Trace element distribution and oil yield data from the Parachute Creek member of the Green River Formation, Colorado

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02588002· OSTI ID:5675667

Sullivan, P J; Donovan, R C ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie (United States)

The determination of trace element concentrations in oil shale before mining and retorting is required for proper solid-waste management planning. Using routine Fischer assay oil yield data collected during resource characterization as indicators of potential trace element concentrations could lead to a standard method of identifying strata containing high trace element levels. In order to determine a correlation between trace element concentrations and oil yield, shale samples were selected from four stratigraphic zones of the Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation for analysis. All samples were analyzed for total elemental concentrations, mineralogy, and Fischer assay oil yield. The results of these analyses demonstrated that the Mahogany zone shales contain significantly greater trace element concentrations (antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, lithium, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silver, and vanadium) than the other three shale zones. These high trace element concentrations have been identified within well-defined interbedded tuff deposits in the Mahogany zone. In addition, all trace elements evaluated, except boron, show either increasing or decreasing concentrations as oil yield increases within all oil shale zones. With an increased number of analyses of existing oil shale cores, oil yield data will be correlated to specific stratigraphic units containing high trace element concentrations.

• DOE Contract Number: FC21-83FE60177
• OSTI ID: 5675667
• Journal Information: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (United States) Vol. 10:1; ISSN 0177-5146; ISSN EGWSE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040500* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Properties & Composition
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
ALKALI METALS
ANTIMONY
ARSENIC
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CADMIUM
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
CHROMIUM
COLORADO
COPPER
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FISCHER ASSAY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GREEN RIVER FORMATION
LEAD
LITHIUM
MATERIALS
MERCURY
METALS
MINERAL OILS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MOLYBDENUM
NICKEL
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SHALE DEPOSITS
OIL SHALES
OIL YIELDS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SHALE OIL
SHALES
SILVER
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
VANADIUM
YIELDS