北祁连-河西走廊志留纪和泥盆纪古地理及其对同造山过程的沉积响应

北祁连-河西走廊志留系包括下志留统鹿角沟砾岩和肮脏沟组、中志留统泉脑沟山组和上志留统旱峡组，泥盆系包括中、下泥盆统老君山组和上泥盆统沙流水组。鹿角沟砾岩为水下冲积扇沉积，断续分布于北祁连西段。肮脏沟组在北祁连-河西走廊分布广泛，主要为半深海碎屑复理石沉积。泉脑沟山组和旱峡组分布于北祁连和河西走廊西段，前者以浅海相砂泥岩和泥灰岩为主，后者以滨海潮坪-浅海碎屑岩沉积为主。老君山组分布于古祁连山山前和山间盆地，为粗碎屑磨拉石沉积。沙流水组分布于河西走廊东段，为湖相沉积。区域古地理分析表明，北祁连-河西走廊志留纪-泥盆纪的古地理主要受北祁连加里东-早海西期不规则造山作用控制。鹿角沟砾岩标志着弧-陆碰撞最早发生于早志留世早期。早志留世北祁连-河西走廊由弧后残余盆地向前陆盆地转化。中、晚志留世北祁连东段剧烈造山并与阿拉善古陆的连接，前陆盆地限于北祁连-河西走廊西段。志留纪末期为北祁连的主造山期，泥盆纪形成高峻的古祁连山。早、中泥盆世形成山前和山间盆地的粗碎屑磨拉石沉积。晚泥盆世造山带西段造山作用剧烈，形成剥蚀区。东段造山作用微弱，山地被剥蚀，山前形成湖泊相的晚泥盆世沉积。     

宁夏牛首山地区中—上泥盆统沉积相组合特征

在阿拉善和华北陆块南缘结合部位的牛首山地区,出露一套连续的中—上泥盆统陆相沉积组合。该套沉积组合的沉积相和沉积物源区的变化特征,可帮助理解阿拉善和华北陆块及相邻地区晚古生代构造演化。根据野外研究结果,该套沉积组合在牛首山南麓石峡沟地区呈现河流相、湖泊相和小型冲积扇相共同发育的沉积面貌,可分为河道、堤岸、河漫平原、滨湖、浅湖、扇根、扇中和扇端共8个沉积亚相。其中,中泥盆统石峡沟组总体呈现由河流沉积向湖泊沉积过渡,而上泥盆统老君山组则呈现下部为扇根、扇中、扇端亚相与河道亚相的粗碎屑沉积,上部由滨湖沉积向浅湖沉积过渡的沉积组合变化特征。牛首山地区老君山组砾岩层数、厚度及砾石砾径分别呈现向南逐渐减少、减薄和减小的特征。古水流分析结果显示,石峡沟组下部碎屑沉积物来自于北东东—东向物源区,上部沉积物主要来自于南东向物源区,而老君山组沉积物主要来自于北东向物源区。结合前人对老君山组古水流的系统测量、石峡沟组和老君山组砂岩碎屑锆石研究结果以及区域地质资料综合分析,认为中—晚泥盆世时期阿拉善地块东南缘总体具有北高南低的古地理格局,且该时期的沉积物为一套具有向南水体逐渐加深的陆相沉积组合,沉积物源区主要位...     

云南思茅盆地江城上白垩统勐野井组稀土微量元素特征及地质意义

沉积盆地中碎屑岩的地球化学成分主要受物源区控制,因此,通过分析碎屑岩的化学成分可以揭示盆地沉积岩的源区构造背景和物源属性。思茅盆地上白垩统勐野井组（K2me）细碎屑岩的稀土元素组成分析结果表明,研究区沉积物具有轻稀土元素富集,较平坦的重稀土元素分布模式,以及中等程度 Eu 负异常的总体特征。根据样品的（Hf-La/Th、La/Sc-Co/Th和REE-La/Yb）图解,特征性微量元素比值（La/Sc、Sc/Th、Cr/Th 和 Co/Th）,并结合岩矿薄片分析,认为勐野井组细碎屑岩具有典型的上陆壳特征,源区母岩以长英质岩石为主。微量元素 Cr/Co 结合岩相古地理的分析显示勐野井组细碎屑沉积物应属于近源沉积。通过与不同构造背景下杂砂岩的稀土元素特征对比及主元素（K2O/Na2O-SiO2/Al2O3和SiO2-K2O/Na2O）判别图解,勐野井组细碎屑岩源区构造背景应属被动大陆边缘环境,这与思茅盆地所处的三江造山带构造背景相符。     

