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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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     

Environmental assessment of elements and polyaromatic hydrocarbons emitted from a Canadian coal-fired power plant

A detailed assessment of elements was carried out at a power plant rated at approximately 760 MW of electricity using western Canadian subbituminous coal. The concentrations of elements of environmental concern (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, and Pb) in milled coals, ashes, stack-emitted materials. Speciation of As, Cr, and Ni were determined. The polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted from the stack were also measured. The rates of input of elemental input for As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, and Pb were 28, 0.94, 230, 0.44, 44, and 88 kg/day, respectively; of which only 0.16, 0.01, 0.40, 0.27, 0.15, and 0.04 kg/day, respectively, were stack emitted. The total stack emission of toxic elements is 1.02 kg/day, with Cr being the highest contributor to this group with 0.4 kg/day. However, Hg at 0.27 kg/day has the highest percentage rate of emission at about 60%, while Cd has the lowest at about 1%. The electrostatic precipitator (ESP) removes a significant portion of the elements indicated by their relative enrichment (RE) ratios greater than 0.7. The results show that most of the elements in milled coal are low compared to world coals and other Canadian milled coals.Mercury is mostly ( 81%) emitted as gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), with 19% as reactive gaseous mercury (RGM). Particulate mercury is very low and averages about 0.1% of the total mercury at this station. Most of the arsenic in the milled coal is primarily associated with pyrite or as arsenate in its less toxic form of As⁺⁵ (> 95%). In both bottom and fly ashes, more than 95% of the total arsenic is present as As⁺⁵. Chromium in the milled coal and bottom ash is mostly non-toxic (Cr⁺³). The more toxic Cr⁺⁶ comprise less than 5% of the total Cr in the ESP fly ash and the stack-emitted ash. Nickel in milled coal and ashes is in the form of non-toxic Ni⁺², predominantly in coordination with oxygen.The emitted PAHs include acenapthene, fluorene, 2-methyl-fluorene, phenathrene, anthracene, fluoanthene, and pyrene; which are emitted from stack at the combined rate of 3.6 g/day. The concentrations of elements of environmental concern (As, Cd, Hg, Ni, and Pb) emitted to the atmosphere by the power plant in the zone of maximum impact at ground level are lower than those listed in the Health Guidelines of the USEPA and Canadian National Air Pollution Surveillance. This is based on stable meteorological conditions, down wind from the power plant for a maximum distance of 3 km.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱-原子荧光光谱法研究上海口岸进口印度尼西亚煤炭微量元素的赋存形态特征

印度尼西亚是我国最大的煤炭进口国,本文应用电感耦合等离子体质谱、原子荧光光谱、直接测汞仪等技术分析了上海口岸31批进口印度尼西亚煤炭中的12种微量元素,结合数理统计方法研究该类煤炭中微量元素的赋存形态。结果表明,进口印尼煤炭中含有高汞煤、三级含砷煤,As、Hg的平均富集系数大于1,其迁移风险值得关注;Be、Cu、Mo、Cd、Sn、Pb含量均低于中国煤和世界煤炭的平均水平,体现出印尼煤炭低灰分的品质特征。12种微量元素和相关项目(灰分和全硫)可划分为3类:第一类归纳为黏土矿物吸附类,包括As、Be、Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Mo、Cd、Sn、Pb、灰分;第二类归纳为硫铁矿类,包括Hg、全硫;第三类归纳为碳酸盐矿物类,包括Ba。本文研究结果对于指导进口煤炭开发、利用过程中的环境评价和洁净化处理具有一定的参考价值。     

Proton-induced X-ray emission measurements of trace elements in water samples collected from an Indiana coal mining locality

