http://journal.uir.ac.id/index.php/JGEET 
 

 
 

E-ISSN : 2541-5794  
   P-ISSN : 2503-216X  

Journal of Geoscience,  
Engineering, Environment, and Technology 
Vol 7 No 2 2022 

 

 
Rahmad, B. et al./ JGEET Vol 7 No 2/2022  87 

 

RESEARCH ARTICLE 
 

The Role of Inertinite Characteristics and Coal Porosity of Seam A-1 
of The Muara Enim Formation in West Merapi, Lahat, South 

Sumatera, Indonesia 
Basuki Rahmad 1,*, Budi Prayitno2 , Susilawati, S.S.R3, Sugeng1 , Ediyanto1 , Nanda Ajeng 

Nurwantari1 
1Department of Geological Engineering, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Yogyakarta, Indonesia 

2Department of Geological Engineering, Universitas Islam Riau (UIR) Riau, Indonesia 
3Geological Agency, Center of Resources Mineral, Coal and Geothermal, Kementerian Energi Sumber Daya Mineral, Republik Indones ia 

 
* Corresponding author : basukirahmad@upnyk.ac.id 
Tel.:+62-815-7927-863 
Received: Feb 16, 2022; Accepted: Jun 30, 2022. 
DOI: 10.25299/jgeet.2022.7.2.8986 
 

Abstract 
Coal contains a complex network of nano-, meso-, and a macro-pore can store fluids and allow fluids to flow through it. Nanoporosity 

in coal is primarily a result of molecules that have aromatic molecular structures and have been preserved in coal. Most adsorbate 
compounds, including gases, are stored here. The study area is located in South Sumatera, West Merapi Area, Lahat Regency. Geologically, 
the area in South Sumatra Basin belongs to the Middle-Late Miocene Muara Enim Formation. Using the ply-by-ply method, coal samples 
were taken directly from Seam-A in the coal mine walls outcrop, based on macroscopically determinable lithotype information. During 
laboratory analyses, coal is microscopically analyzed to determine the amount of porosity, permeability, and vitrinite reflectance. The 
purpose of this study is to investigate the change in composition and characteristics of inertinite macerals when the porosity value is 
varied.. Vitrinite content is between 91.00-92.80 %; liptinite 0.90-3.40%; inertinite 3.70-4.80%; mineral matter 0.7%-1.8%. Withh a 
vitrinite reflectance average of 0.34-0.36%, the variation in composition is an indication of changes in plant communities or coal facies. It 
is generally classified as sub-bituminous coal (ASTM). Porosity value of seam A upper  is 1.9% and seam A lower 1.51%, permeability value 
seam A upper is 70.1 mD and seam A lower 27.1%. Composition of mineral matter in seam A upper is 0.8%  and seam A lower 1.7%.  The 
increasing number of inertinite pore is followed by lower porosity value. The inertinite maceral is predominantly aromatic with a high 
level of cross-linking, and exhibits a high level of aromatization and condensation. They have the highest carbon and the lowest oxygen 
hydrogen content. A coal maceral's porosity is composed of void spaces, such as open cell lumens preserved in semifusinite and sclerotinite. 
The porosity of cleats is the percentage of volume in relation to volume of coal, and the porosity of permeability. In coal, semifusinite has 
extensive interconnected pores that can form significant conduits for fluid flow. 
 
Keywords: inertinite, porosity, mineral matter, permeability, fluid flow, vitrinite reflectance 
 

 
 
1. Introduction  

1.1 Sub Introduction 

Considering coalbed methane plays typically span large 
areas of sedimentary basins, as well as the fact that the gas 
is mainly stored in an adsorbed state rather than free, coal 
is classified as a continuous-type, unconventional gas 
reservoir. Even though it is commonly believed that coal 
reservoirs are continuous, the properties of coal reservoirs 
are extremely heterogeneous. In fact, geologic factors can 
influence storage capacity, hydrocarbon content and 
production (Isabel, 2012). The geological factors 
influencing commercial hydrocarbon production in 
sedimentary basins vary considerably. 

