Geochemistry and Modes of Occurrence of Hazardous Trace Elements in the No. 11 Coal Seam, Antaibao Surface Mine, Shanxi Province

Concentrations of seventeen hazardous trace elements including As, Pb, Hg, Se, Cd, Cr, Co, Mo, Mn, Ni, U, V, Th, Be, Sb, Br and Zn in the No.ll coal seam, Antaibao surface mine, Shanxi Province were determined using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis （INAA）, Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry （ICP-AES）, Cold-Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry （CV-AAS） and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry （GF-AAS）. Comparisons with average concentrations of trace elements in Chinese coal show that the concentrations of Hg and Cd in the No. 11 coal seam, Antaibao surface mine are much higher. They may be harmful to the environment in the process of utilization. The variations of the trace elements contents and pyritic suffur in vertical section indicated that： （a） the concentrations of As, Pb, Mn, and pyritic sulfur decrease from roof to floor; （b） the concentrations of Cr, Zn and Mo are higher in roof, floor and lower in coal seam; （c） the concentration of Br, Sb, and Hg are higher in coal seam and lower in roof and floor; （d） the concentrations of Mo, V, Th and AI vary consistently with the ash yield. Cluster analysis of trace elements, pyritic sulfur, ash yield and major elements, such as AI, Fe, P, Ca shows that： （a） pyritic sulfur, Fe, As, Mn, Ni, Be are closely associated and reflect the influence of pyrite; （b） Mo, Se, Pb, Cr, Th, Co, Ca and A! are related to clay mineral, which is the main source of ash; （c） U, Zn, V, Na, P maybe controlled by phosphate or halite; （d） Hg, Br, Sb and Cd may be mainly organic-associated elements which fall outside the three main groups. The concentration distribution characteristics of trace elements in coal seam and the cluster analysis of major and trace elements showed that the contents of trace elements in the No. 11 coal seam, Antaibao surface mine, are mainly controlled by detrital input and migration from roof and floor.     

Concentration and distribution of trace elements in some coals from Northern China

The concentration, distribution and modes of occurrence of trace elements in thirty coals, four floors and two roofs from Northern China were studied. The samples were collected from the major coalfields of Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province, Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The concentrations of seventeen potential hazardous trace elements, including Hg, As, Se, Pb, Cd, Br, Ni, Cr, Co, Mo, Mn, Be, Sb, Th, V, U, Zn, and five major elements P, Na, Fe, Al, and Ca in coals were determined.Compared with average concentration of trace elements in Chinese coal, the coals from Northern China contain a higher concentration of Hg, Se, Cd, Mn, and Zn. They may be harmful to the environment in the process of combustion and utilization. Vertical variations of trace elements in three coal seams indicated the distributions of most elements in coal seam are heterogeneous. Based on statistical analyses, trace elements including Mo, Cr, Se, Th, Pb, Sb, V, Be and major elements including Al, P shows an affinity to ash content. In contrast, Br is generally associated with organic matter. Elements As, Ni, Be, Mo, and Fe appear to be associated with pyrite. The concentrations of trace elements weakly correlate either to coal rank or to maceral compositions.     

The occurrence of potentially hazardous trace elements in five Highveld coals, South Africa