A new method of simultaneous multi-elemental analysis, Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE), was used to detect trace elements in waters associated with a coal strip-mining operation in southern Indiana. Stream, pond, and ground water samples were collected and analyzed monthly from, or near, Sulphur Creek in Sullivan County. The concentrations of 26 major and trace elements were determined in samples from eleven locations: K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, I, Ba, Hg, Pb, and U. Elemental concentrations fluctuated considerably throughout the 13-month sampling period and also among sampling sites. Nickel, Zn, As, Cd, Mn, Fe, and Ca were highest in the upstream water which was most acidic (pH = 2.9–4.0) because of old unreclaimed mining operations. The highest values recorded were Ni = 1662 ppb, Zn = 4953 ppb, As = 26 ppb, Cd = 93 ppb, Mn = 5063 ppb, Fe = 63 ppm, and Ca = 325 ppm. The concentrations of these elements decreased downstream as the pH of Sulphur Creek increased which was likely due to the influence of the calcareous glacial till cover in the area and the recent mining activity which disturbed overburden containing a high percentage of calcareous materials. Lead, I, Br, and Ti values were highest (661 ppb, 86 ppb, 70 ppb, and 45 ppb, respectively) in the ground water from the coal seam (pH approximately 7). Other elements which were relatively high in the pH 7 waters closest to the current mining operations (pond, stream, and groundwater) included K (17 ppm), Sr (3408 ppb), Ba (173 ppb), As (14 ppb), Rb (16 ppb), Sn (14 ppb), and Cu (3840 ppb). The highest Cu concentration was recorded at the point where drainage water from the mine entered Sulphur Creek. Gallium, U, Hg, and Mo were found in low (< 13 ppb for Ga and Hg; < 205 ppb for Mo and U) concentrations and only in the ponds within the mine.     

Assessment of elemental content of milled coal,combustion residues,and stack emitted materials: Possible environmental effects for a Canadian pulverized coal-fired power plant

Two monitoring studies were carried out at four-year intervals on a power plant that uses western Canadian subbituminous coal and generates approximately 800 Mw/h of electricity. The distributions of elements of environment concern (As, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Cd) and elements of environmental interest (B, Ba, Be, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Th, Se, V, U, and Zn) in milled coals, power plant ashes, and emitted materials from the stack were determined using neutron activation analysis (NAA), Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy (ICPES), and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) for most elements, Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption (GFAA) for Pb, and Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption (CVAA) for Hg.The concentrations of most of elements in milled coal are low as compared to world coals and other Canadian milled coals. For example, in both studies mercury is within the lower range of world coal. Bottom ashes from both studies have low concentrations of As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn, as well as low relative enrichment factors (RE) for the same elements, indicating that they were not enriched in the bottom ash. The ESP's remove most of the elements of environmental interest as indicated by their high RE ratios of greater than > 0.7.The rates of input of elements of environmental concern (As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Ni) for this station were 23.65, 1.24, 0.54, 98.2 and 95.2 kg/day, respectively, of which only 0.20, 0.02, 0.31, 0.48 and 0.36 kg/day were emitted from the stack. Thus only a small amount of these elements found in the milled coal was emitted while most were captured in the bottom and the ESP ashes. Nickel has the highest rate of emission (0.48 kg/day) within the elements of environmental concern group. However, the Ni emitted from this station does not belong to the toxic species. The element with the lowest rate of emission is Cd (0.02 kg/day). The total emission of elements of environmental concern is 1.37 kg/day, which is low as compared their ambient concentrations in either rural or urban air. The total rate of emission of B, Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Se, Th, U, V, and Zn is 56.51 kg/day and is mostly comprised of the total emission of Ba (21.73 kg/day) and Zn (19.14 kg/day).     

Chemical and petrographical characterization of feed coal, fly ash and bottom ash from the Figueira Power Plant, Paraná, Brazil

