Los Cuervos formation’s proximate analysis and coal’s organic petrography in the Chucarima sector (Chitagá, Norte de Santander), Colombia

In this study Los Cuervos formation’s coals’ macerals and proximate analysis were analyzed, those belonging to La lomita mine located in the San Luis of Chucarima village of Chitaga’s Town (Norte de Santander) which is located in the Catatumbo basin. Initially, the samples were analyzed in order to determine their calorific value, moisture content, ash, fixed carbon, sulfur, coking properties. Giving as a result a very good quality of the coal, mainly due to the low sulfur content (0.59% in dry basis according to the ASTM D4239-14 standard), with free swelling index of 5.0 air drying according to ASTM-D720M15 standard), which gives it a strong binder character making it a caking coal. In addition, based on the petrographic analysis, initially a summary of the nomenclatures and visual characteristics of all macerals was performed, then it was possible to analyze the samples obtained in the sector. In which, a predominance of the vitrinite was observed, making this a vitric highly composed of type III kerogen present in four layers of approximately 30cm thick in the study area.