Permian coals of the southern hemisphere are generally considered to contain lower concentrations of sulfides, halogens, and trace elements when compared to northern hemisphere Carboniferous coals. Few studies have considered the trace element content in South African coals, and little or no work has been published for Highveld coals. Of the nineteen coal fields in South Africa, the Highveld coal field is one of the nine currently producing, and is second largest in terms of production. Five run of mine samples and a high ash middlings product from the Number 4 Lower seam were analyzed, totaling six sample sets. Fourteen trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, V, and Zn) were selected for this study based on the global perception that these elements may be hazardous to human health and/or the environment when they are released during coal utilization. Several sample preparation techniques were tested using certified reference materials (SARMs 18, 19 and 20) to determine the most repeatable technique for these coals. The samples were analyzed by ICP-AES and CVAA (Hg only). Microwave digestion proved to be generally unreliable despite the utilization of several different methods. A slurry direct injection method into the ICP-AES provided good correlations with the reference material, but requires further development to enhance the confidence level in this relatively unexplored technique. Samples prepared based on three ASTM standards for the determination of trace elements in coal provided repeatable results in most instances, and were the preparation methods utilized for the Highveld coals.The trace element values determined for the Highveld coals are generally in good agreement with values available in literature for South African coals, with the exception of Hg, Mn and Cr. Hg values reported here are lower, Cr and Mn higher. Results generally agree well with analyses on the same samples conducted by the United States Geological Survey. When considering the global ranges for trace elements, the Highveld range values are within Swaine's range boundaries with the exception of Cr. Compared to the cited global average values for the fourteen trace elements determined, the values obtained for the Highveld coals generally fall below or well below these average values, with the exception of Cr and Mn. Concentrations of Cd and Cu are lower compared to global average values, and As, Mo, Pb, Se, Sb, and Zn can be considered low to very low. Arsenic is ten times lower compared to typical USA values. Concentrations of Co and Ni are similar to global averages, with V and Hg being very slightly higher. The middlings samples reported higher concentrations of most elements, related to the higher ash content of these samples. Of interest, the chalcophile elements determined are all depleted in the Highveld coals compared to global averages, and the siderophile elements are enriched or comparable to global averages.Risk-based health studies in the USA on coals with similar or higher Hg and significantly higher As contents have not reported negative health effects, and therefore it could be assumed that the mobilization of these trace elements from the five Highveld coals are unlikely to cause human health problems. Work is ongoing to determine the modes of occurrence of these HAPs and to address the partitioning behaviors and speciation states of these elements during coal utilization.     

Concentration and association of minor and trace elements in Mukah coal from Sarawak, Malaysia, with emphasis on the potentially hazardous trace elements

The ash yield and concentrations of twenty-four minor and trace elements, including twelve potentially hazardous trace elements were determined in Mukah coal from Sarawak, Malaysia. Comparisons made to the Clarke values show that Mukah coal is depleted in Ag, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Mn, Ni, Se, U, and V. On the other hand, it is enriched in As, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sb, Th, and Zn. Among the trace elements studied, V and Ba are associated predominantly with the clay minerals. Manganese, Cr, Cu, Th, and Ni are mostly bound within the aluminosilicate, sulphide and/or carbonate minerals in varying proportions, though a portion of these elements are also organically bound. Arsenic, Pb and Sb are mostly organically bound, though some of these elements are also associated with the sulphide minerals. Zinc is associated with both the organic and inorganic contents of the coal. Among the potentially hazardous trace elements, Be, Cd, Co, Mn, Ni, Se, and U may be of little or no health and environmental concerns, whereas As, Cr, Pb, Sb and Th require further examination for their potential health and environmental concerns. Of particular concern are the elements As, Pb and Sb, which are mostly organically bound and hence cannot be removed by physical cleaning technologies. They escape during coal combustion, either released as vapours to the atmosphere or are adsorbed onto the fine fly ash particles.     

Concentration and distribution of elements in Late Permian coals from western Guizhou Province,China

With the aim of better understanding geochemistry of coal, 71 Late Permian whole-seam coal channel samples from western Guizhou Province, Southwest China were studied and 57 elements in them were determined. The contents of Al, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hf, K, Li, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, Sn, Ta, Ti, Th, U, V, Zr, and REEs in the Late Permian coals from western Guizhou Province are higher than the arithmetic means for the corresponding elements in the US coals, whereas As, Ba, Br, F, Hg, P, Se, and Tl are lower. Compared to common Chinese coals, the contents of Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, Hf, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sc, Sn, Ti, U, V, Zn, and Zr in western Guizhou coals are higher, and As, F, Hg, Rb, Sb, Tl, and W are lower. Five groups of elements may be classified according to their mode of occurrence in coal: The first two, Group A, Tm–Yb–Lu–Y–Er–Ho–Dy–Tb–Ce–La–Nd–Pr–Gd–Sm, and Group B, As–Sr–K–Rb–Ba–F–Ash–Si–Sn–Ga–Hf–Al–Ta–Zr–Be–Th–Na, have high positive correlation coefficients with ash yield and they show mainly inorganic affinity. Some elements from Group B, such as Ba, Be, Ga, Hf, and Th, are also characterized by significant aluminosilicate affinity. In addition, arsenic also exhibits high sulfide affinity (r_S–Fe>0.5). The elements, which have negative or lower positive correlation coefficients with ash yield (with exceptions of Bi, Cs, Nb, Mn, Se, and Ti), are grouped in other four associations: Group C, Cr–V–Mo–U–Cd–Tl; Group D, Hg–Li–Sc–Ti–Eu–Nb–Cs–W; Group E, Bi–Sb; and Group F, Co–Ni–Cu–Pb–Zn–Mg–Se–Ca–Mn–S–Fe. The correlation coefficients of some elements, including Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mo, Ni, P, S, Sc, U, V, and Zn, with ash yield are below the statistically significant value. Only Cr and Cu are negatively correlated to ash yield (−0.07 and −0.01, respectively), showing intermediate (organic and inorganic) affinity. Manganese and Fe are characterized by carbonate affinity probably due to high content of epigenetic veined ankerite in some coals. Phosphorus has low correlation coefficients with any other elements and is not included in these six associations. There are five possible genetic types of enrichment of elements in coal from western Guizhou Province: source rock, volcanic ash, low-temperature hydrothermal fluid, groundwater, and magmatic hydrothermal inputs.     

