Insights into temporal and spatial variability of environmental conditions during deposition and organic matter transformation into Tertiary Bulgarian coal basins of different coalification rank (Eocene-Oligocene Pernik coal Province and Late Mio-Pliocene Maritsa Iztok Basin)

Project is funded by:   Bulgarian National Science Fund, Ministry of Education and Science (Sofija, Bulgaria)

Instituions where the research is conducted:

• Geological Institute “Strashimir Dimitrov”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Sofija, Bulgaria) – Coordination
• University of Mining and Geology “St. Ivan Rilski” (Sofija, Bulgaria) – Beneficiary
• University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia) – Beneficiary
• Innovation center of the Faculty of Chemisty in Belgrade (Belgrade, Serbia) – Beneficiary
• Montanuniversität Leoben, Department of Applied Geosciences and Geophysics (Leoben, Austria) – Beneficiary

Project realization is scheduled from December 1, 2022 till November 30, 2025.

Project staff

Short description of the project

ThŐ project is focused at investigating the processes of coal formation within the basins from the Pernik coal Province, as well as Maritza-Iztok Basin. For that purpose, an interdisciplinary approach will be applied, including: 1) Critical analysis and re-interpretation of exploratory geological documentation; 2) Comprehensive petrographic analysis of coal that enable to  establish the changes in petrographic composition throughout the basins; 3) Determination of the coalification degree; 4) Detailed organic geochemical investigation of the hydrocarbons generation potential of the coals; 5) Detailed characterization of the molecular composition and determination of biomarkers, in order to provide data on the environmental settings, extent of microbiological activity, plant paleocommunities, etc. On the other hand, the results are expected to allow the preliminary assessment of the potential for thorough and environmentally friendly coal utilization (e.g. through coalbed methane production or through underground gasification), which will stimulate the development of future practical projects (including private companies).