Consideration of the variability of coals from the Botswana Karoo Basin using coal petrography

55 coal samples from 5 different coalfields in Botswana, predominantly borehole cores • Clearly shown that there is far more variability in the coals between and within the coalfields than predicted. • Pockets of high vitrinite content - isolated graben / half grabens, or marine transgressions • Variable vitrinite reflectance, with influence of igneous intrusions in the north, and very low rank in the south. • Variable degree of weathering, shown to impact on CV values, will impact handling & utilisation. • Low liptinite content, many sporinite non-fluorescing; no alginite • Mabesekwa in the Central Kalahari sub-basin, affected by igneous intrusions in some seams / localities, as well as extensive weathering, highly variable vitrinite content. • Lechana in the Central Carbonaceous Facies, fairly typical Botswana coal, medium rank C/D • Morupule, currently exploited, typical Botswana coals with high inertinite and low rank. • Takotakwane in the Southern Sand Facies generally very high vitrinite content, subbituminous coal, varying between dry and wet forest swamp • Tuli basin coals very different - extensive vitrinite, medium rank D, no weathering.