Abundances and modes of occurrence of trace elements in the Çan coals (Miocene), Çanakkale-Turkey

This study presents the concentrations and modes of occurrence of trace elements in 81 coal samples from the Çan basin of northwestern Turkey. The concentration of trace elements in coal were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Additionally, traditional coal parameters were studied by proximate, ultimate, X-ray diffraction, and petrographic analyses. Twenty trace elements, including As, B, Ba, Be, Cd, Cu, Co, F, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se Sn, Th, Tl, U, V, and Zn, receive much attention due to their related environmental and human health concerns. The Çan coals investigated in this study are lignite to sub-bituminous coal, with a broad range of ash yields and sulphur contents. The trace element concentrations show variety within the coal seams in the basin, and the affinities vary among locations. The concentrations of B, Ba, Be, Cd, Cu, Co, F, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Tl, and Zn in Çan coals are within the Swaine's worldwide concentration range, with the exception of As, Th, U, and V. On the other hand, compared with world coals, the Çan basin coals have higher contents of As, B, Cu, Co, Mo, Pb, Th, U, V, and Zn. Based on statistical analyses, most of the trace elements, except for U, show an affinity to ash yield. Elements including As, Cd, Hg, Se, Cu, Mo, Ni, and Zn, show a possible association with pyrite; however, the elements Se, B, and Mo can be have both organic and inorganic associations.     

乌兰图嘎富锗煤中微量元素在不同密度级煤中的分布特征

煤系关键金属的开发利用对于缓解我国战略性矿产资源紧缺具有重要意义。内蒙古胜利煤田乌兰图嘎低阶煤中除富集关键金属Ge以外,同时富集有害元素Be、F、As、Hg、Sb和W,出于对关键金属的提取利用及环境保护2个方面考虑,须对研究区煤炭进行洗选处理。基于前期研究认识,浮选对于乌兰图嘎煤中As、Sb和W脱除效果相对较好,对于F和Hg的脱除效果较差,基于此,采用浮沉实验(重选法)以及XRD、XRF、SEM-EDS和EMPA等实验方法和测试手段,研究关键金属Ge以及Be、F、As、Hg等有害元素在不同密度级煤中的分布特征,结果表明:(1) 乌兰图嘎煤中矿物主要包括石膏、石英、黄铁矿、高岭石等,矿物含量随煤密度级增大而增加,电子探针分析结果表明,Co、As、Sb和Hg赋存在黄铁矿中。(2) 经过重选,低密度精煤中Ge元素富集,表明Ge主要以有机态存在,Be、F、As等可能与有机质相关,或者赋存在嵌布于有机质中的微细粒矿物中,煤中Hg和大部分亲石性元素在高密度级煤中含量较高,表明其赋存在矿物中。(3) 重选对于Hg元素的脱除效果较好,对Be、F、As和一些亲硫或亲铁性元素浮选脱除效果优于重选。建议乌兰图嘎低阶煤使用重选?浮选联合脱除法进行有害元素的脱除。      

Coal facies in a Cenozoic paralic lignite bed, Krabi Basin, southern Thailand: Changing peat-forming conditions related to relative sea-level controlled watertable variations

