of hopanes and higher carbon preference index (CPI) values (in-C22 to n-C3o) show significant bacterial contributions in samples characterized by high values of tissue preservation index (TPI). The C31 a~ (22S/ 22S+22R) hopane and C29 aaa (20S/20S+20R) sterane ratios show least variation through the shale-coal sequence. Shale and coal samples from the upper and main seams are characterized by high relative abundance of 17~ (H)-hopanes, which could be derived from nonmicrobial organisms such as ferns. The petrographic and geochemical evidence suggest that the Maghara coal was formed in a 'wet forestswamp' environment situated in a marine-influenced lower delta plain. Su, S. et al. Fuel, 2001, 80, (9), 1351-1360. This paper presents the experimental results on the slagging propensity of three pairs of blended coals tested in the Australian Coal Industry Research Laboratory furnace. The results showed that none of the coals or blends produced strongly molten deposit. At worst, the deposits contained some moderately sintered material. Most of the blends have (slightly) worse slagging behaviour than the component coals. In order to rank the slagging propensity numerically, the minimum heat flux ratio and total heat flux ratio based on the heat flux profiles were defined. They are better in ranking the slagging propensities than other measures such as the build-up rate and visual physical characteristics. The Fe2Oa/CaO molar ratio correlates the slagging propensity for five coals and six blends of this study. The worst slagging occurs when the ratio approaches 1.0. This ratio provides explanation of why the blends had worse slagging than the component coals for the pairs of blends: A-B and C-D. However, it is noted that there are causes of slagging other than the Fe203/CaO molar ratio.
02/01283 Slagging propensities of blended coals