The aim of the present study is the petrographic and chemical characterization of the coal at the Figueira Power Plant, Paraná, Brazil, prior and after the beneficiation process and the chemical characterization of fly and bottom ashes generated in the combustion process.Petrographic characterization was carried out through maceral analysis and vitrinite reflectance measurements. Chemical characterization included proximate analysis, determination of calorific value and sulphur content, ultimate analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Inductively Coupled Plasma — Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma — Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis, and determination of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content.Vitrinite reflectance analyses indicate a high volatile B/C bituminous coal (0.61 to 0.73% Rrandom). Maceral analyses show predominance of the vitrinite maceral group (51.6 to 70.9 vol.%, m.m.f). Except of the Run of mine (ROM) coal sample, the average calorific value of the coals is 5205 kcal/kg and ash yields range from 21.4 to 38.1 wt.%. The mineralogical composition (X-ray diffraction) of coals includes kaolinite, quartz, plagioclase and pyrite, whereas fly and bottom ashes are composed by mullite, ettringite, quartz, magnetite, and hematite. Analyses of major elements from coal, fly and bottom ashes indicate a high SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃ content. Trace elements analysis of in-situ and ROM coals by ICP-MS and ICP-AES show highest concentration in Zn and As. Most of the toxic elements such as As, Cd, Cr, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn are significantly reduced by coal beneficiation. Considering the spatial distribution of trace elements in the beneficiated coal samples, which were collected over a period of three months, there appears to be little variation in Cd and Zn concentrations, whereas trace elements such as As, Mo, and Pb show a larger variation.In the fly and bottom ashes, the highest concentrations of trace elements were determined for Zn and As. When compared with trace element concentrations in the feed coal, fly ashes show a significant enrichment in most trace elements (As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl, and Zn), suggesting a predominantly volatile nature for these elements. In contrast, Sn is distributed evenly within the different ash types, whereas U shows depleted concentration in both bottom and fly ash samples.According to the International Classification of in-seam coals the Cambuí coals are of para/ortho bituminous rank of low grade (except for the ROM sample), and are characterized by the predominance of vitrinite macerals.     

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.     

Composition and quality of coals in the Huaibei Coalfield, Anhui, China

The Huaibei Coalfield, Anhui Province, China, is one of the largest coalfields in China. The coals of Permian age are used mainly for power generation. Coal compositions and 47 trace elements of the No. 10 Coal of the Shanxi Formation, the No. 7, 5, and 4 Coals of the Lower Shihezi Formation, and the No. 3 Coal of the Upper Shihezi Formation from the Huaibei Coalfield were studied. The results indicate that the Huaibei coals have low ash, moisture, and sulfur contents, but high volatile matter and calorific value. The ash yield increases stratigraphically upwards, but the volatile matter and total sulfur contents show a slight decrease from the lower to upper seams. Magmatic intrusion into the No. 5 Coal resulted in high ash, volatile matter, and calorific value, but low moisture value in the coal. Among the studied 47 trace elements, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Th, U, V, and Zn are of environmental concerns. Four elements Hg, Mo, Zn, and Sb are clearly enriched in the coals as compared with the upper continental crust.     

Geochemical and mineralogical haloes about the Elura Zn-Pb-Ag orebody, western New South Wales

The Elura Zn-Pb-Ag deposit, situated 43 km NNW of Cobar, western New South Wales, is hosted by the C.S.A. Siltstone, a distal turbidite sequence. Deep weathering has given rise to a bleached quartz-muscovite-kaolinite rock to a depth of approximately 80 m. Weathered bedrock is mantled by a thin (0.3–2 m) layer of soil and transported overburden which contains thin layers of maghemite-bearing gravels. Outcrop in the area is extremely poor with the insignificant gossan subcrop covered by 0.2 m of soil. The water table is presently at a depth of about 80 m. Groundwater is saline with up to 2.5% total dissolved solids.Oxidation of the orebody has resulted in the formation of a gossan and ferruginization of wall rocks. Elements associated with ore and retained at high concentration in the gossan are Ag, As, Ba, Cu, Hg, Mo, Pb, Sb, (Se) and Sn; much of the Zn has been leached whilst Cd and Tl are below the detection limits. Silver, Cu and Hg have been partially leached and concentrated in the supergene zone. Ferruginous wall rock contains substantial amounts of Pb, As and Ba but other element contents are substantially lower than in the gossan.Secondary dispersion from the Elura orebody is largely restricted to an interpreted paleodrainage channel SW of the orebody and has occurred in two distinct periods. Mobile elements, particularly Zn, leached during gossan formation, occur in anomalous concentrations at or near the water table. More recently, the less mobile elements Pb, As, Bi, Hg and Sb have been leached from mechanically transported fragments of ferruginized wall rock and gossan by the saline groundwaters and occur as anomalies up to 150 m from the gossan in near-surface bedrock. Copper and Zn form broad low-contrast anomalies whilst Sn is retained within the gossan.Iron-rich bands, 50–1200 mm in thickness, which are common in the weathered zone about the Elura orebody, were formed by precipitation from groundwater passing along bedding planes, shears, fractures and cracks. They have higher As, Bi, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn, lower values of Ba and Sr, and similar Pb, Sb and Sn contents to the weathered siltstones. Iron may be derived from Fe-rich carbonates in the siltstones and be redeposited as goethite and minor hematite. These Fe-rich bands have trapped target and pathfinder elements which are believed to be from primary haloes rather than from the orebody or gossan.A two-stage mechanism for the formation of some secondary minerals within the weathered zone has been confirmed by stable light isotope studies. These studies have also shown that fractionation of S isotopes is minimal during gossan formation, and that a S isotopic halo in weathered bedrock may be used as an exploration tool.     

