Geochemistry of Late Permian Coals in the Laochang Mining Area from Eastern Yunnan: Emphasis on Mineral Matter in Coal
Source abstract
Abstract
The mineral matter in coal has great significance for geological evolution, and clean and fractional utilization. The Laochang mining area is one of the largest anthracite coal production bases in Southern China, and the most important coal energy base in Yunnan province, China. This study investigates the composition and mode of occurrence of mineral matter in the Laochang coals to reveal the sediment provenance, sedimentary environment, and hydrothermal fluids. The predominant minerals in the Laochang coals include oxide (quartz, anatase), clay (kaolinite, illite/smectite mixed layer), sulfide (pyrite, sphalerite), phosphate (xenotime, monazite, goyazite–gorceixite), and carbonate (calcite, dolomite, sideroplesite, siderite). The minerals in the Laochang coals are dominated by quartz (2.4~54.8%) and kaolinite (3.4~39.2%), followed by illite, smectite, muscovite, calcite, pyrite, and anatase. Quartz and dolomite in SB-7+8 coal have the highest proportions, reaching 54.8% and 17.3%. The modes of occurrence of minerals reflect that the Laochang coals are affected by the epigenetic hydrothermal fluids and seawater. The chalcophile elements Hg, Pb, Se, and Cr, and lithophile elements Li, Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and REY are slightly enriched in XB-3 coal, which is attributed to the intrusion of seawater and the supply of terrestrial detrital materials, respectively. REY is dominated by LREY, followed by MREY, and a lower level of HREY in the Laochang coals, which have a high fractionation degree. The REY enrichment H-type is influenced by the hydrothermal fluids. Based on the relationship between Al2O3 and TiO2, Al2O3/TiO2 and Nb/Yb, and the negative anomaly Eu, the detrital material in the erosion source area of the Laochang coal is derived from the Emeishan Large Igneous Province basalt and felsic–intermediate rocks.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Coal and Its By-products · Coal Properties and Utilization · Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-Based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization, Carbon Neutrality Institute, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China
Key Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resources & Reservoir Formation Process of the Ministry of Education, School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
School of Geology and Mining Engineering, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830002, China
Key Laboratory for Resource Exploration Research of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China
Funding
National Key Research and Development Program of China · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities · Jiangsu Funding Program for Excellent Postdoctoral Talent
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