The researched area is part of the Muara Enim 
Formation. According to (Ginger and Fielding, 2011), this 
formation is a filler in the Middle-Late Miocene South 
Sumatra Basin which is composed of. carbonaceous, 
lenticular, laminated claystone, tuff sandstone, and coal 
interbedded. There are two coal seams, Petai, and Merapi, 
in the Muara Enim Sandstone Unit, and two coal seams in 
the Muara Enim Claystone Unit, Mangus, which will be the 

research target in the Seam-A and Suban part of Seam-B. 
Coal is classified as sub-bituminous (Koesoemadinata, 
2002). 
The coal contains a complex network of nanopores (<nm), 
mesopores (2-50 nm), and macropores (>50 nm) that 
enclose fluid, through which it can be transported and 
stored. As stated earlier, the large majority of adsorption 
compounds, including gases, is stored in coal's 
nanoporosity, which is apparently caused by the aromatic 
moleculer structure of its biopolymers. (Isabel, 2012). 
Macerals of inertinite have a high aromatization and 
condensation rate and are formed from mainly aromatic 
structures with a high degree of crosslinking. There is also 
porosity in coal macerals such as open cell lumens 
preserved in fusinite that can contribute to porosity. The 
macropores associated with primary coal fabric are largely 
not interconnected, therefore, it does not appear that they 
play an important role in coal bed methane production. 
Nevertheless, semifusinite can contain considerable 
porosity and act as an important conduit for coal fluid flow. 
(Isabel, 2012);(Diessel et al., 1992) (Hodot, B.B., 1996) 
Hodot, (1966) classified coal pores into macropores (pores 

http://journal.uir.ac.id/index.php/JGEET


 
88  Rahmad, B. et al./ JGEET Vol 7 No 2/2022   
 

larger than 1,000 nm), mesopores (pores of 100 to 1,000 
nm), transition pores (10 to 100 nm), and micropores (10 
nm or smaller). There are various porous structures in a 
matrix with irregular surfaces and irregular structures. 
Porosity of coal beds is also affected by chemical structure, 
composition, and characteristics (Mastalerz et al., 2008; 
(Rahmad, Kusumayudha et al., 2018). In addition, the rank 
of coal also affects porosity (Rahmad, Raharjo and 
Rahmanda, 2020). Based on their size, there are four types 
of pores in the matrix: macro, meso, transition, and 
micropores. It appears that macropores are found in low-
grade coals, while the others are found in high-grade coals, 
according to Rahmad, Kusumayudha et al., 2018. 

The porosity of the coal will be affected by changes in 
the pore structure of the inertinite maceral. The more 
inertinite maceral in the coal, the greater the porosity of the 
coal, and vice versa (Raharjo, 2018). 

Inertinite maceral shows regular and irregular pore 
structures (size, shape, and distribution). As the pore 

structure in inertinite is irregular, it affects the porosity 
value in coal. 

Through petrographic observations of inertinite 
maceral coal, it can be seen whether the pore structure of 
the coal is regular or irregular. This can be used to 
determine whether the porosity of the coal is large or small. 

The vitrinite reflectance (Rv) is one of parameter to 
determine of coal rank or maturity especially in thick Muara 
Enim Fomration’s coal (Stach, 1982) One parameter to 
determine the composition of coal microscopy is from the 
aspect of coal type, which relates to coal-forming plant 
species and in its development will be influenced by 
biochemical processes during the peat process and the 
potential of coal methane gas resources in Keban Area, 
Lahat South Sumatera (Figure 1). An objective of this study 
is to determine the composition and characteristics of 
inertinite macerals as porosity changes. 

 

Fig 1. Location of the research, West Merapi, Lahat, South Sumatera 

 

Fig 2. Regional Stratigraphy (de Coster, 1974 ; Ginger and Fielding, 2005). 