The Cenozoic Krabi Basin in the southern part of peninsular Thailand contains about 112 million tons proven coal reserves. At present, coal is only produced from the Bang Mark mine located in the southern part of the basin, where the main lignite bed is 7-20 m thick. The lignite bed occurs in an overall paralic succession. The present paper investigates the depositional conditions of an approximately 8 m thick lignite bed (main seam) in the Bang Mark mine using organic petrography, including maceral ratios, and geochemistry. The results are further interpreted in a sequence stratigraphic context. The lignite is of low rank and is completely dominated by huminite indicating generally oxygen-deficient conditions in the precursor mire. Very low inertinite contents suggest rare occurrences of wildfires. The lower part of the lignite bed represents a topogenous fresh water peat mire with open water areas that in few cases may have experienced influx of saline water. The peat mire was subjected to periodic inundations and deposition of siliciclastics. Tissue preservation was relatively poor. The upper part of the lignite bed represents a slightly domed fresh water ombrogenous peat mire with a stable watertable and a balance between peat accumulation and accommodation space creation that favoured preservation of plant tissues. In general, the mire vegetation changed from less woody in the topogenous mire to more arborescent in the ombrogenous mire, where plants with suberinised wood cell walls also were more frequent. Decompacted, the lignite bed corresponds to a minimum ~ 11 m thick peat deposit that records from ~ 22,000 to 55,000 years of peat accumulation. Watertable rise in the peat mire was controlled overall by relative sea-level rise. In a sequence stratigraphic context, the lignite bed overlies a terrestrialisation surface (TeS; sensu Diessel, 2007) and the lowermost part records peat formation during a falling watertable and a decreasing accommodation/peat accumulation ratio (terrestrialisation). An accommodation reversal surface (ARS; sensu Diessel, 2007) indicates a change to paludification style of peat formation characterised by rising watertable and a high accommodation/peat accumulation ratio. Another ARS marks a gradual change to a situation with a balanced accommodation/peat accumulation ratio. The overall watertable rise throughout peat formation, but at a gradually slower rate from base to top, suggests that the lignite bed could be located in the late transgressive systems tract (TST).     

Trace elements in the Goze Delchev coal deposit, Bulgaria

The geochemistry of trace elements in the underground and open-pit mine of the Goze Delchev subbituminous coal deposit have been studied. The coals in both mines are highly enriched in W, Ge and Be, and at less extent in As, Mn and Y as compared with the world-wide Clarkes for subbituminous coals. Ni and Ti are also enhanced in the underground coals, and Zr, Cr and Mo in the open-pit mine coals.Characteristic for the trace element contents in the deposit is a regular variation with depth. The following patterns were distinguished for profile I: a — the element content decreases from the bottom to the top of the bed paralleling ash distribution (Fe, Co, As, Sb, V, Y, Mo, Cs, REE, Hf, Ta, Th, P and Au); b — Ge and W are enriched in the near-bottom and near-top coals; c — in the middle part of the bed the content of K and Rb is maximal, while that of U is slightly enriched; d — Ba content decreases from the top to the bottom of the bed. In profile II, W and Be contents decrease from the bottom to the top. The near-bottom, and especially the near-roof samples of profile IV are highly enriched in Ge, while for W the highest is the content of the near-bottom sample.Ge, Be, As, Mn, Cl and Br are mainly organically associated. The organic affiliation is still strong for Co, B, Sr, Ba, Sb, U, Th, Mo, La, Ce, Sm, Tb and Yb in the underground coals, and Fe, Co, Na, W, Sr, Y and Ag in the coals from the open-pit mine. K, Rb, Ti, Zr, Hf and Ta are of dominant inorganic affinity. The chalcophile and siderophile elements correlate positively with Fe and each other and may be bound partly with pyrite or other sulphides and iron containing minerals.Compared statistically by the t-criteria, the elements Na, Li, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Co, Mo, Fe and Be are of higher content in the open-pit mine. Tungsten is the only element of higher concentration in the underground mine. The contents of Ge, As, Sr, V, Mn, Y, Zr and P are not statistically different in both mines.It was supposed that there were multiple sources of the trace elements in the deposit. The source of the highly enriched elements (W, Ge, Be, and As) most probably were the thermal waters in the source area. The contemporary mineral springs are of high content of these elements. Another source were the hosting Mesta volcanic rocks, which are enriched in Sb, Mo, Hf, U, Th, As, Li and Rb. Some of the volcanics were hydrothermally altered and enriched or depleted of many elements. Thus, the hydrothermal solutions were also suppliers of elements for the coals. It is obvious that the contents, distribution and paragenesis, of the trace elements in both Goze Delchev coals reflect the geochemical specialization of the source area, including rocks, paleo- and contemporary thermal waters.     

