Enrichment of U-Re-V-Cr-Se and rare earth elements in the Late Permian coals of the Moxinpo Coalfield, Chongqing, China: Genetic implications from geochemical and mineralogical data

摘要

Rare metals in coal deposits have attracted much attention in recent years because of their potential economic significance. This paper reports the abundance and enrichment origin of rare metals in the Late Permian coals (K1 and K2 Coals) of the Moxinpo Coalfield, Chongqing, southwestern China. The K1 Coal is characterized by highly-elevated concentrations of U-Re-V-Cr-Se and Nb(Ta)-Zr(Hf)-REE assemblages; the latter assemblage is also enriched in the K2 Coal. The high temperature ash (815 degrees C) of the K1 Coal is enriched in V, Cr, Se, Re, U and REE; the ash of the K2 Coal, and also the floor strata of each seam, are enriched in REE, potentially making all of the units economically viable sources for these elements.