 
Rahmad, B. et al./ JGEET Vol 7 No 2/2022 89 

 

2. Geological Setting 

The South Sumatera Basin is one of back arc basin in 
Sumatera Island that was forming by tectonic activity of 
Indo Australian Plate and Eurasian Plate since Cenozoic to 
recent. Cretaceous-Eocene   orogeny was resulting graben 
and half graben where filled up with terrestrial, 
volcaniclastic and deltaic sediment. On the Early Neogene 
was going to the transgresive system sediment such as 
Carbonate and marine clastics. The end of Neogene 
regressive system was very dominant producing fluvial to 
deltaic sediment. In this period was the beginning of high 
tectonic activity which produce a structural inversion and 
folding (Darman, H., Sidi, H.F., 2000) (Bemmelen, 1969) 
Within this basin area, 330510 km2, there is a tertiary 
sandstone outcrop called Barisan Hill in the southwest, as 
well as a shelf (Sunda Shield) to the east, a mountain range 
to the west, and the Lampung highlands in the southeast (A. 
J. Barber, M. J. Crow, 1974). 

As mentioned previously, Syn Orogenic/Inversion 
Megasequence tectonics dominate the area under study, 
which according to (Ginger and Fielding, 2011) has resulted 
in several structural traps for hydrocarbons in the South 
Sumatra Basin. It is an east-west oriented anticline that 
dominates the Muara Tiga Besar area. A similar slope of the 
layer is observed in the studied area to that of the northern 
limb of the anticline (homocline). 

Studies were conducted in a part of the Muara Enim 
Formation, an infill formation that lies within the South 

Sumatra Basin. The formation dates back to the middle-late 
Miocene, say (Ginger and Fielding, 2011).  A period of 
increased volcanic activity occurred during the Late 
Miocene in the Bukit Barisan Mountains. Fluvial-deltaic 
environments deposit the vast majority of sediment 
material. 

Generally, the South Sumatra Basin stratigraphy can be 
viewed as consisting of one megacycle, which includes 
transgression followed by regression. During the 
transgressive phase, the Talang Akar, Baturaja, and Gumai 
formations were deposited. While the Air Benakat, Muara 
Enim, and Kasai Formations were deposited during the 
regressive (Air Benakat, Muara Enim, and Kasai 
Formations), the Lemat and older Lemat Formations were 
deposited before the main transgressive. (Ginger and 
Fielding, 2011); (Figure 2). 

The studied area consists of Muara Enim Sandstone Unit 
and Muara Enim Claystone Unit with their respective 
lithologies: carbon laminated, glauconitic sandstone, and 
coal interbedded. Material in the claystone unit consists of 
lenticular claystone, tuf sandstone, and carbon laminated 
claystone. As shown in Figure 3, The Muara Enim Sandstone 
Unit consists of coal seam C (Petai) and seam D (Merapi), 
the Muara Enim Claystone Unit contains coal seam A-1 
(Mangus, which is the target of the research) and B (Suban). 
The rank of coal in the studied area are subbituminous-high 
volatile bituminous (Koesoemadinata, 2002);(Diessel et al., 
1992) ; (Diessel et al., 1992). 

 

Fig  3. The stratigraphy and Coal Formations of Muara Enim (Shell Mijnbouw, 1978) 

3. Sample And Methods 

A study of coal mining was conducted in the Lahat 
region and its surrounding areas. Field methods include 
observation of coal seams, sampling for gasification 
development planning, and collecting infrastructure data. 
In Muara Enim Formation, seam Mangus Seam A-1 (10 
meters) is the target coal seam. (Figure 4). 

The coal samples were taken from the coal mine walls 
at Seam-A by the ply-by-ply method and based on the 
appearance of the lithotype macroscopically. Each sample is 
then reduced in size, and a composite is divided into two for 
archive purposes and laboratory analysis. 
Laboratories perform the following analyses: 
A. Coal porosity analysis, coal that has been cut into a beam 

shape is used to measure the porosity. The diameter of 



 
90  Rahmad, B. et al./ JGEET Vol 7 No 2/2022   
 

the beam is 2.5 cm and its height is 2 cm. In the following 
step, for one hour we put the dry sample into a vacuum 
desiccator and saturated it with kerosene. 

