Geologic factors that control mineral matter in coal

Elements other than organically derived and bound C, H, N, O, and S constitute mineral matter in coal. Mineral matter may consist of discrete minerals such as calcite, quartz, clays, and pyrite, and/or organic compounds that contain organically bonded elements such as Ca and CI. Processes that may affect the association and content of mineral matter are operable from the initial peat-forming stage to the time of utilization of the coal. However, the objective of this paper is to discuss some of the various geologic processes that may influence content and associations in unmined coal.