西天山夏特乡南部一带地球化学、空间分布及元素组合特征

对区内元素在各地质体的分配与分布特征进行了初步归纳总结,区内15种元素全域分布水平中Au、Pb、Cr、Ni、Mo、As高于西天山背景值,Ag、Cu、Zn、Sb、Hg、W、Sn、Bi、Mn低于西天山背景值。其空间分布特征中,与区内深大断裂构造、地层、岩浆均有不同程度的关联。     

The Svalbard western coast: site of baseline geochemistry and incipient contamination

 Potentially toxic metals tracked by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program were analysed in sediments from the Svalbard western coastal zone. These include As and Hg found as contaminants in other Arctic seas as well as other elements (e.g. Pb, V, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni). Svalbard shelf sediments contain average values of 12 ppm As, 12 ppm Pb, 56 ppb Hg and 114 ppm V. These values increase in Isfjorden sediments to 15 ppm As, 28 ppm Pb, 99 ppb Hg and 210 ppm V. Cluster analysis yields a major cluster that is likely related to clay minerals (Al, K, Ti, Mg) and sorption onto them of transition (Cu, V, Cr, Sc) and other elements (Pb, Rb). A second significant cluster includes Ca, Sr and plagioclase. The Svalbard western shelf is a natural geochemical environment. The possible incipient contamination of fjord sediments by As, Pb, Hg and V should be evaluated for possible links to anthropogenic sources. If links are found, remediation must be used to stop the input and preserve a pristine Svalbard fjord environment. Received: 21 December 1998 · Accepted: 15 March 1999     

吉林白山地区原煤微量元素地球化学特征

对吉林白山地区煤矿主采煤层中的As、B、Ba、Cd、Cu、Hg、Pb、Se、Sr等微量元素进行了分析,结果表明:太原组与山西组由于成煤环境不同,微量元素组成及其质量分数存在一定的差异,太原组原煤中As、B、Hg、Pb、Se、Zn的质量分数明显高于山西组,山西组原煤中Ba、Cr、Cu、Mn、V的质量分数明显高于太原组。白山地区原煤中As、B、Hg、Pb、Se的质量分数明显高于地壳元素平均值,呈富集状态;Co、Cd与地壳平均值接近,其他元素均亏损。与全国煤中微量元素的质量分数平均值相比,As、Ba、Co、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Se、V、Zn的质量分数高于全国平均值。B、Mn、Sr质量分数低于全国平均值。微量元素赋存状态及相关分析表明,Fe与亲硫有害元素As、Cu、Hg、Pb、Se具有显著相关关系,说明煤中黄铁矿及其他硫化物是许多有害微量元素的重要载体。      

