Mineral occurrence and its impact on fracture generation in selected Qinshui Basin coals: An experimental perspective

The effect of mineral matter on the fracture evolution was investigated for Lower Permian and Upper Pennsylvanian coal samples from the Qinshui Basin of China. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM–EDS), and X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) were used to investigate the composition and modes of occurrence of minerals within the coals and to characterize the natural and induced...