H. Veld et al., ORGANIC PETROLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF WESTPHALIAN COALS FROM THE NETHERLANDS - CORRELATION BETWEEN TMAX, VITRINITE REFLECTANCE AND HYDROGEN INDEX, Organic geochemistry, 20(6), 1993, pp. 659-675
Maceral analyses, Tmax, hydrogen index, and vitrinite reflectance meas
urements have been carried out on a large set of Westphalian coal samp
les from cored wells situated in The Netherlands. Generalized maceral
group analyses indicate substantial differences between the sedimentar
y regimes in the vicinity of the Variscan deformation belt and more di
stal areas. The hydrogen index of the coals from these different sedim
entation areas is also significantly different. The apparent variation
of Tmax-vitrinite reflectance correlations are discussed in relation
to maceral group composition and hydrocarbon generation during maturat
ion. The correlation between both maturity parameters is compared with
literature data. The differences between our maturity data and publis
hed data are significant. These differences are quantified and illustr
ated by geological reconstructions of the South Limburg area (The Neth
erlands). It is demonstrated that the use of generalized correlation s
chemes for the purpose of geological modeling may lead to a misinterpr
etation of the geological history.