Li Yanheng

Further Information of the Associated Li Deposits in the No.6 Coal Seam at Jungar Coalfield, Inner Mongolia, Northern China

: Total 138 coal samples and 14 parting samples were taken from the No. 6 Seam of the Jungar Coalfield, Inner Mongolia. These samples were analysed by optical microscopy, sequential chemical extraction procedure (SCEP), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS), X–ray powder diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope in conjunction with an energy–dispersive X–ray spectrometer (SEM–EDX) analysis. The results indicate that the Li contents have reached the industrial grade of the coal associated Li deposit, and the total Li reserves have reached 2406600 tons, that is, 5157000 tons Li2O in the No. 6 seam in the Jungar Coalfield. The sequential chemical extraction procedure results suggest that the Li concentration is mainly related to inorganic matter. The minerals in the coals consist of kaolinite, boehmite, chlorite–group mineral, quartz, calcite, pyrite, siderite and amorphous clay material. Some Li could be absorbed by clay minerals in the Li–bearing coal seam. The chlorite phase could be most likely the host for a part of Li. The Yinshan Oldland should be the most possible source of Li of the coal.

Anomalous Concentrations of Rare Metal Elements, Rare-scattered (Dispersed) Elements and Rare Earth Elements in the Coal from Iqe Coalfield, Qinghai Province, China

Total of 23 bench samples were taken from the No. 7 Coal of Iqe Coalfield, Qinghai Province, China, following Chinese Standard Method GB/T 482–2008 (2008). These samples were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The results indicate that the No. 7 Coal belongs to a low rank (Ro,ran =0.659%) and high-ash coal (40.54%). Compared to common Chinese and world low-rank coals, the Iqe coal contains anomalous concentrations of rare metal elements, rare-scattered (dispersed) elements and rare earth elements. The highest contents of Rb, Cs, Ga and REY reach to 180, 26, 37, and 397 ppm, respectively. Their average contents of these elements are 10.9, 15, 4.8 and 3.5 times higher than those of world coals, respectively. Minerals in the coal include kaolinite, quartz, muscovite, siderite, and traces of rutile, and brookite. Kaolinite could be main host minerals of Rb, Cs, Ga and REY. The anomalous rare element Rb and Cs accumulation in the Iqe coal is related to both organic and inorganic matter. The REY concentrations may be related to circulation of thermal solutions, contained or sorbed by clayey particles, and organic matter as well.