Trace element contents in the Domeniko lignite deposit, Elassona basin, Central Greece

Trace elements concentrations were determined in 38 lignite samples and their corresponding 850 °C ash from two boreholes of the Domeniko coal deposit (Upper Miocene) in Elassona basin, Central Greece. The methods used were instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results showed that all studied elements occur in concentrations within the range of reported values for different coal bearing basins of Greece. The elements U, Th, Cs, Eu, Ce, La, Li, Mo, Y, Pb, and Hg are enriched in the ashes when compared to their average concentration on the Earth's crust.Yb, Y, Lu, Th, La, Sm, Eu, Ce, and V showed positive (r>0.75) to intermediate (0.65<r<0.75) correlation. The elements Mo and As showed intermediate correlation. The rest of the elements poorly correlate with each other.