Elemental concentrations and their distribution in two bituminous coals of different paleoenvironments

The vertical distributions of major and minor elements in two high-volatile bituminous coals of Eastern Tennessee are compared. The coals studied are the Pewee, deposited in a fresh-water environment, and the Upper Grassy Spring, previously thought to be influenced by a late incursion of marine water.X-ray fluorescence analyses were performed on a continuous series of specimens obtained from full-face channel samples representing the entire thickness of each seam. Correlation coefficients (r) for all element pairs show high positive correlations for element pairs normally associated with clay minerals. Equally good correlations were observed for (Si, Ti) and (Al, Ti), suggesting that titanium is associated with clay minerals in both coals. Strontium and phosphorous showed a high positive r factor for both the Upper Grassy Spring and the Pewee.Major differences were found to exist in the concentrations and distributions of sulfur, iron, and arsenic in the Upper Grassy Spring and Pewee seams. The Upper Grassy Spring contains an order of magnitude more sulfur than the Pewee as well as several times as much iron and arsenic. The element concentrations and especially their distributions in the Upper Grassy Spring suggest an earlier time for the marine incursion than previously reported. In fact, there is evidence that this coal deposit may have been influenced by marine conditions from its inception.     

Opaline and Al–Si phytoliths from a tropical mire system of West Malaysia: abundance, habit, elemental composition, preservation and significance

Abundant and unique opaline and Al–Si phytoliths and opaline bioliths have been discovered in Holocene peat deposits of tropical Tasek Bera in Peninsular Malaysia. These are secreted mainly by plants (higher plants and algae) and incorporated in the sediment cycle during the rapid biomass turnover. Many wetland plants have entire skeletons secreted. The study shows that differing plant parts of same species as well as same parts of differing plant species incorporate different amounts of elements. Whilst deciduous trees of the swamp forest have phytoliths enriched in Al, most phytoliths of palms, sedges and grasses of the littoral swamp are composed of opaline silica. Incorporation of Al and many other elements into relatively stable phytoliths is the result of high evapotranspiration rate and ample plant-available elements and can serve to detoxify the soil solution. Because of the abundance of such opaline and Al–Si structures, spongillid and algal remains in acid peat-accumulating environments, tropical peatlands represent repositories of Si and Al, which together with variable amounts of other elements could provide the prime material for silicate neoformation during later diagenetic processes. Neoformation of minerals from bioliths would explain the scarcity of biogenic remains in Carboniferous and Tertiary coal deposits. Furthermore, incorporation of major elements in phytoliths may limit the rate of leaching of these elements in an environment where biomass turnover is rapid, thus reducing the loss of nutrients and other plant-essential elements. Most nutrients of tropical peats are recycled by plants within the top 150 cm and an upward migration of plant-essential elements, such as Mg, Ca, or P, but also of Si and Al, occurs during peat accumulation. Such elemental cycling strongly influences the geochemical composition of the peats during mire evolution. Utilizing Al for normalization of major and minor elements of tropical peats for paleoclimatic and paleodepositional analyses may thus result in incorrect interpretations.     

Distribution of major, minor and trace elements in Hat Creek Deposit No. 2, British Columbia, Canada

The major-, minor- and trace-element contents of coals from Hat Creek No. 2 deposit, British Columbia, are determined using INAA and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (boron only).

Al, Cr, Fe, Mn and Na were found to be inorganically bound in the coal while As, B and S are associated with the organic fraction of the coal. The rare-earth element concentrations in the coal are variable, however, the LREE/HREE ratio decreases from base to the top of the deposits. Many elements show little variation in concentration with depth; however, the gradual increase of As and S with depth appears to be rank related and indicative of progressive decrease in porosity with increasing rank.

Concentrations of B and Cr are sensitive to the environment of coal deposition, with coal deposited in a freshwater environment (Hat Creek No. 2 deposit), having low B and high Cr compared with more brackish coals.     

