MORANBAH COAL MEASURES: DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS

D. P. Johnson, Department o f Geology, James Cook llniversity o f North Queensland

The Permian Moranbah Coal Measures comprise s i x l i t h o f a c i e s : sandstone, s i l t s t o n e / s a n d s t o n e , s i l t s t o n e , c l a y s t o n e , c l a y rhythmite and c o a l . These a r e i n t e r p r e t e d a s forming i n f l u v i a l c h a n n e l , . splay/levee, d i s t a l splay, marsh, l a k e and peatland proximal environments r e s p e c t i v e l y . Detailed mapping using g r a d a t i o n a l i n t e r t o n g u i n g and (isochronous) carbonaceous p a r t i n g s confirms t h e i r d e p o s i t i o n a l equivalence. Deposition occurred on a low r e l i e f t e r r a i n i n a cold c l i m a t e . A b e l t o f meandering r i v e r s up t o 4km wide formed channel d e p o s i t s o f medium t o c o a r s e a r k o s e up t o 3 5 m t h i c k . Crevasses and l e v e e s formed wedges (15m t h i c k , 400m a c r o s s ) o f interbedded s i l t s t o n e and sandstone grading downdip i n t o s i l t s t o n e . Larger composite s p l a y mounds ( t o 20m t h i c k , 2-3km a c r o s s ) were d e p o s i t e d f u r t h e r from t h e r i v e r s by s m a l l e r , overflow channels. D i s t a l d e p o s i t i o n o f sediment occurred i n reed f e n s and s h a l l o w l a k e s . Sandst~oneL i t h o f a c i e s The sandstone lithofacies forms massive, strongly- jointed outcrops t y p i c a l l y medium t o v e r y t h i c k bedded, and w i t h l a r g e - s c a l e trough and p l a n a r c r o s s - s t r a t a, and s c o u r - a n d - f i l l . Small- scale c r o s s - s t r a t a a r e minor, and t h e r e i s a tendency f o r upward-fining of s t r u c t u r e s and sediments. Sediments a r e medium t o c o a r s e , with minor f i n e , c l a y e y arkose. E x t r a c l a s t i c gravel is r a r e , but basal sections commonly c o n t a i n c o a l i f i e d , l o g s and i n t r a c l a s t i c mudstone pebbles. The sandstone l i t h o f a c i e s was d e p o s i t e d i n f l u v i a l channels a s evidenced by medium t o c o a r s e g r a i n s i z e , abundant l a r g e - s c a l e c r o s s - s t r a t a w i t h l a t e r a l a c c r e t i o n bedding, abundant c o a l i f i e d l o g s and i n t r a c l a s t i c mudstone pebbles. Two sandstone t y p e s a r e developed. Type 1 sandstone forms a continuous, s h e e t - l i k e bodies a t l e a s t 25-50111 t h i c k and extending 4km along s t r i k e . Internal s t r u c t u r e is complex with l a t e r a l a c c r e t i o n bedding and h o r i z o n t a l d i s c o n t i n u i t i e s n e a r t h e top. The base and s i d e s a r e g e n e r a l l y e r o s i o n a l a g a i n s t S i z e and form of i n d i v i d u a l channels interbedded s i l t s t o n e / s a n d s t o n e .

The G S A Coal Geology Group, Bowen Basin Coal Symposium, November 1985

is uncertain. Type 1 s a n d s t o n e r e p r e s e n t s major, s i n u o u s r i v e r b e l t d e p o s i t , probably c o n t a i n i n g s e v e r a l channel p h a s e s , which migrated l a t e r a l l y e r o d i n g l e v e e s and overbank d e p o s i t s .