贺兰山地区中奥陶统樱桃沟组物源及构造背景分析

鄂尔多斯盆地西缘贺兰山地区的樱桃沟组发育一套夹有碳酸盐滑塌重力流沉积的陆源碎屑岩。由于缺少可靠的物源数据,对早古生代鄂尔多斯盆地西缘的构造背景尚未有定论。本文对樱桃沟组碎屑岩进行了地球化学及岩石学分析,砂岩碎屑组分特征表明,该组源区大地构造背景为再旋回造山带。常量元素和微量元素地球化学特征表明樱桃沟组的物源呈现双物源的特点。更进一步,樱桃沟组的稀土元素配分模式对比表明了樱桃沟组碎屑岩的物源来自阿拉善古陆和/或北祁连造山带。综合分析砂岩的常量元素、微量元素和稀土元素的地球化学特征,经构造判别图解,认为樱桃沟组物源区主要为主动大陆边缘,也有来自被动大陆边缘的信息,表明贺兰山地区业已受到北祁连早古生代造山带的影响。樱桃沟组与研究区周缘造山带稀土元素配分模式对比研究显示,前者与其北西部阿拉善古陆和南西部北祁早古生代连造山带花岗岩露头稀土元素配分模式一致,均表现为轻稀土富集,重稀土亏损的右倾模式,具有轻微的Eu负异常和明显的Tm负异常,结合中奥陶世鄂尔多斯西缘古水流和碎屑锆石年龄分布特征,认为樱桃沟组的物源主要来自祁连造山带,部分来自阿拉善古陆。     

库车坳陷第三系泥岩地球化学特征及其对构造背景和物源属性的指示

利用碎屑岩地球化学特征判断沉积盆地的构造背景和物源属性是盆地分析的重要手段，也是对利用粗碎屑沉积岩的组分统计判断盆地源区背景的有益补充和验证。对库车坳陷第三系36件泥岩样品的地球化学特征分析表明，主量元素中CaO的含量很高，对其他主量元素以及微量和稀土元素有稀释作用，一些可靠的物源分析指标主要指示了非碳酸盐沉积物的源区性质；REE分布模式与上地壳相似，轻稀土元素富集，Eu负异常，微量元素比值显示源岩以长英质岩石为主。通过K2O／Na20-SiO2以及La-Th-Sc和Th-Sc-Zr／10判别图分析，认为源区的构造背景具有类似于岛弧的特征。这一结果与前人所做的砂岩组分的研究结果存在差异，说明板内造山带与其前陆盆地之间在沉积与构造耦合上具有特殊性。     

雅鲁藏布江周缘前陆盆地物源分析及构造演化

本文通过雅鲁藏布江缝合带南侧江孜和岗巴地区晚白垩世-古近纪沉积地层的碎屑岩岩石学、地球化学和铬尖晶石电子探针分析,揭示了碰撞前后沉积盆地的物源区变化,提供了盆地和造山带早期的演化历史.江孜地区上白垩统宗卓组属于弧-陆或陆-陆碰撞背景下的海沟沉积.日朗砾岩中的岩屑质长石砂岩地球化学特征反映有大洋岛弧物质的注入,物源区为大洋岛弧或增生楔.上古新统-下始新统甲查拉组长石质岩屑砂岩反映了冈底斯岛弧和再循环造山带物源区特征,是陆-陆碰撞背景下形成的周缘前陆盆地的前渊沉积.岗巴地区古新统基堵拉组石英砂岩表现为印度大陆内部物源区特征,而始新统遮普惹组岩屑砂岩为再循环造山带和冈底斯岛弧物源区.沉积特征和物源区综合研究表明,雅鲁藏布江周缘前陆盆地在古新世期间开始发育,它指示了印度与欧亚板块的初始碰撞时间.     

甘肃省景泰正路下志留统复理石杂砂岩沉积地球化学特征

位于北祁连造山带东段甘肃省景泰正路一带的下志留统肮脏沟组为一套巨厚的浊流相陆源碎屑岩,以杂砂岩为主,夹有板岩,属典型的浊流沉积。薄片的镜下观察结果表明,其粒度为0.05~4.00 mm,岩性为细粒-中、粗粒砂岩、含砾砂岩。对5块采集于复理石中的杂砂岩样品进行岩性组合判定和主要元素地球化学分析结果表明,w(SiO2)为61.83%~69.90%,w(K2O)/w(Na2O)为0.89~1.46。利用数据对比及w(K2O)/w(Na2O)—w(SiO2)等判别图的分析结果对其物源区的性质及沉积大地构造背景进行分析和判别的研究结果表明,北祁连造山带东段甘肃省景泰正路一带下志留统肮脏沟组的陆源碎屑主要来源于活动大陆边缘岩浆岛弧源区和造山带源区,反映了卷入造山带的岛弧、活动大陆边缘的弧后盆地的物源背景。沉积地球化学特征揭示的沉积大地构造背景为弧后前陆盆地背景,与碰撞后的大地构造背景相吻合。     

桌子山地区奥陶系乌拉力克组碎屑岩地球化学特征及其对物源的制约

桌子山地区位于鄂尔多斯盆地西缘北段,保留了相对完整的奥陶统地层。本文通过对该地区中—上奥陶统乌拉力克组16件碎屑岩样品进行地球化学分析,对碎屑岩的源区特征和构造环境进行了研究。结果表明:乌拉力克组碎屑岩主要为成熟度较低的岩屑砂屑岩,SiO_2为62.74%~85.47%,K_2O/Na_2O比值为2.2~12.9,tFe_2O_3+MgO值为2.6%~7.21%。稀土元素标准化配分曲线呈现轻稀土富集、重稀土平坦和Eu、Ce负异常特征。砂岩风化蚀变指数(CIA)为66~75,反映温暖、湿润条件下中等的化学风化程度。Zr/Sc和Th/Sc比值共同表明乌拉力克组的碎屑组成不具备"沉积再旋回"的特征。砂岩物源区组成判别图研究表明,乌拉力克组碎屑岩的物源区主要出露长英质沉积岩。砂岩形成构造环境判别图解及特征指数分析表明,乌拉力克组主要形成于大陆岛弧和活动大陆边缘相关沉积盆地,具有多物源的特征。     

羌塘盆地北缘上三叠统藏夏河组沉积物源及构造背景分析

碎屑岩元素地球化学特征对沉积环境、物源属性和构造背景具有十分重要的指示意义。藏夏河组是分布于羌塘盆地北缘的一套砂泥不等厚互层的地层,其时代为晚三叠世卡尼期—诺利期,是古特提斯洋消亡阶段的沉积产物,其物源及构造背景分析对晚三叠世羌塘盆地演化过程探讨具有重要意义。本文选取岗盖日地区藏夏河组碎屑岩开展元素地球化学分析,通过碎屑岩物源属性及其构造背景研究,探讨晚三叠世羌塘盆地的演化过程及性质。研究区藏夏河组砂岩样品具有低—中等的化学蚀变指数CIA=55. 0~65. 9、化学风化指数CIW=60. 6~74. 3 和斜长石蚀变指数PIA=56. 1~70. 6,反映物源区总体发生了弱的化学风化作用。Al2O3/TiO2、TiO2/Zr、Cr/Th、Sc/Th、Co/Th、La/Sc 值和显著的Eu负异常,表明藏夏河组物源主要来自长英质岩石,同时可能含有少量安山质物源。多重构造判别图解表明物源区主要来自于活动大陆边缘和大陆岛弧,少量来自于被动大陆边缘物源区。结合前人研究资料,笔者等认为晚三叠世早期羌塘盆地具有弧后前陆盆地的特征,而藏夏河组形成于同造山期或者造山后。     

宁武—静乐盆地侏罗系碎屑岩地球化学特征及地质意义

宁武一静乐盆地侏罗系地层包括下侏罗统永定庄组,中侏罗统大同组、云岗组和天池河组,主要由粉砂岩夹泥岩组成.前侏罗纪古地貌背景和古流向相结合研究表明,物源区主要来自于北东方向的阴山一燕山造山带中段,对盆地内陈家半沟剖面24件碎屑岩样品的主量、稀土和微量元素进行了分析,可以为演绎源区早一中侏罗世的物源属性和构造背景提供一定的依据.通过研究主要得出以下结论:①碎屑岩样品中CO2与CaO具有较好的相关性,δCe与δEu、δCe与∑REE、化学蚀变指数(CIA)与Th/U、CIA与Th/Sc不具有相关性,说明研究区侏罗系碎屑成分主要受控于源岩特征,不受化学风化作用及氧化一还原条件的影响;②稀土元素的配分模式基本相同,LREE/HREE值高和明显的负Eu异常,表明早中侏罗世具有相同的物源,岩石以亲花岗岩、长英质为主,母岩碎屑主要来自于上地壳,尚没有地幔物质的参与,REE--La/Yb、La/Th--Hf、Co/Th--La/Sc、Th--Hf--Co、SiO2/A12O3-∑REE、K2O/Na2O--∑REE判别图解,也反映了相似的物源特征;③中侏罗世云岗期至天池河期,碎屑物质中CaO、CO:、Gd、成分变异指数(ICy)值以及(Gd/Yb)N值突然增加,表明源区处于快速隆升、剥蚀阶段,大量的古老沉积物质不断加入,这一变化可能与燕山运动的起始时限及造山过程存在紧密的联系.     