兖州矿区山西组 3煤层中微量元素的特征分析

通过对兖州矿区山西组3煤层21个样品中全硫、硫化物硫、有机硫和具有环境意义的微量元素Cu、Pb、Zn、As、U、Th含量的测试，分析了微量元素在研究区煤层垂直方向上的变化特征及主要形成原因，并发现煤层中所选的微量元素、硫化物琉及全硫在煤层顶、底或煤层夹矸样品中含量相对较高。微量元素与硫化物硫、全硫的相关系数表明，所研究的微量元素与硫化物硫和全硫有明显的正相关关系，而且研究区3煤层中全硫的含量取决于硫化物硫的含量。同时还研究了原煤中微量元素的含量与灰产率的关系，并将研究区微量元素同世界和中国同类煤中的微量元素的含量进行了比较。     

山东济宁高硫煤与低硫煤煤层剖面地球化学特征研究

运用电感耦合等离子质谱（ICP-MS）、X射线荧光光谱（XRF）、离子选择电极（ISE）、显微镜光度计和煤化学等方法,对山东济宁矿区的高硫煤（太原组16号煤层）与低硫煤（山西组3上煤层）剖面的煤岩、煤质和煤地球化学特征进行研究。高硫煤中微量元素在垂向上呈现显著的变化规律：（1）Sr含量从煤层底板到顶板呈增高趋势,而Ba含量则相反;因而Sr/Ba比值从下向上呈逐渐变大趋势（0.04～47.7）;（2）Th/U比值从下向上也呈逐渐变大趋势（0.2～37.1）;（3）As含量在煤层顶板石灰岩（26.1μg/g）、透镜状黄铁矿夹层（14.7～19.3μg/g）中较高;（4）V、Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Pb、Zn等元素在煤层底部和顶部分层中含量较高,而在煤层中部分层中含量较低;（5）Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf、Ga等元素从煤层的底部到顶部呈逐渐降低趋势;（6）煤中稀土元素总量（REE）,除透镜状黄铁矿夹层（第2、4、11分层）外,其它分层（第1、3、5、6、7、8、9、10分层）显示从上往下逐渐增高之规律性。低硫煤中微量元素的分布和垂向变化与高硫煤明显不同：As含量在14个煤分层中都较低（1.03～3.37μg/g）,Sr/Ba比值从下向上变化不大（0.4～2.2）,各个煤分层中稀土元素总量（REE）呈现随灰份含量增高而增高的变化趋势,低硫煤与高硫煤的稀土元素分布模式差别很大。上述研究结果表明济宁矿区高硫煤与低硫煤在地球化学特征上的差别,反映了上石炭统太原组与下二叠统山西组沉积环境和聚煤条件的差别,具有指相意义;太原组16号煤层中富集的硫及有害微量元素,对环境具有潜在危害。     

Lead isotopic and chalcophile element compositions in the environment near a zinc smelting–secondary zinc recovery facility,Palmerton, Pennsylvania,USA

The environment surrounding Palmerton, Pennsylvania is contaminated with Pb arising from primary Zn smelting and a process involving Zn recovery from electric arc steel furnace dusts. Lead isotope systematics have been used to distinguish primary Zn smelting Pb (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb∼18.4–18.5) from electric arc furnace dust lead (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb∼19.0–19.1). Primary Zn smelting is the dominant source of Pb in O2 horizon soils from undisturbed near-Palmerton locations, which contain up to 3570 ppm Pb and 782 ppm Cd. Soils from undeveloped near-Palmerton locations also exhibit unusually elevated concentrations of other sphalerite-derived chalcophilic elements (Se, Ag, In, Sb, Te, Au, Hg, Tl and Bi); indium concentrations of up to 17.0 ppm are observed therein. Residential soils and dusts from Palmerton contain Pb which is largely explainable via mixing of Pb from primary Zn smelting and electric arc furnace dusts. Approximately 80% of the Pb in airborne particulate matter sampled at Palmerton in 1991 is derived from electric arc furnace dusts, and atmospheric enrichment factors for Cu, Sb, Pb, and Bi are observed which confirm this major source contribution. Residential samples from a control location contain Pb which is less radiogenic than is found in Palmerton, and exhibit no unusual elevation in sphalerite elements. Lead source discrimination in the Palmerton environment via Pb isotopic and elemental constituents approaches result in parallel conclusions.     

贵州织金县以那地区龙潭组煤质特征及其沉积环境指示

成煤环境与煤质特征关系紧密,泥炭沼泽期陆源输入强度、海水进退以及氧化还原条件对煤中元素分布和组成具有重要影响。本次研究利用贵州织金县以那地区三个煤矿勘查区共46口钻孔主采煤层的煤质分析结果,分析了龙潭组自下而上煤质参数分布特征,并在此基础上探讨了硫分和灰成分指数对成煤环境的指示作用。研究结果表明：(1)以那地区无烟煤全硫分含量较低,平均为2.19%,以无机硫为主,煤灰分中主量元素以SiO₂为主,Al₂O₃和Fe₂O₃次之,其他含量较低;(2)各煤层全硫含量、有机/无机硫在全硫中占比、主量元素组合(Fe₂O₃+CaO+MgO和SiO₂+Al₂O₃)含量呈现相互匹配的变化规律,煤灰成分指数变化规律不明显;(3)以那地区龙潭组自下而上经历了三期海水进退过程,发育潮坪下三角洲平原、三角洲分流间湾和潮坪-瀉湖三种成煤环境,硫分与灰成分指数在成煤环境指示作用上具有较好的一致性。     

