Occurrence of key chemical elements in late Cretaceous Adaville No. 1 coal seam, Kemmerer, Wyoming, coal district

Conference · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5909657

Eves, R L; Foit, Jr, F F

The distribution of key chemical elements across an approximately 35 m-thick section of the Adaville No. 1 subbituminous coal seam near Kemmerer, Wyoming, has been examined, using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and x-ray fluorescence analysis of whole coal samples. In comparing the mean element concentrations for 28 western coals the Adaville No. 1 contains (1) significantly higher concentrations of Br, Ca, Ga, Rb, Sr, and Zr, (2) significant lower concentrations of Al, Ce, Cr, La, and Na, and (3) similar concentrations of Sc, Ti, and V. Scanning electron microanalysis (SEM) of low temperature ash (LTA) revealed the presence of abundant clays and plagioclase feldspar; minor hematite, pyrite, quartz, gypsum, sylvite, amphibole, pyroxene, and rutile; and trace amounts of delafossite (the first recorded occurrence in a coal seam), calcite, cuprite, cassiterite, K-feldspar, and sphene. The cross-seam distribution of these minerals, combined with the similarity of the concentration profiles of Al, Ce, Cr, La, V, Rb, Sr, and Sc to that of LTA, suggest that all of the elements, except Br, Ga, and possible Zr, have significant mineralogical associations with the Adaville No. 1 coal. The presence of authigenic quartz, sylvite, delafossite, gypsum, and pyrite, and crystal solution features, suggest considerable ion mobility during peat deposition and coalification. The mineralogy and trace-element chemistry of the Adaville No. 1 coal seam are consistent with a wave-dominated deltaic depositional environment, long-lived saline conditions during peat accumulation, and a siliceous igneous rock source terrane.

• Research Organization: Washington State Univ., Pullman
• OSTI ID: 5909657
• Report Number(s): CONF-870915-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 71:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBONATE MINERALS
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ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
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MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
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USA
WYOMING