Isotopic systematics of He,Ar, S,Cu, Ni,Re, Os,Pb, U,Sm, Nd,Rb, Sr,Lu, and Hf in the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits

This paper reports the first results of a study of 11 isotope systems (³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar, ³⁴S/³²S, ⁶⁵Cu/⁶³Cu, ⁶²Ni/⁶⁰Ni, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, ^206–208Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, Hf–Nd, U–Pb, and Re–Os) in the rocks and ores of the Cu–Ni–PGE deposits of the Norilsk ore district. Almost all the results were obtained at the Center of Isotopic Research of the Karpinskii All-Russia Research Institute of Geology. The use of a number of independent genetic isotopic signatures and comprehensive isotopic knowledge provided a methodic basis for the interpretation of approximately 5000 isotopic analyses of various elements. The presence of materials from two sources, crust and mantle, was detected in the composition of the rocks and ores. The contribution of the crustal source is especially significant in the paleofluids (gas–liquid microinclusions) of the ore-forming medium. Crustal solutions were probably a transport medium during ore formation. Air argon is dominant in the ores, which indicates a connection between the paleofluids and the atmosphere. This suggests intense groundwater circulation during the crystallization of ore minerals. The age of the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits was determined. The stage of orebody formation is restricted to a narrow age interval of 250 ± 10 Ma. An isotopic criterion was proposed for the ore-bearing potential of mafic intrusions in the Norilsk–Taimyr region. It includes several interrelated isotopic ratios of various elements: He, Ar, S, and others.     

高压微波消解法测定醋酸纤维过滤器采集的微尘粒子中的砷镉钴铬铜铁锰镍铅钒锌

最新的流行病学研究表明,空气中较高浓度的悬浮细颗粒可能对人类的健康有不利的影响。根据该项研究显示,由于心脏病、慢性呼吸问题和肺功能指标恶化而导致死亡率的升高与细尘粒子有关。这些研究结果已经促使欧盟于1999年4月出台了限制空气中二氧化硫、二氧化氮、氧化氮、铅和颗粒物含量的法案(1999/30/EC),对各项指标包括对可吸入PM10颗粒的浓度提出了新的限制性指标。PM10颗粒是指可以通过预分级器分离采集的气体动力学直径小于10μm的细颗粒。目前研究的兴趣重点逐步偏向PM2.5这些更细微颗粒物,PM2.5这种颗粒物对健康有明显的不利影响。在欧盟指令2008/50/EC中,对PM10和PM2.5都提     

Wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometric determination of Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in komatiites

Komatiites are mantle-derived ultramafic volcanic rocks. Komatiites have been discovered in several States of India, notably in Karnataka. Studies on the distribution of trace-elements in the komatiites of India are very few. This paper proposes a simple, accurate, precise, rapid, and non-destructive wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometric technique for determining Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in komatiites, and discusses the accuracy, precision, limits of detection, x-ray spectral-line interferences, inter-element effects, speed, advantages, and limitations of the technique. The accuracy of the technique is excellent (within 3%) for Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th and very good (within 4%) for Y. The precision is also excellent (within 3%) for Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th. The limits of detection are: 1 ppm for Sc and V; 2 ppm for Cr, Co, and Ni; 3 ppm for Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr; 4 ppm for Y and Zr; 6 ppm for Nb; 10 ppm for Ba; 13 ppm for Pb; and 14 ppm for Th. The time taken for determining Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in a batch of 24 samples of komatiites, for a replication of four analyses per sample, by one operator, using a manual WDXRF spectrometer, is only 60 hours.     

Roles of xenomelts,xenoliths, xenocrysts,xenovolatiles, residues,and skarns in the genesis,transport, and localization of magmatic Fe-Ni-Cu-PGE sulfides and chromite

