Calcite genesis in the Upper Freeport coal bed as indicated by stable isotope geochemistry

The grinding and sizing in float-sink testing of the Upper Freeport coal bed physically separates calcite of different origins. The different origins are distinguished by different isotopic compositions. The isotopic compositions of calcite indicates at least two, possibly three, stages of calcite formation in the Upper Freeport coal bed. Calcite samples obtained from cleat, and isolated from 8x100 mesh-1.8 specific gravity sink fraction and -100 mesh size fraction, are enriched in /sup 13/C. The dispersion in /sup 18/O values for all three sample types, as measured by the standard deviation, is 2.7 per mil relative to SMOW, which may indicate similar temperature of formation. In contrast, calcite from the 1.275 specific gravity float fraction is depleted in /sup 13/C (mean = -4.6 per mil), indicative of CO/sub 2/ generated from the oxidation of organic matter. The standard deviation of /sup 18/O values for these samples is 9.2 per mil, probably indicating variation in the temperature of formation. Limestone samples associated with the Upper Freeport coal bed are slightly depleted in /sup 13/C (mean = -3.1 per mil). Genesis of calcite in the coal apparently resulted from biotic, as well as, thermogenic processes. A second stage of calcite formation, resulting frommore » fermentation and methanogenesis is in cleat, and in the 8x100 mesh-1.8 specific gravity sink and -100 mesh size fractions. Part of the calcite in the 1.275 specific gravity float fraction may have formed from thermally generated CO/sub 2/ released during coalification.« less