Mineralogical characteristics of Suhostrel bituminous coal, SW Bulgaria

The mineralogical composition of the Suhostrel bituminous coal was studied using optical microscopy, XRD and SEM-EDS analyses. Clay minerals (mostly kaolinite and mica), quartz and locally albite, are the dominant minerals. Their characteristics indicate predominant terrigenous origin and together with a poor accessory mineral association (rutile/anatase, monazite, zircon) argue for a major detrital input from low grade metamorphic and weathered intrusive/pegmatitic rocks.