Strategic elements in the Fort Cooper Coal Measures: potential rare earth elements and other multi-product targets

Abstract

Mineral matter in coals has been found to host valuable elements including germanium, lithium and rare-earth elements (REE), but such content of Australian coals remains under-explored. The aim of this paper is to provide a proof-of-concept study that determines elemental concentrations in the mineral matter of the high-ash, Fort Cooper Coal Measures (FCCM), Bowen Basin, Queensland. Coal in the FCCM has good coking properties but has not been extensively explored owing to its high ash content. This study performs a preliminary assessment of the elements from the coal portion that would typically become waste after washing or combustion. Given that the needs for industrial extraction methods will change over time, cataloguing and documenting the elemental composition of coal may assist future development of multiple products for the benefit of both the coal and mineral industries. This preliminary study has revealed similar elevations of REE and higher-than-average crustal concentrations of lithium, bismuth and scandium in some of the samples. Further analyses will be required on a larger dataset to better understand elemental associations and explore spatial patterns of elemental content that may indicate localised enrichments. Understanding the potential of valuable elements in the FCCM may stimulate interest in multiple-product-coal (or elemental-coal) mining in this under-exploited resource and further encourage the reduction of waste from other Australian coals at the wash-plant stage.     

安徽省江淮流域土壤地球化学基准值与背景值研究

基于安徽省江淮流域多目标区域地球化学调查数据资料,统计获得了表层和深层土壤地球化学基准值、背景值及相应的地球化学参数,为研究区生态环境评价及相关学科研究提供了基础。研究表明,成土母质类型对土壤元素地球化学基准值影响显著,表层土壤化学组成表现出既对深层土壤具有一定的继承性,又在表生作用下发生某些变化:表层土壤中迁移活动性强的元素和人为扰动污染的元素明显不同于深层土壤;随着地理空间位置的变化,同类成土母质形成环境、成因来源的差异导致其化学组成的空间变异,造成不同地区同类成土母质地球化学基准值有所不同。因此,土壤地球化学基准值研究应更多地考虑地质背景、物质来源等因素的影响。     

Groundwater transformation of a low-sulfur to a high-sulfur coal, the Harlem coal of the northern Appalachian basin

The Harlem coal is postulated to have been deposited in raised-bog settings. It was initially deposited as low-sulfur peat, but groundwater of a later origin altered portions of it to high-sulfur coal. The total sulfur content of 172 samples from 31 locations on a moisture- and ash-free basis have a quadrimodal distribution with two major modes at 0.75% S and 2.0%S. Multiple sampling and analyses at specific mine sites indicate that the addition of sulfur of a later origin occurred either laterally adjacent to sandstone channels or vertically adjacent to faults. Significant sulfur addition also occurred above clay partings at these sites. The original low-sulfur nature is preserved where the coal bed is isolated from descending groundwater by a thick impervious layer. Trace-element analyses show high concentrations of mobile elements such as Na and Mn in the high-sulfur coals.     

Regional geology, depositional environment and maturity of organic matter of Early to Middle Jurassic coals, coaly shales, shales and claystones from the Eastern Pontides, NE Turkey

Jurassic coals, coaly shales, shales and claystones from the Eastern Pontides in NE Turkey have been investigated using microscopical, petrophysical and detailed organic geochemical methods in order to determine their catagenetic stage, to reveal the composition of the organic matter and to discuss the depositional environment. The Liassic–Dogger period in the Eastern Pontides was characterised by the presence of a rift system which resulted in rock units of very variable lithology and facies. Coal seams, ranging from a few centimetres to several decimetres and intercalated with shales, claystones and sandstones occur within the basal part (the Aggi Formation) as well as in the uppermost part (the Hamurkesen Formation) of the rift deposits. All coal seams investigated are at a catagenetic maturation stage corresponding to subbituminous B up to low volatile bituminous ranks. They represent a depositional environment of short-lived swamp areas with intense aerobic reworking of the higher plant detritus by heterotrophic bacteria, but with possible anaerobic microenvironments at deeper levels. At least some coal seams were influenced temporarily by marine ingressions. Most samples are impure humic coals with highly variable chemical compositions as indicated by the broad range of their hydrogen contents. This variation in hydrogen content is partly attributed to variable contributions of algal material. On the other side, considering several analytical results, the hydrogen variation is primarily due to bacterial reworking that affected the composition of the organic matter to variable extent and resulted especially in an enrichment of bacterial lipids. Bacterial reworking by an active microbial community within the upper layer of the peat swamp is inferred from elevated concentrations of iso-alkanes even exceeding those of the corresponding n-alkanes in several samples which, to the best of our knowledge, have not been observed with coals before.     

