Inorganic element content of US coals: geographic variability and statistical evidence for modes of occurrence
Environment of deposition and subsequent geologic history of a coal influence the concentrations and modes of occurrence of inorganic constituents at the sample site. In order to summarize the resulting variability and to understand modes of occurrence of trace elements by their association with better-known major elements, a statistical study using principal components analysis was performed. Three hundred thirty-five whole-seam channel samples from six US coal provinces were analyzed for nine major elements 17 trace elements, three S forms and high-temperature ash yield. Statistical analyses were performed on both whole-coal basis and ash-basis data sets. The study revealed that Cr, Ga, La, Rb, Sc, T, V and Y were statistically related to the elements Si, Al and K, which occur principally in aluminosilicates (clays). Be, Cu, Mn, Ni, U, Yb and Zn tended to associated with Fe and S (occurring in pyrite). Eastern province samples tended to have high values of the alumino-silicate-related elements and low values of Mg, Ca, Na, Mn and U on both bases, perhaps attributable to supply of detrital minerals during deposition. Interior province samples were relatively high in chalcophile elements and low in aluminosilicates on both bases; these coals were farther from detrital sources and may have been subjected to a greater marine influence. Gulf, Rocky Mountain, and Northern Great Plains province coals tended to be high in carbonate-related or organically-combined elements: some of these are low-rank coals, in which organic functional groups are important in holding inorganic elements.
- Research Organization:
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6599174
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Journal Name: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States) Vol. 17; ISSN GAAPB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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58 GEOSCIENCES
580400 -- Geochemistry-- (-1989)
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
BERYLLIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COALIFICATION
COPPER COMPOUNDS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
LAWRENCIUM COMPOUNDS
MANGANESE COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINERALS
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
PYRITE
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
RUBIDIUM COMPOUNDS
SCANDIUM COMPOUNDS
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSPLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
USA
VANADIUM COMPOUNDS
VARIATIONS
YTTERBIUM COMPOUNDS
ZINC COMPOUNDS