Environmental Impacts of the Mazino Coal Deposit, Central Iran

Document Type : Original Articles

Author

Dapartment of Geology, Faculty of Earth Science, Shahid Beheshti University

Abstract

Mazino coal deposit is situated on 85km west of Tabas, Yazd. Mazino is the biggest thermal coal deposit in Tabas coalfield in Central Iran. Coal-bearing strata in Tabas coalfield (as well as Mazino deposit) are within the Middle Jurassic formations. This sedimentation has been developed in alluvial plain and coastal environment in Tabas coalfield. The coal-bearing sediments in Mazino area are belong to Mazino (Hojadk) Formation (central Middle Jurassic). Mazino Formation mainly consists of sandstone, shale, and siltstone and carbonate rocks. Geological studies have shown that the coals of Mazino deposit are mainly anthracite to semi-anthracite and dominated by macerals of the vitrinite group with relatively low amounts of inertinite macerals, low volatile matters and 30 percent ash. The dominant mineral of these coals are pyrite, siderite, ankerite, calcite, gypsum, barite, illite and clays consisting of argillite, kaolinite and montmorilinite.There is a plan to build a coal-fired thermal powerplant in this area consuming about 2 Mt of coal per year. The present paper tries to discuss the envirnomental impacts of coal mining in this area.

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