Print this pageAbstract: Volcanic-Ash Partings in Coals: Characteristics and Stratigraphic Significance
Volcanic-ash partings are common in Tertiary coals of south-central Alaska. Such partings exhibit considerable variation in texture and composition and may be difficult to distinguish from other partings of nonvolcanic origin. Consequently they often are overlooked in the field and their common presence and stratigraphic significance have not been recognized. Current work has focused on the radiometric data of these partings where sufficiently large, unaltered crystals are available for K-Ar or fission-track methods. However, there are many other potential uses for such partings. They can be correlated by physical appearance or by chemical and mineralogic composition, and they provide information on the environments of coal deposition. They commonly contain diatoms that m y be useful for correlation or as environmental indicators. In addition, their texture and composition may reveal the location, magma composition, and eruptive style of volcanoes.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90976©1976 AAPG-SEPM-SEG Pacific Section Meeting, San Francisco, California