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Scientific, Technological and Production Journal
ISSN 2079–3332 (print)
ISSN 3034-6835 (online)
founded in 2001

Relationships of iron and sulfur content with gas content and heterogeneity of microstructure of coals

Original articles: 2026 No 5

Relationships of iron and sulfur content with gas content and heterogeneity of microstructure of coals

DOI: 10.56195/20793332-2026-26-5-130-135

Read in pdf I.N. Gorshenkov, B.N. Pashichev, E.V. Ulyanova
  1. Melnikov Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
p. 130-135, No.5/2026
Abstract:
The safety of underground mining of methane-bearing coal seams is largely determined by the gas-kinetic state of the rock mass. Studies show that methane content and methane-emission intensity may vary substantially within the same coal seam even under similar geological conditions of its formation. This indicates the need to consider the properties of coal associated with its gas content, its ability to retain methane, and the natural release of methane. The aim of the study is to identify the relationships of the contents of iron (Fe), sulfur (S), and pyrite (FeS2), as well as the relative balance of iron- and sulfur-bearing components (Fe/S), with the components of total gas content and the microstructural organization of coal. The contents of Fe and S were determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis. The components of total gas content Q1, Q2, Q3, and QΣ were determined using the method developed at ICEMR RAS, while the mean values of information entropy H̄ and statistical complexity C̄ were calculated from series of SEM images. Positive relationships were found between the contents of iron, sulfur, and pyrite and Q1, Q2, Q3, and total gas content QΣ. As Fe/S increased, mean entropy decreased and mean statistical complexity increased; the directions of the relationships remained unchanged when individual observations were sequentially excluded. The relationships obtained may be used when comparing different sections of a coal seam to control methane emissions and substantiate ventilation and degassing measures. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that iron-bearing minerals may participate in methane formation but do not prove a specific mechanism of its formation.
Keywords:
coal seam, methane content, gas emission, iron, sulfur, pyrite, X-ray fluorescence analysis, coal microstructure, information entropy, statistical complexity
For citation:
Gorshenkov I.N., Pashichev B.N., Ulyanova E.V. Relationships of iron and sulfur content with gas content and heterogeneity of microstructure of coals. Mine Surveying and Subsurface Use. 2026; 26 (5): 130-135. (In Russ.). https://doi. org/10.56195/20793332-2026-26-5-130-135
Information about the authors:
  1. Ivan N. Gorshenkov – Postgraduate Student, Academician N. V. Melnikov Research Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPKON RAS), Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; SPINcode: 8372-8732
  2. Boris N. Pashichev – Researcher, Academician N. V. Melnikov Research Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPKON RAS), Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; SPIN-code: 9007-1431
  3. Ekaterina V. Ulyanova – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Leading Researcher, Academician N. V. Melnikov Research Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPKON RAS), Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; SPIN-code: 4126-3612
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ИнвестУголь 2026

New issue

The new issue of the journal «Mine surveying and Subsurface Use» has been published
No. 5 (vol.26), September-October 2026

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