Distribution, occurrence and enrichment causes of gallium in coals from the Jungar Coalfield, Inner Mongolia

We collected eleven bench samples of No. 6 coal from the Heidaigou Surface Mine, Jungar Coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China, and four samples from the affiliated coal preparation plant. Based on these samples, we used inductively coupled-plasma mass spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer techniques, and borehole exploration data, to investigate the distribution, occurrence and enrichment causes of gallium (Ga) in the coals. Our results show: (1) Gallium is significantly enriched in the coal seams from the study area, with an average content of 18.8-26.0 ppm. Gallium is distributed heterogeneously in the coals, and reaches ore-forming scales only in No. 6 coal of Heidaigou Surface Mine, not in the other mining districts of Jungar Coalfield. (2) On the horizontal plane, Ga is enriched in the main minable coals from the northern and middle part of the coalfield. In the vertical profile, Ga content in the coal seams is higher at the base of Taiyuan Formation (Nos. 8 and 9) and Shanxi Formation (Nos. 3 and 4) than at the top of the Taiyuan Formation. Within the identical coal seam, Ga content is higher in the benches near the roof and floor than in the middle section. (3) Gallium in the coals is associated mainly with kaolinite and boehmite. Additionally, Ga may be adsorbed to some extent by humic acid, resulting in a high level in weathering coal. (4) Geological factors affect Ga enrichment in coal, such as the property of parent rocks in the source area, the sedimentary environment, organic matter, structure, and past magmatic hydrothermal activity. Especially, Ga content in parent rocks plays a leading role. (5) The mobility and precipitation of trace elements like Ga are controlled principally by the geochemical behavior of the major element Al. Terrestrial and transgressive environments can cause the precipitation of bauxite, whereas marine-continental depositional environments may cause the separation of Ga from Al. In addition, Ga may migrate in the form of gas, and may be affected by the ground temperature. Thus, it is relatively enriched in high-volatile coal.

We collected eleven bench samples of No. 6 coal from the Heidaigou Surface Mine, Jungar Coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China, and four samples from the affiliated coal preparation plant. Based on these samples, we used inductively coupled-plasma mass spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer techniques, and borehole exploration data, to investigate the distribution, occurrence and enrichment causes of gallium （Ga） in the coals. Our results show： （1） Gallium is significantly enriched in the coal seams from the study area, with an average content of 18.8-26.0 ppm. Gallium is distributed heterogeneously in the coals, and reaches ore-forming scales only in No. 6 coal of Heidaigou Surface Mine, not in the other mining districts of Jungar Coalfield. （2） On the horizontal plane, Ga is enriched in the main minable coals from the northern and middle part of the coalfield. In the vertical profile, Ga content in the coal seams is higher at the base of Taiyuan Formation （Nos. 8 and 9） and Shanxi Formation （Nos. 3 and 4） than at the top of the Taiyuan Formation. Within the identical coal seam, Ga content is higher in the benches near the roof and floor than in the middle section. （3） Gallium in the coals is associated mainly with kaolinite and boehmite. Additionally, Ga may be adsorbed to some extent by humic acid, resulting in a high level in weathering coal. （4） Geological factors affect Ga enrichment in coal, such as the prop- erty of parent rocks in the source area, the sedimentary environment, organic matter, structure, and past magmatic hydrothermal activity. Especially, Ga content in parent rocks plays a leading role. （5） The mobility and precipitation of trace elements like Ga are controlled principally by the geochemical behavior of the major element A1. Terrestrial and transgressive environments can cause the precipitation of bauxite, whereas marine-continental depositional environments may cause the separation of Ga from A1. In addition, Ga may migrate in the form of gas tively enriched in high-volatile coal. and may be affected by the ground temperature. Thus, it is relatively enriched in high-volatile coal.