Organic petrology of Paleocene Marcelina Formation coals, Paso Diablo mine, western Venezuela: Tectonic controls on coal type

About 7 Mt of high volatile bituminous coal are produced annually from the four coal zones of the Upper Paleocene Marcelina Formation at the Paso Diablo open-pit mine of western Venezuela. As part of an ongoing coal quality study, we have characterized twenty-two coal channel samples from the mine using organic petrology techniques. Samples also were analyzed for proximate–ultimate parameters, forms of sulfur, free swelling index, ash fusion temperatures, and calorific value.Six of the samples represent incremental benches across the 12–13 m thick No. 4 bed, the stratigraphically lowest mined coal, which is also mined at the 10 km distant Mina Norte open-pit. Organic content of the No. 4 bed indicates an upward increase of woody vegetation and/or greater preservation of organic material throughout the life of the original mire(s). An upward increase in telovitrinite and corresponding decrease in detrovitrinite and inertinite illustrate this trend. In contrast, stratigraphically higher coal groups generally exhibit a ‘dulling upward’ trend.The generally high inertinite content, and low ash yield and sulfur content, suggest that the Paso Diablo coals were deposited in rain-fed raised mires, protected from clastic input and subjected to frequent oxidation and/or moisture stress. However, the two thinnest coal beds (both 0.7 m thick) are each characterized by lower inertinite and higher telovitrinite content relative to the rest of Paso Diablo coal beds, indicative of less well-established raised mire environments prior to drowning.Foreland basin Paleocene coals of western Venezuela, including the Paso Diablo deposit and time-correlative coal deposits of the Táchira and Mérida Andes, are characterized by high inertinite and consistently lower ash and sulfur relative to Eocene and younger coals of the area. We interpret these age-delimited coal quality characteristics to be due to water availability as a function of the tectonic control of subsidence rate. It is postulated that slower subsidence rates dominated during the Paleocene while greater foreland basin subsidence rates during the Eocene–Miocene resulted from the loading of nappe thrust sheets as part of the main construction phases of the Andean orogen. South-southeastward advance and emplacement of the Lara nappes during the oblique transpressive collision of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates in the Paleocene was further removed from the sites of peat deposition, resulting in slower subsidence rates. Slower subsidence in the Paleocene may have favored the growth of raised mires, generating higher inertinite concentrations through more frequent moisture stress. Consistently low ash yield and sulfur content would be due to the protection from clastic input in raised mires, in addition to the leaching of mineral matter by rainfall and the development of acidic conditions preventing fixation of sulfur. In contrast, peat mires of Eocene–Miocene age encountered rapid subsidence due to the proximity of nappe emplacement, resulting in lower inertinite content, higher and more variable sulfur content, and higher ash yield.     

梅田矿区岩浆热变煤中微量元素分布特征

梅田矿区主采煤层－龙谭组１２号煤层主要是受矿区北部骑田岭花岗岩侵入体影响的典型岩浆热液变质无烟煤,煤的变质指标如挥发分和镜质组反射率Ｒ＾０（ｍａｘ）等与岩体有密切关系。本次研究按距离岩体由近而远采集了一系列煤样,运用中子活化（ＩＮＡＡ）和微区分析等测试手段研究了样品中近４０种微量元素的分布特征,结果表明：（１）Ａｓ,ｄ,Ｈｇ,Ｐｂ,Ｓｅ等对人体有毒元素在煤中的质量分数较地壳克拉克值高数倍至数十倍,     

Depositional history of the Fire Clay coal bed (Late Duckmantian), Eastern Kentucky, USA

