thick are commonly found interbedded with mud stone, shale, sandstone, and minor oil shale, carbonate, diatomite, gypsum, and conglomerate of Tertiary age. Quaternary fluvial deposits are generally found lying unconformably over the coal-bearing strata. The rank of the coal ranges from lignite B to high-volatile C bituminous (A.S.T.M. classification). Coal of higher rank (low volatile bituminous) is also found associated with carbonaceous shale, carbonaceous sandstone and conglomerate of Carboniferous age. A few small deposits are found in narrow stream valleys in the northeastern part of the country...