山西白额勘探区煤质特征分析

基于原始测试数据分析了山西白额勘探区石炭二叠纪各主要煤层煤质特征与成煤环境的关系。研究表明,区内主要可采煤层煤的显微组分均以镜质组为主,约占76％,惰质组约占19％。各煤层灰分产率总体为低-中灰煤,2、3号煤硫分属特低硫-中高硫,10号煤硫分为中高-高硫。成煤环境的水介质由咸水-半咸水-淡水,导致煤层原煤全硫及微量元素含量由下向上降低,同一煤层顶板附近煤中微量元素含量低于底板附近煤层。聚煤特征决定了煤中伴生元素的地球化学行为,使得区内煤中微量元素含量普遍较低,无明显伴生元素富集。     

枣庄煤田太原组煤中微量元素地球化学特征

采用中子活化法测定了山东枣庄煤田晚古生代太原组高硫煤层中的微量元素质量分数 ,用数理统计方法取得了高硫煤中微量元素的浓度分布范围、平均值和变异系数 ,用逐步聚类分析法和相关分析法分析了微量元素的共生组合关系 ,并用扫描电镜 -能谱分析了不同煤岩组分的微量元素浓度 ,在此基础上结合形态硫分析结果和沉积相分析结果 ,讨论了高硫煤中微量元素的富集因素、聚集机理和成因背景 ,指出受海水影响的沼泽沉积环境不但对煤中形态硫的分布和含量有控制作用 ,同时对煤中微量元素的浓度和共生组合特点也有影响。太原组高硫煤中的微量元素按其成因可分成两组 ,一组是陆源碎屑富集型 ,其含量直接与煤中灰分产率呈正相关关系 ;另一组为盆地内部沉积 -生物作用富集型元素 ,海水的入侵和盆地介质的停滞还原条件和陆源碎屑物质输入量的减少最有利于沉积 -生物作用型元素的富集 ,并以有害元素 Cu、As、 U、 Pb、 Mo、 Sr和 Co的富集为特征。煤中黄铁矿及其他硫化物是许多有害元素的重要载体 ,充分凝胶化的富氢镜质体比其他组分承载和吸附有更多的有害元素。深入研究不同煤层的有害元素的有机亲和性有利于指导煤的合理利用和采用有效的有害元素的去除措施 ,以利于煤的有效和洁净利用     

张全庄金矿元素地球化学特征及找矿意义

张全庄金矿是河北省一危机矿山.矿山多为采空区,矿脉中硫化物分布不均匀.矿脉的不同围岩为统一的元素地球化学整体.通过采取与矿脉等距近矿蚀变岩,研究这些蚀变岩中元素的带入带出特征,分析成矿规律,建立了张全庄金矿矿脉原生晕元素组合分带模式,即As、Sb、Ag等元素为头晕元素,Cu、Ag、Au、Pb、Zn等元素为矿中元素,Mo为尾晕元素.运用此模式对张全庄金矿进行深部成矿预测,成功地发现了新矿体.     

The attenuation of chemical elements in acidic leachates from coal mineral wastes by soils

The chemical attenuation of acidity and selected elements (aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, fluorine, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc) in acidic leachates from coal mineral wastes by four natural subsurface soils has been investigated using laboratory column methods Leachate solutions were allowed to percolate through the soils under simulated natural flow conditions, and the elemental concentrations in the influents and effluents were measured periodically Elemental retentions were substantial for all species except managanese, which was eluted in excess from all soils except the most calcareous Two processes appeared to operate in decreasing influent concentrations: (1) precipitation of solid phases caused by increased pH of the leachate as it percolated through the soil, and (2) adsorption of elements onto exchange and sorption sites naturally present in the soil and on iron and aluminum oxide precipitates formed in situ from leachate components because of the increased pH The soil property most important in retention was its alkalinity Thus, carbonaceous soils provide the best control material for acidic leachates from coal mineral wastes. Results show that natural soils can substantially reduce pollutant fluxes to the environment from acidic coal waste dumps and should be considered when selecting waste disposal sites Performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy     

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.     