More than 3800 coal thickness measurements, proximate analyses from 97 localities, and stratigraphic and sedimentological analyses from more than 300 outcrops and cores were used in conjunction with previously reported palynological and petrographic studies to map individual benches of the coal and document bench-scale variability in the Fire Clay (Hazard No. 4) coal bed across a 1860 km² area of the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field. The bench architecture of the Fire Clay coal bed consists of uncommon leader benches, a persistent but variable lower bench, a widespread, and generally thick upper bench, and local, variable rider benches. Rheotrophic conditions are inferred for the leader benches and lower bench based on sedimentological associations, mixed palynomorph assemblages, locally common cannel coal layers, and generally high ash yields. The lower bench consistently exhibits vertical variability in petrography and palynology that reflects changing trophic conditions as topographic depressions infilled. Infilling also led to unconfined flooding and ultimately the drowning of the lower bench mire. The drowned mire was covered by an air-fall volcanic-ash deposit, which produced the characteristic flint clay parting. The extent and uniform thickness of the parting suggests that the ash layer was deposited in water on a relatively flat surface without a thick canopy or extensive standing vegetation across most of the study area. Ash deposits led to regional ponding and establishment of a second planar mire. Because the topography had become a broadly uniform, nutrient-rich surface, upper-bench peats became widespread with large areas of the mire distant to clastic sources. Vertical sections of thick (>70 cm), low-ash yield, upper coal bench show a common palynomorph change from arborescent lycopod dominance upward to fern and densospore-producing, small lycopod dominance, inferred as a shift from planar to ombrotrophic mire phases. Domed mires appear to have been surrounded by wide areas of planar mires, where the coal was thinner (<70 cm), higher in ash yield, and dominated by arborescent lycopods. Rectangular thickness trends suggest that syndepositional faulting influenced peat accumulation, and possibly the position of the domed mire phase. Faulting also influenced post-depositional clastic environments of deposition, resulting in sandstone channels with angular changes in orientation. Channnels and lateral facies were locally draped by high-ash-yield rider coal benches, which sometimes merged with the upper coal bench. These arborescent-lycopod dominant rider coal benches were profoundly controlled by paleotopography, much like the leader coal benches. Each of the benches of coal documented here represent distinctly different mires that came together to form the Fire Clay coal bed, rather than a single mire periodically split by clastic influx. This is significant as each bench of the coal has its own characteristics, which contribute to the total coal characteristics. The large data set allows interpretation of both vertical and lateral limits to postulated domed phases in the upper coal bench, and to the delineation of subtle tectonic structures that allow for meaningful thickness projections beyond the limits of present mining.     

Petrographic, mineralogy, and geochemistry of coals of Pabedana, Kerman Province, Central Iran

This paper discusses the result of the detailed investigations carried out on the coal characteristics, including coal petrography and its geochemistry of the Pabedana region. A total of 16 samples were collected from four coal seams d2, d4, d5, and d6 of the Pabedana underground mine which is located in the central part of the Central-East Iranian Microcontinent. These samples were reduced to four samples through composite sampling of each seam and were analyzed for their petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical compositions. Proximate analysis data of the Pabedana coals indicate no major variations in the moisture, ash, volatile matter, and fixed carbon contents in the coals of different seams. Based on sulfur content, the Pabedana coals may be classified as low-sulfur coals. The low-sulfur contents in the Pabedana coal and relatively low proportion of pyritic sulfur suggest a possible fresh water environment during the deposition of the peat of the Pabedana coal. X-ray diffraction and petrographic analyses indicate the presence of pyrite in coal samples. The Pabedana coals have been classified as a high volatile, bituminous coal in accordance with the vitrinite reflectance values (58.75–74.32 %) and other rank parameters (carbon, calorific value, and volatile matter content). The maceral analysis and reflectance study suggest that the coals in all the four seams are of good quality with low maceral matter association. Mineralogical investigations indicate that the inorganic fraction in the Pabedana coal samples is dominated by carbonates; thus, constituting the major inorganic fraction of the coal samples. Illite, kaolinite, muscovite, quartz, feldspar, apatite, and hematite occur as minor or trace phases. The variation in major elements content is relatively narrow between different coal seams. Elements Sc,, Zr, Ga, Ge, La, As, W, Ce, Sb, Nb, Th, Pb, Se, Tl, Bi, Hg, Re, Li, Zn, Mo, and Ba show varying negative correlation with ash yield. These elements possibly have an organic affinity and may be present as primary biological concentrations either with tissues in living condition and/or through sorption and formation of organometallic compounds.     

Partitioning of elements and macerals during preparation of Antaibao coal

Analyses of the macerals, ash, sulfur and 43 major and trace elements were performed on samples of feed coal, cleaned coal, middlings and slime collected from the Antaibao coal preparation plant, China, and also on samples from coal preparation experiments. This study is focused on the partitioning of elements and macerals during coal preparation and potential environment aspects of the elements.The conclusions are as follows: (1) in comparison with the feed coal, the cleaned coal has a higher vitrinite content and relatively lower inertinite and exinite contents, whereas the middlings and slime have lower vitrinite and exinite contents, and relatively higher inertinite contents. The vitrinite contents in the size-segregated cleaned coals were observed to show a slightly increasing tendency with increasing particle size, while the inertinite contents decreased. (2) Physical coal cleaning is not only effective for removal of ash and sulfur, but also in reducing the concentration of most elements. As, Cd, Co, Cs, Hg, Fe, K, Mg, Nb and Ni are observed to show a high degree of removal, while Br, Be, Cu, U, Mn, Zn and organic sulfur are enriched in the cleaned coal and show a lower degree of removal. The large-sized cleaned coal is cleaner than the smaller sized fractions. (3) The middlings, especially the slime, are enriched in S, Hg, Cr, V, Zn, etc., so that these fractions should not be directly used as fuel. In addition, the concentration of Pb and V in the process water exceeds the limit of relevant environmental water quality standard. Consequently, it is necessary to develop new processes to remove ash, sulfur and hazardous trace elements to the maximum extent. Further studies on deep processing of the middlings and slime and cleaning of the process water should also be performed.     