Type 2 s a n d s t o n e forms s m a l l e r l e n s e s , and r i b b o n s 20 t o 30m t h i c k and up t o 0.5km a c r o s s , whose i n t e r n a l s t r u c t u r e i s g e n e r a l l y w i t h minor c h a n n e l l i n g . These i n t e r f i n g e r w i t h s h e e t - bedded s u r r o u n d i n g i n t e r b e d d e d ' s i l t s t o n e / s a n d s t o n e and have l i m i t e d e x t e n t s of e r o s i o n a l b a s e s . Type 2 s a n d s t o n e r e p r e s e n t s minor c h a n n e l s which were deposited during construction of splays, t o g e t h e r with s u r r o u n d i n g f i n e r sediments. Limited channel m i g r a t i o n occurred. Siltstone/Sandstone Lithofacies The s i l t s t o n e / s a n d s t o n e l i t h o f a c i e s forms sheet- bedded u n i t s which may be h o r i z o n t a l o r d i p up t o 25' ( g e n e r a l l y 15') onto t h e underlying coal. U n i t s form i r r e g u l a r wedges, l e n s e s and s h e e t s , up t o 30m t h i c k and Ikm a c r o s s . Bedding i s t h i n t o medium w i t h abundant s m a l l - s c a l e sedimentary s t r u c t u r e s , i n c l u d i n g l a m i n a t i o n , c r o s s l a m i n a t i o n and r i p p l e d r i f t . I n c o n t r a s t t o sandstone l i t h o f a c i e s large- scale cross- strata a r e v i r t u a l l y absent. C o n t a c t s between i n d i v i d u a l beds may be s h a r p o f g r a d a t i o n a l ; bases o f s a n d s t o n e beds Penecontemporaneous s o f t sediment may show s m a l l - s c a l e s c o u r i n g . deformation f e a t u r e s such a s slumping, convolute bedding, load c a s t i n g and m i c r o f a u l t i n g a r e common. Sandstones a r e f i n e , c l a y e y a r k o s e s compositionally s i m i l a r t o those o f the sandstone l i t h o f a c i e s , but w i t h more mica and p l a n t d e b r i s . The s i l t s t o n e s a r e more q u a r t z o s e w i t h abundant p l a n t d e b r i s and mica. The s i l t s t o n e / s a n d s t o n e l i t h o f a c i e s i n t e r f i n g e r s w i t h s a n d s t o n e , s i l t s t o n e and c l a y s t o n e l i t h o f a c i e s , and l e s s commonly d i r e c t l y Rapid changes between s a n d s t o n e and o v e r l i e s c l a y rhythmites. s i l t s t o n e dominant p h a s e s , b o t h v e r t i c a l l y and h o r i z o n t a l l y , form an i r r e g u l a r bedded appearance. I n g e n e r a l s a n d s t o n e - r i c h phases p a s s downdip i n t o s i l t s t o n e - r i c h phases. The s i l t s t o n e / s a n d s t o n e l i t h o f a c i e s r e p r e s e n t s proximal overbank d e p o s i t i o n a s l e v e e s and c r e v a s s e s p l a y s . High suspended/bed load r a t i o s d u r i n g d e p o s i t i o n a r e i n d i c a t e d by r i p p l e d r i f t . S o f t sediment deformation s t r u c t u r e s p a r t i c u l a r l y convolute bedding, probably i n d i c a t e h i g h r a t e s o f d e p o s i t i o n which i n c o r p o r a t e l a r g e amounts o f Bedforms were always w a t e r i n t h e sediment e n a b l i n g l i q u e f a c t i o n . r i p p l e s c a l e i n c o n t r a s t t o megaripples i n t h e channel s a n d s t o n e s . Siltstone Lithofacies The s i l t s t o n e l i t h o f a c i e s forms i r r e g u l a r mounds, wedges and l e n s e s up t o 25m t h i c k and 1.5km a c r o s s . Characteristic sheet cementation by f e r r o a n d o l o m i t e / s i d e r i t e g i v e s a d i s t i n c t i v e banded appearance. The l i t h o f a c i e s i s t h i n t o medium bedded, and composed of homogeneous t o laminated g r e y s i l t s t o n e s w i t h r a r e laminated and cross- laminated, f i n e sandstone beds. Mudcracks, amphibian f o o t p r i n t s ( ~ o d f r e y , p e r s . comm.) and s m a l l , s u b - v e r t i c a l burrows up t o 4mm wide and 1 5cm deep occur. Carbonaceous r i c h p a r t i n g s a l o n g bedding p l a n e s , extending 300m o r more a l o n g t h e w a l l , p r o b a b l y r e p r e s e n t