B. An examination of coal microscopically to reveal maceral, 
vitrinite reflectances and mineral matter. During the 
polishing procedure, coal samples carried out from the 
mining wall outcrop. In order to prepare them, a variety 
of materials and tools need to be used, including: 
(1) Coal samples (2) Pounder Tool (3) Resin/ transoptic 

powder (4) Sieve sizes 16, 20 and 65 mesh (5) 
Thermometers, and presses and print polished briquettes 
(6) Grinding-polish machine (7) Alumina oxide in sizes of 
0.3, 0.05, and 0.01 microns; and 800 and 1000 mesh silicon 
carbide (8) Objective glass and night candles. 

 

Fig 4. Coal sampling of Seam A-1 

To obtain enough samples for analysis, the coal samples 
are quartered and concentrated from drill cores. Afterward, 
manual crushing of the coal samples was followed by 
sieving with mesh number 16 and 20. That grain size 
fractions of coal were used for petrographic analysis. 

Coal fractions with an average size of -16 mesh + 20 
mesh are mixed 1:1 with resin/ transoptic powder. A 200oC 
heat is then applied to the mixture in the mold. The mold is 
then pressed to 2000 psi after reaching 200oC and the 

heater is turned off. Once the briquette reaches room 
temperature, it can be removed. As a next step, briquette 
polishing begins with a cutting tool (grinder-polisher) 
followed by smoothing with silicon carbide sizes of mesh 
800 and 1,000. After that, polish with 0.3 microns, 0.05 
microns, and finally 0.1 microns alumina oxide on silk or 
silk fabric. Using the night candle holder, the polishing 
incisions are placed on the preparatory glass, followed by 
leveling. 

Polishing incisions are analyzed under a reflectance 
microscope both qualitatively as well as quantitatively to 
determine the mineral content and minerals in coal. An 
investigation using reflected light and examining 500 points 
under 200-fold magnification. Researchers conducted the 
analysis at the R&D Center for Mineral and Coal Technology 
in Bandung, Indonesia, under Spectrophotometer 
Polarization with Fluorescence with Microscope, type: 
MPM100, brand: Zeiss, is used in the coal mining 
classification (2856-1986., 1986) 

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

Five coal samples from West Merapi were analyzed to 
determine the composition of the Seam A-1 coal: A-1(1), A-
1 (2), A-1 (2), A-1 (3), A-1 (4), A-1 (5) (Tables 1 and 2) is 
vitrinite between 91.0%  92.8% ; liptinite 0.9% -3.4% ; 
inertinite 3.7%-4.8%. and mineral matter 0.7%-1.8% with  
vitrinite reflectance value 0.34%-0.36% (Rv random) which 
interpreted as lignite. 

There are several microscopic features of the maceral 
group of vitrinite, including telovitrinite that is light to dark 
gray, light layers consisting of telocollinite, which no longer 
acts as a matrix for showing wood fiber structure, and 
Detrovitrinite by an average of 55.1% trapped within 
inertinite, liptinite, and mineral matter. In the subgroup 
maceral detrovitrinite, desmocollinite, dominates the larger 
percentage of macerals. Approximately 7,8% of densinite is 
found in a fine sized mix of vitrinite fractions, more tightly 
and homogeneously distributed than attrinite. In general, 
gelovitrinite tends to be homogeneous, round-oval in shape, 
and generally isolated inside desmocollinite. Only 
gelovitrinite maceral corpogelinite is found in the 
gelovitrinite subgroup (Figure 5). 

 

Fig 5. Coal Microscopic of Seam A-1 



 
Rahmad, B. et al./ JGEET Vol 7 No 2/2022 91 

 

Table 1. Macerals and mineral matter composition and reflectance vitrinite value of Seam A-1. 

 
 
 
 
 
 

No
. 

A
re

a
 

A
g

e
 

F
o

rm
a

ti
o

n
  

 
 
 
 

Sample No. 

 
 
 
 

LITHOTYP
E 

MACERAL ANALYSIS 

MACERAL GROUP (% Vol.) 

MINERAL 

MATTER 

(% Vol.) 

