Distribution of trace elements within coal lithotypes and depositional settings of some south-central West Virginia coals

Conference · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · AAPG Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5800540

Martin, J W; Cavaroc, V V; Fodor, R V

Recent studies associate trace element distribution in coal seams with coal lithotype. Their x-ray fluorescence and instrumental neutron activation analyses of 43 bituminous coal samples from the Pocahontas, New River, Kanawha, and Allegheny Formations in south-central West Virginia show that, on average, bright coals (vitrains and vitrain-rich clarains) contain high concentrations of Cl (1600 ppm), Co (11 ppm), Fe (14,000 ppm), S (11,200 ppm), and Sr (117 ppm), and dull coals (durains and durain-rich clarains) are relative enriched in Al (35,200 ppm), Ce (78 ppm), Cr (47 ppm), Cs (1.5 ppm), Eu (1.5 ppm), Sc (13 ppm), Se (13 ppm), Si (69,200 ppm), Th (14 ppm), Ti (3800 ppm), U (2.4 ppm), V (106 ppm), and Zr (110 ppm). Cluster and discriminant function analyses based on concentrations of these elements correctly classify over 90% of the samples by coal lithotype. Attempts to correlate trace elements in coal with specific depositional settings, however, have generally been less successful. Their data indicate that field-interpreted depositional settings of sampled coal seams can be characterized by the distribution of certain trace elements if bright and dull lithotypes are treated as separate groups during statistical analyses. The coal seam facies tested represent back-barrier, lower delta, transitional delta, and upper delta environments. Discriminant function analysis of bright coals based on Al, As, Br, Co, Eu, Fe, Se, and Si concentrations assigns 97% of the samples to their appropriate depositional facies. All dull coals are also correctly classified according to depositional setting using S, V, and Zr as the discriminating variables.

• Research Organization: North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5800540
• Report Number(s): CONF-890404-
• Journal Information: AAPG Bull.; (United States), Vol. 73:3; Conference: AAPG annual convention with DPA/EMD Divisions and SEPM, San Antonio, TX, USA, 23-26 Apr 1989
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
COAL DEPOSITS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
WEST VIRGINIA
ALUMINIUM
ARSENIC
CERIUM
CESIUM
CHLORINE
COBALT
EUROPIUM
IRON
SELENIUM
SILICON
STRONTIUM
SULFUR
THORIUM
TITANIUM
TRACE AMOUNTS
URANIUM
VANADIUM
ZIRCONIUM
ACTINIDES
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION III
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HALOGENS
METALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
RARE EARTHS
RESOURCES
SEMIMETALS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
011000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration