摘要
Dynamics of catagenetic changes in the structure of humic coals in the Earth's interior can quantitatively be described using X-ray indices of components (phases), redistribution of which is determined by a system of differential equations in geological time. The system describes changes in the main formation parameters of coal seams in the Earth's interior (subsidence depth, temperature, pressure, and catagenesis index), on the one hand, and kinetics of catagenetic transformation of organic matter (OM), on the other. Such model makes it possible to establish regular changes in the phase composition of humic coals at different stages of coal basin formation. Using Paleozoic (Middle Carboniferous) coals of the Donets Basin as an example, it is established that main changes in the OM structure took place during the maximal subsidence of coal seams at maximal temperatures ranging from 110–15°C (for slightly metamorphosed coals of the L and G ranks) to 28°C (for anthracites) and pressures ranging from 55–74 to 146 MPa, respectively. Major processes leading to the observed X-ray phase composition of coals during the maximal subsidence of sedimentary sequences lasted approximately 40 Ma regardless of the geological age of sediments (Middle Carboniferous or Permian coal seams of the Donets or Kuznetsk coal basins, respectively).