Most sulfide-rich magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposits form in dynamic magmatic systems by partial melting S-bearing wall rocks with variable degrees of assimilation of miscible silicate and volatile components, and generation of barren to weakly-mineralized immiscible Fe sulfide xenomelts into which Ni-Cu-Co-PGE partition from the magma. Some exceptionally-thick magmatic Cr deposits may form by partial melting oxide-bearing wall rocks with variable degrees of assimilation of the miscible silicate and volatile components, and generation of barren Fe ± Ti oxide xenocrysts into which Cr-Mg-V ± Ti partition from the magma. The products of these processes are variably preserved as skarns, residues, xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and xenovolatiles, which play important to critical roles in ore genesis, transport, localization, and/or modification. Incorporation of barren xenoliths/autoliths may induce small amounts of sulfide/chromite to segregate, but incorporation of sulfide xenomelts or oxide xenocrysts with dynamic upgrading of metal tenors (PGE > Cu > Ni > Co and Cr > V > Ti, respectively) is required to make significant ore deposits. Silicate xenomelts are only rarely preserved, but will be variably depleted in chalcophile and ferrous metals. Less dense felsic xenoliths may aid upward sulfide transport by increasing the effective viscosity and decreasing the bulk density of the magma. Denser mafic or metamorphosed xenoliths may also increase the effective viscosity of the magma, but may aid downward sulfide transport by increasing the bulk density of the magma. Sulfide wets olivine, so olivine xenocrysts may act as filter beds to collect advected finely dispersed sulfide droplets, but other silicates and xenoliths may not be wetted by sulfides. Xenovolatiles may retard settling of – or in some cases float – dense sulfide droplets. Reactions of sulfide melts with felsic country rocks may generate Fe-rich skarns that may allow sulfide melts to fractionate to more extreme Cu-Ni-rich compositions. Xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and xenovolatiles are more likely to be preserved in cooler basaltic magmas than in hotter komatiitic magmas, and are more likely to be preserved in less dynamic (less turbulent) systems/domain/phases than in more dynamic (more turbulent) systems/domains/phases. Massive to semi-massive Ni-Cu-PGE and Cr mineralization and xenoliths are often localized within footwall embayments, dilations/jogs in dikes, throats of magma conduits, and the horizontal segments of dike-chonolith and dike-sill complexes, which represent fluid dynamic traps for both ascending and descending sulfides/oxides. If skarns, residues, xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and/or xenovolatiles are present, they provide important constraints on ore genesis and they are valuable exploration indicators, but they must be included in elemental and isotopic mass balance calculations.     

Regional distribution of Al,B, Ba,Ca, K,La, Mg,Mn, Na,P, Rb,Si, Sr,Th, U and Y in terrestrial moss within a 188,000 km2 area of the central Barents region: influence of geology,seaspray and human activity

Five hundred and ninety-eight samples of terrestrial moss (Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi) collected from a 188,000 km² area of the central Barents region (NE Norway, N Finland, NW Russia) were analysed by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Analytical results for Al, B, Ba, Ca, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Rb, Si, Sr, Th, U and Y concentrations are reported here. Graphical methods of data analysis, such as geochemical maps, cumulative frequency diagrams, boxplots and scatterplots, are used to interpret the origin of the patterns for these elements. None of the elements reported here are emitted in significant amounts from the smelting industry on the Kola Peninsula. Despite the conventional view that moss chemistry reflects atmospheric element input, the nature of the underlying mineral substrate (regolith or bedrock) is found to have a considerable influence on moss composition for several elements. This influence of the chemistry of the mineral substrate can take place in a variety of ways. (1) It can be completely natural, reflecting the ability of higher plants to take up elements from deep soil horizons and shed them with litterfall onto the surface. (2) It can result from naturally increased soil dust input where vegetation is scarce due to harsh climatic conditions for instance. Alternatively, substrate influence can be enhanced by human activity, such as open-cast mining, creation of ‘technogenic deserts’, or handling, transport and storage of ore and ore products, all of which magnify the natural elemental flux from bedrock to ground vegetation. Seaspray is another natural process affecting moss composition in the area (Mg, Na), and this is most visible in the Norwegian part of the study area. Presence or absence of some plant species, e.g., lichens, seems to influence moss chemistry. This is shown by the low concentrations of B or K in moss on the Finnish and Norwegian side of the (fenced) border with Russia, contrasting with high concentrations on the other side (intensive reindeer husbandry west of the border has selectively depleted the lichen population).     

Mercury,arsenic, antimony,and selenium contents of sediment from the Kuskokwim River,Bethel, Alaska,USA

The Kuskokwim River at Bethel, Alaska, drains a major mercury-antimony metallogenic province in its upper reaches and tributaries. Bethel (population 4000) is situated on the Kuskokwim floodplain and also draws its water supply from wells located in river-deposited sediment. A boring through overbank and floodplain sediment has provided material to establish a baseline datum for sediment-hosted heavy metals. Mercury (total), arsenic, antimony, and selenium contents were determined; aluminum was also determined and used as normalizing factor. The contents of the heavy metals were relatively constant with depth and do not reflect any potential enrichment from upstream contaminant sources.     

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.