Trace Element Distributions in Some New Mexico Coals

摘要

Coal seams and adjacent rock samples were collected from two drill core sites in the Lee Ranch Mine of the San Juan Basin and from a channel sampling of a recent mine working face in the York Canyon Mine of the Raton Basin, both in New Mexico. Minor and trace elements occur principally in a U-shaped pattern with the maxima or tails of the U just inside the upper and lower seam boundaries. Any parting within the seam may also act as a seam boundary with a higher element content just above or below. Because the highest trace element content is related to seam boundaries, it is concluded a diagenetic or hydrologic redistribution of trace or minor elements has occurred after deposition in the peat swamp. The U-shaped heterogeneous distribution of the trace elements suggests physical removal of the top or the bottom of the seam where the trace elements are high may be an economic way to concentrate valuable or troublesome ingredients without having to treat the entire seam.