 
 
 
 

Rv 

random 

VITRINITE (HUMMINITE) 

 
 

LIPTINITE (EXINITE) 

INERTINITE 

Telovitrinite 
(Humotelinite) 

Detrovitrinite 
(Humodetrinite) 

Gelovitrinite 

(Humocolinit
e) 

Telo-Inertinite 
Detro- 

Inertinite 

Gelo- 
Inertinit

e 

T
e

x
ti

n
it

e
 

T
e

x
to

-u
lm

in
it

e
 

E
-u

lm
in

it
e

 

 
T

e
lo

co
ll

in
it

e
 

 
A

tt
ri

n
it

e
 

 
D

e
n

si
n

it
e

 

D
e

sm
o

co
ll

in
it

e
 

C
o

rp
o

g
e

li
n

it
e

 

P
o

ri
g

e
li

n
it

e
 

E
u

g
e

li
n

it
e

 

S
p

ro
ri

n
it

e
 

C
u

ti
n

it
e

 

R
e

si
n

it
e

 

L
ip

to
d

e
ri

n
it

e
 

A
lg

in
it

e
 

S
u

b
e

ri
n

it
e

 

F
lo

u
ri

n
it

e
 

E
x

su
d

a
ti

n
it

e
 

B
it

u
m

in
it

e
 

F
u

si
n

it
e

 

S
e

m
if

u
si

n
it

e
 

S
cl

e
ro

ti
n

it
e

 

In
e

rt
o

d
e

tr
in

it
e

 

M
ic

ri
n

it
e

 

 
M

a
cr

in
it

e
 

O
x

id
e

 

P
y

ri
te

 

C
la

y
 

 

 
1 

L
a

h
a

t 

M
id

d
le

 -
 L

a
te

 M
io

ce
n

e
 

M
u

a
ra

 E
n

im
 

A-1 (1) 
TOP 

Coal, 

black, 

dull, 

spotly 

vitreous, 

blackish 

scratched

, blocky 

91.0 3.4 4.8 0.8 
 
 

0.3
4 

 
1.
7 

 
2.
1 

 
- 

 
80.
9 

 
2.
4 

 
3.1 

 
- 

 
0.
8 

 
- 

 
- 

 
0.
3 

 
2.
6 

 
- 

 
0.
5 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
1.
7 

 
1.
0 

 
1.
1 

 
1.
0 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
0.
8 

 

 

 
2 

 
A-1 (2) 

Coal, 

dark 

browish 

black-

black, 

dull, 

rarely 

vitreous 

streaks, 

blackish 

scratche

d, blocky 

92.0 2.1 4.1 1.8  
 

0.3
5 

 
1.
9 

 
2.
3 

 
- 

 
80.
4 

 
2.
6 

 
3.6 

 
- 

 
1.
2 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
1.
4 

 
- 

 
0.
7 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
1.
3 

 
1.
4 

 
0.
8 

 
0.
6 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
1.
8 

 
- 

 

 
3 

 

 
A-1 (3) 

Coal, 

black, 

dull, 

rarely 

vitreous 

streaks, 

blackish 

scratched, 

blocky 

91.9 2.6 3.9 1.6  
 

0.3
5 

 
1.
8 

 
2.
7 

 
- 

 
81.
0 

 
2.
3 

 
3.2 

 
- 

 
0.
9 

 
- 

 
- 

 
0.
2 

 
0.
8 

 
- 

 
0.
4 

 
- 

 
1.
2 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
1.
8 

 
1.
2 

 
0.
6 

 
0.
3 

 
- 

 
- 

 
0.
2 

 
1.
4 

 

 

 
4 

 

 
A-1 (4) 

 
Coal, dark 

brownish 

black-

black, dull, 

blackish 

scratched, 

blocky 

92.7 2.8 3.8 0.7  
 

0.3
6 

 
2.
3 

 
2.
8 

 
- 

 
65.
0 

 
4.
6 

 
14.
2 

 
- 

 
3.
8 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
2.
3 

 
- 

 
0.
5 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
1.
4 

 
1.
8 

 
0.
3 

 
0.
3 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
0.
7 

 
- 

 

 
1 

A-1 (5) 

