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The origins of kaolinite-rich rocks associated with coal measures in China

¹ Department of Resource Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, P.R. China, ² Environmental & Geological Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HF, UK, and ³ Department of Material Science & Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450002, P.R. China

^* E-mail: lqf{at}cumtb.edu.cn

(Received 24 January 2000; revised 17 November 2000)

Kaolinite-rich rocks are widespread in Chinese coal-bearing strata. Three main types of deposits are recognized. Those deposits identified as flint clays are several metres thick and show lateral variations in bed composition. The kaolinite is thought to have formed mainly on the adjacent landmass, but some crystallization of gels within the basin is not ruled out. Tonsteins, which formed from the in situ alteration of airfall volcanic ashes, are very common in the coal measures and are up to 0.5 m thick. Finally, kaolinite deposits are described where the development of kaolin is related to weathering of coals either close to or at the present land surface.

KEYWORDS: kaolinite deposits, tonstein, flint clay, soft kaolin, Chinese coal measures