Moose River Basin: geology and mineral potential - Geology Ontario

Moose River Basin
In samples of lignite from Onakawana the following entities were distin
guished by Tasker (1933):
Woody: Definite pieces of wood, generally hard and laminated but often consisting of knotty por
tions. Many pieces show well bedded structure. The colour of the interior of the lumps is generally
light chocolate-brown, though the outside is black. Most pieces when sufficiently dried show a
slight lustre when broken across the bedding plane.
Peaty: As the name indicates, of a peat-like nature. Breaks up into flakes and often appears to be a
mass of compressed leaves and twigs. This material contains large quantities of fusain or mineral
charcoal.
Earthy: When wet, this material tends to pack into balls or lumps, but generally can be crushed by
hand as soon as material dries out a little. The particles are usually spherical in shape and on dry
ing produce a large amount of dust.
Briquetting tests of earthy lignites from Onakawana are described by
Tasker (1933). It was found (Tasker 1933, p.28, 29) that dried material could be
briquetted without a binder, but that the briquettes were not quite as weather
resistant as is desirable for handling as a domestic or industrial fuel.
The quality of lignite at Onakawana is variable both within the field and
between the upper and lower seams. Approximate average analysis of ore in
situ (in percent by weight) is given by Shawinigan Engineering (1973, Vol.11, 2-
4) as follows:
Average Analysis Lignite:
Percent
Moisture 46.00
Ash 8.83
Volatiles 21.92
Fixed Carbon 23.25
Total: 100.00
Calorific value
5,246 B.T.U./lb.
These averages correspond to the following ultimate analysis:
Dry, ash free
Carbon 32.23 (70.63)
Hydrogen 2.20 ( 4.82)
Sulphur 0.51 ( 1.12)
Nitrogen 0.23 ( .50)
Ash 8.37
Oxygen 10.37 (22.73)
Chlorine 0.09 ( .20)
Moisture 46.00
Total: 100.00 100.00
In their assessment of Onakawana lignite Shawinigan Engineering (1973,
Vol. II, 2-4) allows for the following as delivered quality variance:
Quality Lignite as delivered:
Daily Variance Average
Dry Ash 27.0-13.0 20.9
B.T.U./lbXdry) 8,320 -10,120 9,075
Moisture 7c 55.0 - 42.0 46.00
B.T.U./lb. (wet) 3,744-5,840 4,900
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