Correlation of total sulfur content to the percentage of pyrite content by microscopy in Mallawa formation coal, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

Abstract

The Mallawa Coal Formation in general, has a high sulfur content even though the calorific value is quite high. Deposition environment will affect the sulfur content in coal. This study aims to determine the relationship of sulfur content to the percentage of pyrite mineral content in coal by microscopy. The research method used is field data collection, each using the channel sampling method (ply by ply) in Pujananting Barru Regency and Massenrengpulu Bone regency. Then a proximate and petrographic analysis was carried out to obtain sulfur content, and the percentage of pyrite in coal. The analysis shows that coal in the Pujananting area shows no relationship correlation between total sulfur content in coal and the percentage of pyrite minerals, so it can be concluded that sulfur in Pujananting coal is organic sulfur, which is formed together with the formation of coal starting during the peat process. While Massenrengpulu coal shows a correlation and relationship between the increase in sulfur content and the increase in the percentage of pyrite minerals, it can be concluded that the sulfur content in Massenrengpulu coal is derived from pyritic sulfur, which is strongly influenced by the depositional environment where the coal is formed.