Petrological,geochemical, and mineralogical compositions of the low-Ge coals from the Shengli Coalfield,China: A comparative study with Ge-rich coals and a formation model for coal-hosted Ge ore deposit

To better understand the formation mechanism of coal-hosted Ge ore deposits, this paper reports on the petrological, mineralogical, and geochemical compositions of the low-Ge coals in the Shengli Coalfield (Inner Mongolia, China), using optical microscopy, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The samples in the present study closely neighbor the previously-reported Wulantuga coal-hosted Ge ore deposit (both No. 6 Coal). In comparison with the Wulantuga Ge-rich coals, the low-Ge coals of the Shengli field display higher moisture (27.59% on average) and lower pyritic sulfur contents (0.53%). Both the low-Ge and Ge-rich coals are generally high in inertinite, and have varying but relatively low huminite contents. Preservation of fecal pellets as macrinite is notable in both the low-Ge and Ge-rich coals, and the position of the fecal pellets appears to be within tunnels or chambers within the wood. Quartz, kaolinite, pyrite, and gypsum are the major crystalline phases identified in most of the Ge-rich and low-Ge coals, but the low-Ge coals contain significantly less pyrite and are more abundant in non-mineral Ca and Mg. Ca-oxalate of authigenic origin is observed, generally occurring as cell-fillings in the low-Ge coals. Otherwise mineral-free organic matter in the low-Ge coals would be expected to have an inherent ash yield of around 6%, derived from the inorganic elements (mainly non-mineral Ca and Mg) that occur either in the organic matter or as dissolved ions in the pore water and form the sulfate species in low-temperature (oxygen-plasma) ash residues. The highly-elevated trace elements, including Be, Ge, As, Sb, W, Hg, and Tl, that occur in the Ge-rich coals of the Wulantuga deposit, are significantly depleted in the low-Ge coals. Lateral migration of Ge–W- and As–Hg–Sb–Tl-rich solutions through the original peat swamp for the Wulantuga Ge ore deposit has led to significant enrichment of Ge on the margin of the coal basin but decreasing Ge concentrations toward to the inner part of the basin. Such a migration direction is different to those in the previously-reported for the hydrothermal solutions in the Lincang (Yunnan of China) and Spetzugli (Russian Far East) Ge ore deposits, where the solutions migrated vertically from granite to peat along faults and led to a dome-shaped Ge distribution in the relevant coal seam.     

Distribution of environmental sensitive trace elements in the Eocene Sorgun coals, Turkey

The distribution of trace elements in the lower Eocene coal seam mined in the Yeniceltek, Kucukkohne and Ayridam coal mines from the Sorgun Basin was investigated in relation to ash content and maceral composition. The coal seam is mainly composed of huminite. In the present study, 35 samples from five seam sections were collected on the basis of megascopic characteristics. Results were determined using an energy dispersive polarised X-ray fluorescence (EDP-XRF) spectrometer on a whole-coal dry basis. Most of the major and trace elements studied are enriched in high-ash samples, while Ba, Br, Mn and W show relative enrichments in low-ash samples. Most of elements studied, such as Ga, Ce, La, Th, Nb, Rb, Zr, V, Cu, U, Pb, Sb, Cs, Sn, Cr, Se, Y and Zn, are primarily associated with mineral matter (clay minerals). Arsenic and a part of Zn, Se and Sb are probably concentrated in pyrites in the samples. Element concentrations show statistically significant negative correlations with many macerals and positive relationships with only attrinite that is mainly mixed with mineral matter (clay minerals and small quartz grains) in the samples. Nine trace elements (As, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Th and U), considered as potentially Hazardous Air Pollutants, are present in low to moderate concentrations. The mean values of trace element concentrations display relative enrichments in Se (2.8 ppm), Th (21 ppm) and W (26 ppm) in the investigated samples in comparison with other coals in the world.     