潘集煤矿二叠纪主采煤层中微量元素亲和性研究

安徽淮南煤田位于华北地台南端 ,发育了华北地区二叠纪含煤岩系中层位最高的可采煤层。采用仪器中子活化分析法 (INAA)测试了淮南煤田潘集煤矿二叠纪主采煤层 13个样品的 36个微量元素的浓度分布 ,并对其共生组合特点、地球化学特征及稀土元素配比模式作了初步分析 ,结果表明 ,煤中不同微量元素显示出不同的亲和性质。元素Br,As ,Sb ,Ni和Co等趋于在煤中富集 ,其中Br的有机亲和性最大。元素Na ,K ,Rb ,Th ,Hf,Zr ,Ta和REE则在煤层与顶底板接触带的碳质泥岩中富集 ,表现出与细粒陆源碎屑物更强的亲和性。其它元素倾向性不甚明显 ,但Fe ,Ca ,Sr ,HREE等元素在海水影响强度增大的煤层中含量增加。元素As,Cs,Ni,Fe和Ca在煤层中含量变化较大 ,其变异系数大于 1,其它元素则相对稳定 ,表明同一矿区煤层中微量元素含量在不受其它地质作用明显叠加影响时具有一定的稳定性。本区煤层稀土元素配比模式与华北其它地区C—P纪煤基本类似 ,普遍存在Eu亏损现象。 ∑REE在煤中分布范围为30× 10 -6～ 95× 10 -6,在顶板泥岩中超过 2 0 0× 10 -6。煤层中部 ∑REE降低 ,HREE相对富集。聚类分析表明 ,元素As ,Se ,Ag和Fe关系密切 ,这与煤中黄铁矿等成岩矿物有直接关系 ,泥炭沼泽演化期间或之后海水的直接或间接影响会促使这     

Geochemistry of coals from the Elk Valley coalfield, British Columbia, Canada

The Elk Valley coalfield of British Columbia is one of the major coal producing areas in Canada. The coals are of Cretaceous and Jurassic–Cretaceous age and range in rank from high-volatile to low-volatile bituminous (%Ro_max: 0.8–1.6). Coal seams from outcrops and active mines in this coalfield were analysed for rank and maceral composition using reflected light microscopy, for geochemistry using AAS, INAA, and ICPES, and also by proximate and ultimate analyses. The Elk Valley coal seams contain low average concentrations of hazardous elements such as As, Mo, Pb, and Se. However, there are seams that contain relatively high concentrations of some of these elements, such as 8 mg/kg and 108 mg/kg of arsenic. When the geochemistry of coal seams is compared within the different parts of the coalfield, the elemental composition amongst the seams from various sections located in the central area of the coalfield is similar. Coal seams in the northern area of the coalfield have different geochemistry than coal seams in other areas of the coalfield; seams in the northern area have much higher As, Br, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, and Na content, but contain less Ca.     

Microbial contributions to N-immobilization and organic matter preservation in decaying plant detritus

Microbial contributions to the detritus of two vascular plant tissues, smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) and black mangrove leaves (Avicennia germinans), were estimated over a 4-year decomposition period under subaqueous marine conditions. During this period, 93-97% of the initial plant tissues was decomposed. Bulk elemental and isotopic compositions of the detritus were measured along with hydrolyzable amino sugars (AS) and amino acids (AA), including the bacterial biomarkers muramic acid and the d-enantiomers of AA. A major enrichment in N relative to C occurred during decomposition. Net increases of AS, AA, and bacterial biomarkers in decaying detritus were observed. Three independent approaches indicated that on average 60-75% of the N and 20-40% of the C in highly decomposed detritus were not from the original plant tissues but were mostly from heterotrophic bacteria. During decomposition hydrolyzable AS + AA yields (∼54% of total N) were strongly correlated with total N in both types of detritus. The uncharacterized N appeared to have the same origin and dynamics as AA, suggesting the contribution of other bacterial biomolecules not measured here. There was little indication of humification or abiotic processes. Instead, N-immobilization appeared primarily bacterially mediated. Although varying dynamics were observed among individual molecules, bacterial detritus exhibited an average reactivity similar to plant detritus. Only a minor fraction of the bacterial detritus escaped rapid biodegradation and the relationship between bacterial activity and N-immobilization is consistent with an enzymatically mediated preservation mechanism. Bacteria and their remains are ubiquitous in all ecosystems and thus could comprise a major fraction of the preserved and uncharacterized organic matter in the environment.