BOTTO
M 

Coal, dark 

brownish 

black-

black, dull, 

blackish 

scratched, 

blocky 

93.7 0.9 3.7 1.7  
 

0.3
6 

 
1.
9 

 
1.
4 

 
- 

 
70.
9 

 
8.
8 

 
9.2 

 
- 

 
1.
5 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
0.
6 

 
- 

 
0.
3 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
2.
0 

 
0.
7 

 
0.
8 

 
0.
2 

 
- 

 
- 

 
- 

 
1.
7 

 
- 

 

Fig 5. Coal Microscopic of Seam A-1 



 
92  Rahmad, B. et al./ JGEET Vol 7 No 2/2022   
 

Table 2. Macerals  composition, porosity and permeability of Seam A-1 

No Sampel 
Rv 
random 

Maceral Group (% Vol) Mineral Porosity Permeability 

Sample Photo 
Vitrinite Liptinite Internite 

Matter (% 
Vol.) 

% mD Darcy 

 

 
1 

 

 
A- (1) TOP 

 

 
0.34 

 

 
91.0 

 

 
3.4 

 

 
4.8 

 

 
0.8 

 

 
1.9 

 

 
70.1 

 

 
0.07 

 

 
 

2 

 
 

A-1 (4) 

 
 

0.35 

 
 

92.0 

 
 

2.1 

 
 

4.1 

 
 

1.8 

 
 

1.85 

 
 

41.4 

 
 

0.04 

 

 
 

3 

 
 

A-1 (3) 

 
 

0.35 

 
 

91.9 

 
 

2.6 

 
 

3.9 

 
 

1.6 

 
 

1.75 

 
 

17.7 

 
 

0.18 

 

 
 

4 

 
 

A-1 (2) 

 
 

0.36 

 
 

92.7 

 
 

2.8 

 
 

4.1 

 
 

0.7 

 
 

1.55 

 
 

48.6 

 
 

0.49 

 

 
 

5 

 
 

A-1 (1) 
BOTTOM 

 
 

0.36 

 
 

93.7 

 
 

0.9 

 
 

4.8 

 
 

1.7 

 
 

1.51 

 
 

27.1 

 
 

0.27 

 

The inertinite maceral group of Seam A composed by 
Telo-inertinite and Detro-inertinite. There is only maceral 
inertodetrinite in macro-Detro-inertinite. Compared with 
semifusinite, There is a major difference between maceral 
teleo-inertinite and maceral fusinite, in that the former has 
a higher relief and thinner cell walls. Furthermore, the 
structure appears clearer than semifusinite. Over 5% of all 
samples are composed of sclerotinite maceral (Figure 5). 
The maceral sclerotintes have oval or circular forms with 
high reflective properties, and they are believed to come 
from a fungus that contains black melanin known as 
mycelia.  

Mineral matter analysis shows that the coal seam from 
the seam-A contains pyrite that present mostly as fine 
crystals within the dense macerals (Table 1; Figure 5). 

Porosity and permeability values of Seam-A coal in East 
Merapi of 5 coal samples (Table 2) are: A-1(1), A-1 (2), A-1 
(2), A-1 (3), A-1 (4), A-1 (5) show the porosity between 
1.52%-1.9 % and the permeability 17.7-70.1 mD. 

The comparison between the inertinite content and the 
porosity value shows that the incrasing inertinite parallelly 
to porosity while the permeability value tends to increase 
(Table 2). 

In coal, fluids can be stored and can flow through a 
complex network of nanoporous (*nm), mesoporous (2-4 
nm), and macroporous (>50 nm) spaces. It appears that 
aromatic molecular structures of biopolymers are the major 
source of nanoporosity in coal, and as mentioned earlier, 
this is where the vast majority of adsorbed compounds are 
stored, including the gases. The flow within the polymeric 
network is controlled primarily by diffusion rather than by 
Darcy flow, and the direction of flow within the 
nanostructure is determined by fluid concentration 
gradients rather than by pressure gradients.(Bustin, R. M. 

and Clarkson, C. R., 1999); (Pone, Halleck and Mathews, 
2009) speculated that mesopores might provide space for 
multilayer adsorption in coal, but in reality we know less 
about their structure and origin. 