辽宁五龙金矿163矿脉深部钻孔地球化学特征及找矿意义

五龙金矿是辽东地区大型岩浆热液型金矿床,163矿脉是矿区内目前发现的最大含矿构造。为进一步探测深部找矿潜力,近几年矿山对163矿脉进行了大量的探采工程,其中在-762 m坑道实施了600 m钻孔。本文在详细编录该钻孔的基础上,对全孔样品进行成矿元素测试工作,利用SPSS软件对所得测试数据进行元素相关性、聚类、因子分析。相关性分析显示,具有显著正相关的元素主要为Bi、W、Cu、Ag、Au和As、Sb、Sn、Zn两组;Mo元素与Sn、Ag、Cu、Bi、W、Sb地素具有显著正相关性,而Pb元素与Cu、Mo、Au、W元素呈显著负相关性,Hg元素与其它元素相关性不明显。聚类分析结果表明,R型聚类在类的距离为5的水平上,这些元素明显可分为3组：Hg、Cu、Pb、Zn、Sn、Mo、As、W;Ag、Au、Sb、Bi。因子分析结果表明,提取3个因子可以反映出12个元素变量64.42%的地球化学信息,F1的主要载荷因子组成为Sn、Ag、As、Zn、Sb, F2的主要载荷因子组成为Au、W、Bi、-Pb, F3的主要载荷因子组成为Hg。根据成矿元素随深度变化特征,结合前人构造叠加晕研究成果,推测该钻孔深部还...     

Anomalous gold contents in brown coals and peat in the south-eastern region of the Western-Siberian platform

One hundred twenty-two samples of Jurassic and Paleogene brown coals and 1254 peat samples from the south-eastern region of the Western-Siberian platform were analyzed for gold by the neutron-activation method. Mean content of Au in Jurassic coals is 30 ± 8 ppb, in Paleogene coals is 10.6 ± 4.8 ppb, and in peat is 6 ± 1.4 ppb. Concentrations of gold as high as 4.4 ppm were found in coal ash and 0.48 ppm in the peat ash. Coal beds with anomalous gold contents were found at Western-Siberian platform for the first time.Negative correlation between gold and ash yield in coals and peat and highest gold concentrations were found in low-ash and ultra-low-ash coals and peat. Primarily this is due to gold's association with organic matter.For the investigation of mode of occurrence of Au in peat the bitumen, water-soluble and high-hydrolyzed substances, humic acids, cellulose and lignin were extracted from it. It was determined that in peat about 95% of gold is combined with organic matter. Forty to sixty percent of Au is contained in humic acids and the same content is in lignin. Bitumens, water-soluble and high-hydrolyzed substances contain no more than 1% of general gold quantity in peat.The conditions of accumulation of high gold concentrations were considered. The authors suggest that Au accumulation in peat and brown coals and the connection between anomalous gold concentrations and organic matter in low-ash coals and peat can explain a biogenic–sorption mechanism of Au accumulation. The sources of formation of Au high concentration were various Au–Sb, Au–Ag Au–As–Sb deposits that are abundant in the Southern and South-Eastern peripheries of the coal basin.     

Analysis of a weathered profile on sulfide mineralization at Mugga Mugga, Western Australia

The mineralogy and geochemistry of the massive pyrite-pyrrhotite mineralization, which contains minor magnetite, sphalerite and galena, the weathered profile and surface gossan at Mugga Mugga in Western Australia have been examined. Reactions between amphibolite wall rocks and acid waters from the oxidation of the iron sulfides have resulted in distinct mineralogical zonation of the weathered profile which is further modified near the surface by lateritization. At the base of the weathered zone an opaline chert (Opal-CT) has been precipitated from fluctuations of the water table. A gossanous zone from 25.14–68.80 m with boxworks after massive pyrite is modified by abundant kaolinite, dickite and an alunite-type mineral derived from amphibolite wall rocks, while above 25.14 m both plinthite and mottled clay zones of a laterite profile are evident. Some characteristics of a mature gossan profile – sulfate-phosphate-arsenate near the base, a carbonate zone higher in the profile, and an oxide zone near the surface – overprint the gross zonation.At the interface between sulfide and weathered rock Mg, Ca, K, S, Zn, Cd, Hg, Ba are depleted, As, Sb, Mo, Cr and V contents increase and in the weathered zone, SiO₂, TiO₂, P₂O₅, SO₃, Pb, Zn, Hg, Sb, Co, Ni, W, Ba, Sr and Zr decrease up the profile whilst Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, CO₂, Cu and As increase. Of the elements associated with the massive pyrite (Pb, Zn, Cu, Ag, As, Cd, Hg, Sb, Co, Ni) anomalous concentrations of Pb, Cu, Ag, As and Sb occur in the surface gossan despite the possibility of complete leaching by highly acidic solutions. These anomalies are similar to those found in gossans over pyrite mineralization elsewhere in the Yilgarn Block.