Enrichment Characteristics, Occurrence and Origin of Valuable Trace Elements in Lignite from Linchang Coal Mine, Guangxi, China

To evaluate the comprehensive exploitation and utilization values of coal resources in Baise basin of Guangxi, the Paleogene coal of Linchang coal mine were sampled and studied. The enrichment characteristics, occurrence modes, and geochemical origin of valuable trace elements in coal were studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS), polarizing microscope, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). The results reveal that Linchang coal is ultra-low calorific value lignite with high ash, medium sulfur, medium-high moisture and medium volatilization. The minerals are mainly composed of illite, kaolinite, quartz, pyrite, siderite, bassanite, anhydrite and magnesium-containing calcite. Compared with average values for world low-rank coals, the contents of valuable trace elements in Linchang coal are higher on the whole, which is characterized by the high enrichment of U, the enrichment of elements Li, V and Ag, and the slight enrichment of elements Be, Ga and Se. Lithium, V, Ga and Ag mainly occur in clay minerals including illite and kaolinite, and part of V is related to organic matter. The carriers of Be in coal are clay minerals and organic matter. Selenium is mainly combined with organic matter and a small amount exists in pyrite. Uranium is primarily organically bound in coal. The enrichment of valuable trace elements in Linchang coal is influenced by the sedimentary source, coal-forming environment, underground circulating water and geological structure. The sedimentary environment of the coal seam is an acid-reduced terrestrial peat swamp, and the source is Triassic sedimentary rocks weathered from feldspathic volcanic rocks around Baise basin.

Geochemistry of rare earth elements and yttrium in Late Permian coals from the Zhongliangshan coalfield, southwestern China

Rare earth elements and yttrium(REY)in coal deposits are considered promising alternative sources for these resources owing to their increasing global demand.This paper reports the geochemical characteristics of REY in the Late Permian coals from an underground K1a seam section of the Zhongliangshan coalfield in Chongqing,southwestern China.The mineralogy,degree of enrichment,distribution patterns,modes of occurrence,and sediment origin of REY were investigated.Compared with the average of world coals,the concentration of REY in the K1a coals were normal,dominated by light REY(LREY),with less medium and heavy REY(MREY,HREY).The fractionation degree of the MREY and HREY are higher than that of LREY in most K1a coal samples,deduced from the mixed enrichment type of REY,mainly including M-H-type,and a few L-M type and H-type.In addition,the combination of anomalies of Ce,Eu,Gd,and Al_(2)O_(3)/TiO_(2) parameters,the terrigenous materials in the K1a coal were derived from the felsic-intermediate rocks at the top of the Emeishan basalt sequence,and the samples were affected by seawater intrusion during early peat accumulation.Although the minerals primarily consist of kaolinite,illite,pyrite,and small amounts of quartz,calcite and anatase,REY are correlated with ash yield,SiO2,and Al_(2)O_(3),revealing that the REY mainly occur in aluminosilicate minerals,especially kaolinite and illite.Meanwhile,REY positively relate to P_(2)O_(5) and Zr,which may exist in phosphate-containing minerals or zircon.Furthermore,most samples in the K1a coal or ash do not reach the cut-off grade for the beneficial recovery of REY.With the exception of central Guizhou,southwestern Chongqing,and the junction of western Guizhou and northeastern Yunnan,the REY content in coals from southwestern China are high,and its by-products are suitable as potential REY sources.