As pore sizes increase, Darcian flow becomes more 
significant, and coal can contain macroporosities exceeding 
5% at standard pressure (Isabel, 2012); (Mazumder et al., 
2006). In coal macerals, void spaces are found in the form 
of open cell lumens preserved in pyrofussite. Coalbed 
methane production appears to be limited to a few 
macropores associated with the primary coal fabric. 

However, semifusinite may have considerable porosity 
and may form important conduits for fluid flow. The 
interconnected macropore space in coal is largely defined 
by natural fractures, particularly cleat systems, and is 
therefore of primary importance to reservoir properties. 
The coal cleat system consists of face cleats and butt cleats, 
which are orthogonal fracture systems with close spacing 
(cm to mm scale), analogous to joints in other rock types. 
(Figures 6 and 7). 

The pores structure of coal, such as pore size, pore 
shape, pore distribution and interconnection between 
pores, can determine the porosity and permeability of coal, 
which is influenced by the type of coal and rank of the coal 
(Zhang et al., 2014) The matrix structure related to the 
abundance of pore volume, like micropores, mesoporous 
and macropores, is a function of coal organic matter and 
vitrinite reflectance  (Laubach, 1998); (Bustin, R. M. and 
Clarkson, C. R., 1999); (Pone, Halleck and Mathews, 2009) ; 
(Harpalani, S., Schraufnagel, R.A., 1990); (Harpalani, S., 
Chen, G., 1995) 

Understanding the composition of maceral is important 
in understanding the properties of coal pores, porosity, and 
coal permeability when coal rank is stable or changes 



 
Rahmad, B. et al./ JGEET Vol 7 No 2/2022 93 

 

regularly (Zhang et al., 2014) The composition of inertinite 
maceral contains more mesoporous (Clarkon & Bustin, 
1996), in samples A-1 (1) and A-1 (2) as in Figure 5 that 
show the presence of pores in inertinite maceral which are 
different, especially in shape, pore size and pore 
distribution, in sample A-1 (1) the number of pores in 
inertinite is less than that in sample A-1 (2). 

 

Fig 6. Cleat system of Seam A-1 

 

Fig. 7. The Gases bubble on permeability by cleat system of Seam 

A-1 

According (Bustin, R. M. and Clarkson, C. R., 1999); the 
increase in vitrinite reflectance will cause the number of 
mesoporous and micropores develop as a result of the 
smaller porosity. The increase in vitrinite reflectance will 
affect the porosity of the coal, the coal sample A-1 (1) Top 
Rv random = 0.34% has a porosity of 1.9% and sample A-1 
(2) Rv random = 0.35%, the porosity decrease to 1.85% 
(Table 2). This is due to the coal processes and combined 
with the continuous physical compaction will decrease the 
coal porosity. 

Permeability data from both samples show that sample 

A-1 (1) has permeability 70.1 mD, while sample A-1 (2) has 

permeability 27.1 mD. This permeability change is due to 

the fact that the two samples have different mineral matter, 

in sample A-1 (1) has mineral matter = 0.8% while sample 

A-1 (2) is 1.7%. Mineral matter will fill the pores in coal, the 

more mineral matter, the flow of fluid and gas will be 

obstructed. 

Conclusion 

- The increasing inertinite content is followed by the 
higher porosity value 

-  Porosity consists of void spaces in coal macrocrystalline 
materials, which can be preserved in the intracellular 
space in inertinite (semifusinite and sclerotinite) 

- Semifusinite has considerable pores that can conduct 
fluids, which can be important for coal fluid flow 

- The increase of vitrinite reflectance causes the porosity 
decrease, because the pores in inertinite is developed 
into mesoporous and micropores 

- The increase in mineral matter causes permeability 
decrease due to mineral matter filling the pores, which 
will inhibit the flow rate of fluids or gases. 

Acknowledgements 

To Universitas Pembangunan Nasional "Veteran" 
Yogyakarta the authors would like to thank the Ministry of 
Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia as well 
as the Institution of Research and Service Community 
(LPPM) for funding and PT. Bara Alam Energi for providing 
opportunities and facilitating research. 

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