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Coal Geology Group, Bowen Basin Coal Symposium, November 1985

times of non- deposition and accumulation of v e g e t a b l e material since

t h e y commonly o v e r l i e homogeneous beds w i t h f i n e r o o t l e t s . The s i l t s t o n e s a r e composed o f q u a r t z , mica, f i n e p l a n e d e b r i s and c l a y s w i t h p e r v a s i v e carbonate cement. Bedding p l a n e s have c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of p l a n t d e b r i s and micas. Recognisable p l a n t s a r e mainly Glonnoptetin and Phyflotheca.. In a i l stumps a r e common. The s i l t s t o n e l i t h o f a c i e s r e p r e s e n t s d i s t a l overbank d e p o s i t i o n o f f i n e sediments. Accumulation was probably i n t e r m i t t e n t allowing development o f r o o t l e t h o r i z o n s and growth of p l a n t s . Clays tone L i t h o f a c i e s The c l a y s t o n e l i t h o f a c i e s forms v e r y e x t e n s i v e l a y e r s up t o 1 . 5 m t h i c k which can be t r a c e d over IOkm, and i t i s composed o f t h i n bedded, carbonaceous d a r k grey c l a y s t o n e s and f o s s i l i f e r o u s c l a y s h a l e . Claystones a r e homogeneous, w i t h common r o o t l e t s and i r r e g u l a r , wispy carbonaceous laminae and p a r t i n g s . Claystones a r e always a s s o c i a t e d w i t h c o a l seams and occur above and below them. They r e p r e s e n t marsh d e p o s i t i o n w e l l removed from F i n e sediment accumulated a c t i v e channel and overbank d e p o s i t i o n . w i t h s c a t t e r e d i n a i l v e g e t a t i o n , common Phyflotheca .and primary bedding was destroyed by r o o t s and s o i l development. The c l a y s t o n e s r e p r e s e n t s o i l s formed d u r i n g e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f v e g e t a t i o n . Clav Rhvthmite L i t h o f a c i e s The c l a y rhythmite l i t h o f a c i e s forms t h i n e x t e n s i v e s h e e t s , up t o I m t h i c k , o f t h i n t o medium bedded, r h y t h m i c a l l y laminated t o homogeneous sediment. Rare s c o u r - a n d - f i l l ( I c m d e e p ) , s m a l l burrows and slumping (I c m s c a l e ) occur. B i f u r c a t i n g , p a l e , s i l t y r i p p l e s up m h i g h and 4cm a c r o s s i n d a r k e r c l a y probably r e p r e s e n t i s o l a t e d to I c I n s e c t i o n t h e y a p p e a r a s l e n t i c u l a r bedding. Very wave r i p p l e s . f i n e p l a n t d e b r i s and mica occur on bedding p l a n e s , c o a r s e d e b r i s i s r a r e , stumps and r o o t l e t s a r e a b s e n t . The c l a y rhythmite l i t h o f a c i e s r e p r e s e n t s l a k e d e p o s i t i o n of f i n e sediment where t h e r e i s shallow s t a n d i n g w a t e r t o a l l o w wave r i p p l e formation. Water was s u f f i c i e n t l y deep t o p r e c l u d e s t a n d i n g vegetation. I n f l u x e s of f i n e sediment were p e r i o d i c a l l y reworked by low energy, waves and c u r r e e t s . Although s u p e r f i c i a l l y v a r v e - l i k e , no c o n s i s t e n t upward f i n i n g laminae could be i n d e n t i f i e d . Coal L i t h o f a c i e s The c o a l l i t h o f a c i e s comprises a major seam and two minor seams. Coal i n t h e Goonyella Middle Seam i s v i t r i n i t e - r i c h a t t h e base and i n e r t i n i t e - r i c h towards t h e t o p ( ~ e e s t o n , 1974) and low i n d e t r i t a l mineral matter. A n upward change from v i t r i n i t e t o i n e r t i n i t e may r e p r e s e n t i n c r e a s i n g r e l a t i v e dryness o f t h e p e a t w i t h consequent d e g r a d a t i o n o f t h e p l a n t m a t e r i a l s (plumstead, 1962). Coal r e p r e s e n t s accumulation o f v e g e t a t i o n i n p e a t l a n d s f r e e o f t e r r i g e n e o u s i n f l u x .

The GSA Coal Geology Group, Bowen Basin Coal Symposium, November 1985

REFERENCES

BEESTON, J.W., 1974. Petrographic studies and evaluation of the Goonyella Middle Seam in Grosvenor NS. 14. Qd Gout. Min. J o u t , 75, 427-429. PLUMSTEAD, E.P. , 1962. The Permo-Carboniferous coal measures of the Transvaal, South Africa, an example of the contrasting stratigraphy in the southern and northern hemispheres. C . t . 4 . C0ngt. ivztetn. St4aX. GeoC. C a t b o n i 6 e t e , 2 , Maastricht, pp. 545-550.

The GSA Coal Geology Group, Bowen Basin Coal Symposium, November

1985