Geochemistry of the blue gem coal bed, Knox county, Kentucky

The Blue Gem coal bed (Middle Pennsylvanian Westphalian B, Breathitt Formation), has low-ash (with some sample sites having less than 1% ash) and low-sulfur contents through parts of Knox County, Kentucky. Most collection sites exhibit similar vertical elemental trends in ash geochemistry. The relatively high-ash (>1% ash) lower part of the bed displays enrichment in TiO₂, Zr, Cr, V and Ni; Co, Zn, Rb and Mn show enrichment at some sites. A low-ash (<1% ash) middle part of the bed displays enrichment in Sr, Ba and CaO; Fe₂O₃ is enriched in samples with carbonate minerals. The upper part of the bed contains >1% ash and a relative enrichment in SiO₂, K₂O and Rb and a relative decrease in Cu, Ni, Co, Ba and Mn when compared to the middle part of the bed. Principal components analysis indicates that the samples with an ash content 0.63–1.0% show associations for Ni, Cu, Cr and Co. Samples with between 1.01–2.0% ash display strong element associations that suggest increased clastic sediment contributions (TiO₂, Zr, K₂O, Rb, SiO₂). The low-ash content and the upwards decrease in trace concentrations both suggest that the Blue Gem peat swamp was ombrotrophic through at least a part of its geologic history.     

晋北-宁北煤中痕量元素的地球化学特征

应用仪器中子活化 (INAA)、电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱 (ICP- AES)和原子吸收光谱 (AAS)等方法测定了晋北-宁北一线 5对矿井、 2个露天矿、 5个电厂和 3个洗煤厂煤中环境敏感性痕量元素的含量;通过与中国土壤、其他地区煤以及世界范围煤中痕量元素含量进行对比,总结了研究区痕量元素的分布、富集特征,得知部分地区煤中 Hg、 Cd和 Se的含量较高,在燃烧利用过程中可能对环境造成影响.通过分析痕量元素与灰分、挥发分的相关性以及痕量元素间、痕量元素与 Al、 Fe和 Sp的相关、聚类特性,探讨了痕量元素间及其与矿物质间的亲合性及赋存特征.     

Distribution Characteristics of Sulfur and the Main Harmful Trace Elements in China's Coal

To promote the rational development and use of clean coal resources in China,data on the regional and age distribution of sulfur,arsenic and other harmful elements in Chinese coal was broadly collected,tested for content,and analyzed.Coal in northwestern China is characterized by low to extremely low levels of sulfur;the coal of the Taiyuan Formation in northern China mainly has high-sulfur content;that of the Shanxi Formation is mainly characterized by low sulfur coal;and the Late Permian coal in southern China has overall higher sulfur content;other regions have low sulfur coal.The average content of harmful trace elements in the bulk of China's coal is similar to the corresponding content in the coal of the North America and the rest of the world,whereas the content of various elements(Hg,Sb and Se)is different in magnitude to the corresponding percentage in the crust.The average content of the elements Cr,Se,Co,Be,U,Br in Late Permian coal in S China ranks first in the country whereas the average content of Hg and Cl in the coals of Late Carboniferous to Early Permian age in N China are the highest.The average content of Mn in Early and Middle Jurassic coal is higher in NW China.The high content of harmful elements in some coal should cause particular concern both in the development and utilization of coal.     

Modes of Occurrence and Cleaning Potential of Trace Elements in Coals from the Northern Ordos Basin and Shanxi Province, China

Based on the analyses of 43 elements in 16 samples of the raw coal and feed coal collected from the northern Ordos basin and Shanxi Province, the modes of occurrence of these elements were studied using the method of cluster analysis and factor analysis, and the cleaning potential of the hazardous elements relatively enriched in the coals was discussed by analyzing six samples of the cleaned coal from the coal-washing plants and coal cleaning simulation experiments. The results shows that the elements Br and Ba show a strong affinity to the organic matter, Cs, Cd, Pb, Zn and Hg partly to the organic matter, and the other trace elements are mainly associated with the mineral matter. Cs, Mo, P, Pb, Zn and S have positive correlations with the two principal factors, reflecting the complexity of their modes of occurrence. Some elements that were thought to show a faint relationship (Be with S and Sb with carbonates) in other rocks are found to have a strong interrelation in the coals. Clay minerals (mainly k