Article
Geology
Mingxuan Zhou, Lei Zhao, Xibo Wang, Victor P. Nechaev, David French, Baruch F. Spiro, Ian T. Graham, James C. Hower, Shifeng Dai
Summary: Comprehensive research on the concentrations, modes of occurrence, and origin of critical elements in coal is significant from an economic point of view. This study found that Caotang coal in China has a high concentration of the critical element Li, typically 20 times higher than world and Chinese common coals, with chlorites as the dominant host. Geochemical indicators suggest that the source-area compositions of Caotang coals are felsic-intermediate igneous rocks from specific regions in China.
ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qingfeng Lu, Shenjun Qin, Wenfeng Wang, Qian Wang, Shuai Kang
Summary: Rare, scattered, rare earth, and noble elements have been found to be enriched in Late Permian coals in southwestern China. The geochemistry and resource utilization of critical metals in coals have attracted attention due to the depletion of traditional ore deposits. The study investigated the geochemistry of associated elements in Late Permian coals to understand the sediment source and control factors of critical metals. The concentrations of silver and lead were slightly enriched in the coals, while other elements were lower compared to world hard coals. The mineral composition of the coals was dominated by kaolinite, pyrite, calcite, and quartz. Analyses indicated that the sediment source of mineral matter in the coals was from felsic-intermediate rocks of a distal volcanic arc or orogens. The low elemental concentrations in the coals were primarily determined by their sediment sources. Although most critical metals were not enriched in these coals, the high concentration of rare earth elements in coal ash suggests the potential for their recovery.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Brooke A. Davis, Sandra Rodrigues, Joan S. Esterle, Ai D. Nguyen, Alexander J. Duxbury, Suzanne D. Golding
Summary: Apatite in coal seams of the Late Permian in the Bowen Basin shows varied origins, including pore-apatites, fracture-apatites, detrital-apatites, and encrusting-apatites. Despite different modes of occurrence, the apatites analyzed in this study are predominantly fluorapatite, with minor variation in trace-element chemistry by mode of occurrence. Further investigation is needed to verify the geothermal source of apatite formation and isotopic composition analysis may provide important insights.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xiao Li, Shifeng Dai, Victor P. Nechaev, Ian T. Graham, David French, Xibo Wang, Lei Zhao, Jingtao Zhao
Summary: This paper reports the mineralogy and geochemistry of the Late Permian C1 Coal from Bole and Laibin mines in eastern Yunnan, Southwestern China. The coals are enriched in V, Co, Cu, Zn, and Se, which were mainly derived from the sediment-source region of the Kangdian Upland.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lu Wang, Xiaodong Guan, Jianyong Wang, Zuoyu Sun, Huiyuan Xu
Summary: This study found that rock layers in deep-water sedimentary environments in the Sichuan Basin are generally rich in organic matter and have high total organic carbon (TOC) content. It also found that high-quality shale oil and gas mainly form in anoxic restricted environments, and that hydrothermal activity of submarine volcanoes provides nutrients and compounds for the formation of organic matter.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Energy & Fuels
James C. Hower, Robert B. Finkelman, Cortland F. Eble, Barbara J. Arnold
Summary: Coal is a complex combination of macerals, minerals, and inorganic elements, along with liquids, gases, and semi-solid organics, all modified by coal metamorphism. Proper coal characterization is essential for academic research and industrial utilization.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geology
Zhiyong Wang, Wenwu Zhao, Jian Liang, Jingyan Lin, Wenmu Guo, Shiming Liu, Mengqi Du, Cunliang Zhao
Summary: In this study, the mineralogy and geochemistry of the Pennsylvanian No. 21 coal seam at the Huixiang Mine in the Dengfeng Coalfield, North China were investigated. The coal was found to be semi-anthracite and contained NH4- illite, kaolinite, calcite, and chlorite as the predominant minerals. The coal was slightly enriched with Li, Zr, Nb, Ta, and Th, making it a potential candidate for industrial recovery.
ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Beilei Sun, Fangui Zeng, Tim A. Moore, Sandra Rodrigues, Chao Liu, Guoquan Wang
Summary: Prospecting for trace and rare earth elements is expected to increase in the future as the world adopts sustainable energy and digital technology. This study investigates the distribution of trace elements, especially lithium, in coal beds in Shanxi Province, China. The research finds that trace elements, including lithium, are associated with the inorganic portion of the coal seams.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Grzegorz Czapowski, Hanna Tomassi-Morawiec, Bartosz Handke, Jacek Wachowiak, Tadeusz Marek Peryt
Summary: The study analyzed the mineral composition and content of trace elements in the Upper Permian potash-bearing deposits in Poland, finding that most of the analyzed trace elements show low content, making them unsuitable as potential sources for elements such as Ce, Cs, La, Li, or Rb. In contrast, common elements like Br, Fe, and Sr are more easily exploitable from natural brines, sulphates, and ore deposits.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
G. S. Pokrovski, C. Sanchez-Valle, S. Guillot, A. Y. Borisova, M. Munoz, A-L Auzende, O. Proux, J. Roux, J-L Hazemann, D. Testemale, Y. Shvarov
Summary: The redox dynamics of subduction processes remain poorly understood due to a lack of direct geochemical tracers. This study investigates the chemical and redox state of arsenic in serpentinites from the Tso Morari region, which are evidence of Himalayan subduction, using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The findings reveal contrasting redox speciation of arsenic, from arsenide to arsenite and arsenate, allowing for reconstruction of the redox behavior of arsenic during subduction. The out-of-equilibrium release of highly oxidized fluids is reflected by the high As-V/As-III ratios observed. Arsenic in serpentinite is shown to be a sensitive record of subduction redox dynamics, providing valuable insights beyond traditional equilibrium approaches.
GEOCHEMICAL PERSPECTIVES LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
James C. Hower, John G. Groppo, Cortland F. Eble, Shelley D. Hopps, Tonya D. Morgan
Summary: The Springfield coal in the Western Kentucky coalfield, a part of the Illinois Basin, ranges from high volatile A bituminous to high volatile C bituminous. The chlorine content closely follows coal rank, with highest concentration in high volatile A bituminous coals. V and Cr concentrations are high in top benches, particularly in higher rank sites. Zn and other elements show inconsistent enrichment patterns. Zr + Nb content is highest in high volatile C bituminous Spottsville quadrangle coals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Wei-Peng Zhu, Wei Tian, Ying-Hui Zhang, Zhuang Li, Ming-Yue Gong, Bin Fu, Zi-Long Wang, Chun-Jing Wei
Summary: The Shuangjianzishan super-large Ag-Pb-Zn deposit is located in the southern Great Xing'an Range, which is part of the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt and the northeastern Xing'an-Mongolia Orogenic Belt. The deposit is hosted in the Dashizhai Formation, characterized by slate rocks with secondary minerals such as quartz, biotite, sphalerite, pyrite, galena, and chalcopyrite. Geochemical analysis suggests the slate was deposited in an oxygen-deficient shale basin influenced by volcanic ash and magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. The sulfide minerals show pre-enrichment, and the color variation in the slate is attributed to differences in feldspar content, with darker slate marking the metallogenic horizon. Based on previous research, it is inferred that the slate is a product of post-orogenic extensional tectonic setting and underwent alteration by epithermal magmatic-hydrothermal fluids.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Bo Jiu, Wenhui Huang, Baruch Spiro, Ruilin Hao, Nana Mu, Long Wen, Huidi Hao
Summary: This study used LA-ICP-MS to investigate the distribution and modes of occurrence of Li, Ga, Nb, and REEs in No. 6 coal from the Haerwusu Mine in the Ordos Basin, China. The majority of Ga and Nb were found to be concentrated in a specific collotelinite layer and had an organic association. Lithium was uniformly distributed in the clay minerals of the collotelinite. Most La and Ce were concentrated in minerals such as monazite, bastnaesite, and lanthanite. Similar characterization methods can be used for trace element analysis in other organic-rich rocks or fine-grained sediments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geology
Bo Jiu, Wenhui Huang, Nana Mu
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics and origins of lithium in enriched coal and coal seams in the southern margin of the Ordos Basin using various analytical techniques. The results showed that lithium mainly accumulates in clay minerals in the coal seams, and the contribution of volcanic ash to coal was supported by the presence of high-temperature minerals. The enrichment of lithium in the coal-measure strata is controlled by multiple factors.
ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Yanning Wang, Qingfei Wang, Jun Deng, Shengchao Xue, Chusi Li, Edward M. Ripley
Summary: The study of mafic dikes in the Gulinjing-Nanxi area indicates that they are likely linked to Paleo-Pacific subduction rather than being part of the Emeishan mantle plume. Zircon ages, elemental compositions, and isotopic signatures differentiate these dikes from the nearby Emeishan flood basalts, supporting a connection to a different subduction zone in the region.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Luis F. O. Silva, Tito J. Crissien, Carlos H. Sampaio, James C. Hower, Shifeng Dai
Article
Energy & Fuels
Gordana Medunic, Mihaela Grigore, Shifeng Dai, Debora Berti, Michael F. Hochella, Maria Mastalerz, Bruno Valentim, Alexandra Guedes, James C. Hower
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Lei Zhao, Shifeng Dai, Robert B. Finkelman, David French, Ian T. Graham, Yongchang Yang, Jixiang Li, Pan Yang
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Shifeng Dai, Achim Bechtel, Cortland F. Eble, Romeo M. Flores, David French, Ian T. Graham, Madison M. Hood, James C. Hower, Vera A. Korasidis, Tim A. Moore, Wilhelm Puettmann, Qiang Wei, Lei Zhao, Jennifer M. K. O'Keefe
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Shifeng Dai, James C. Hower, Robert B. Finkelman, Ian T. Graham, David French, Colin R. Ward, Greta Eskenazy, Qiang Wei, Lei Zhao
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2020)
Correction
Geology
Lei Zhao, Shifeng Dai, Victor P. Nechaev, Evgeniya V. Nechaeva, Ian T. Graham, David French
ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS
(2020)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Na Xu, Robert B. Finkelman, Chuanpeng Xu, Shifeng Dai
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jingjing Liu, Victor P. Nechaev, Shifeng Dai, Hongjian Song, Evgeniya Nechaeva, Yaofa Jiang, Ian T. Graham, David French, Pan Yang, James C. Hower
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Panpan Xie, Shifeng Dai, James C. Hower, Victor P. Nechaev, David French, Ian T. Graham, Xibo Wang, Lei Zhao, Jianping Zuo
Summary: Coals containing ammonium-bearing aluminosilicates are rich in critical elements. The nitrogen in these minerals likely originates from the decomposition of organic matter in coals under increased geothermal gradient from intrusions or hydrothermal fluids. The isotopic composition of nitrogen in the minerals and coals provides valuable insights into their formation and sources of critical elements.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xiao Li, Shifeng Dai, Victor P. Nechaev, Ian T. Graham, David French, Xibo Wang, Lei Zhao, Jingtao Zhao
Summary: This paper reports the mineralogy and geochemistry of the Late Permian C1 Coal from Bole and Laibin mines in eastern Yunnan, Southwestern China. The coals are enriched in V, Co, Cu, Zn, and Se, which were mainly derived from the sediment-source region of the Kangdian Upland.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Na Xu, Robert B. Finkelman, Shifeng Dai, Chuanpeng Xu, Mengmeng Peng
Summary: Research findings suggest that the average linkage hierarchical clustering algorithm is more accurate and reliable for analyzing modes of element occurrence in coal from the Adaohai coal mine compared to other statistical methods. Analytical results on selenium, beryllium, and thallium indicate discrepancies with geochemical principles, such as substituting for phosphorus, being associated with rare earth elements, and occurring in iron sulfides, respectively.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chang Liu, Guoling Han, Bingwen Hu, Fushan Geng, Min Liu, Shifeng Dai, Yi Yang
Summary: This study uses electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to analyze CFA samples, identifying features of CFAs that can be recycled and proposing a method for fast screening of CFAs.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Na Xu, Yuchen Yang, Mengmeng Peng, Qing Li, Chuanpeng Xu, Shifeng Dai
Summary: Combustion of coal produces coal combustion residues (CCRs) that contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs), which can be harmful to humans. The activity of CCRs depends on both the concentrations of radionuclides and the variations in coal ash yields. Therefore, determining threshold values for radionuclides in coal with different ash yield levels is significant.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Shifeng Dai, Sergey Arbuzov, Igor Yu Chekryzhov, David French, Ian Feole, Bruce C. Folkedahl, Ian T. Graham, James C. Hower, Victor P. Nechaev, Nicola J. Wagner, Robert B. Finkelman
Summary: Critical elements in coal and coal-bearing sequences have received great attention. Their enrichment in coals is generally attributed to within-plate volcanism and associated hydrothermal activity. However, Cretaceous coals are not commonly rich in critical elements, possibly due to intense igneous activity leading to acidification of terrestrial and marine waters.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhen Wang, Shifeng Dai, Ellen A. Cowan, Matthew Dietrich, William H. Schlesinger, Qingru Wu, Mingxuan Zhou, Keith C. Seramur, Debabrata Das, Avner Vengosh
Summary: This study investigates the isotopic signatures and output rates of Pb in fly ash disposal in China, India, and the United States. It reveals that the isotopic composition of Pb in fly ash is similar to that of feed coal, allowing for easy tracing of Pb release into the environment. The disposal of Pb from fly ash in these countries has posed a significant environmental burden. Furthermore, coal fly ash contributes more to Pb accumulation than leaded gasoline in freshwater lakes.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)