Rank and Petrology of the Middle Miocene Karapinar Lignites in Southeast Turkey

The coal-bearing strata in the Basoren Formation from the Sariz-Karapinar coal region are of middle Miocene age and were deposited in a lacustrine environment. Coal in this formation is lignitic in rank (%Ro, random of eu-ulminite B is 0.37). These lignites have high inertinite content (up to 37.4%), which is higher than in any other Turkish lignites studied previously. Inertinite content in the region increases from the northeast to the southwest, possibly indicating oxidation of organic matter in the coal-forming environment due to lowering of the water level. Total sulfur content in the lignites ranges from 1.8 to 4.8%. High-rank coals present in the Upper Permian Yigiltepe Formation (%Ro, random is 0.66-0.70) contain more sulfur (Stot = 5.6-6.9%) and less inertinite (9.6-12.1%).