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The anomalous enrichment of the rare earth elements and yttrium (REY), U, Mo, As, Se, and V in the coal-bearing intervals intercalated within the carbonate successions in South China has attracted much attention due to the highly promising recovery potential for these elements. This study investigates the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the late Permian coal-bearing intervals (layers A–F) intercalated in marine carbonate strata in the Xian'an Coalfield in Guangxi Province to elucidate the mode of occurrence and enrichment process of highly elevated elements. There are two mineralogical assemblages, including quartz-albite-kaolinite-carbonates assemblage in layers D–F and quartz-illite-kaolinite-carbonates assemblage in layers A–C. Compared to the upper continental crust composition (UCC), the REY, U, Mo, As, Se, and V are predominantly enriched in layers A and B, of which layer A displays the REY–V–Se–As assemblage while layer B shows the Mo–U–V assemblage. The elevated REY contents in layer B are primarily hosted by clay minerals, zircon, and monazite; Mo, U, and V show organic association; and As and Se primarily display Fe-sulfide association. Three geological factors are most likely responsible for geochemical anomaly: (1) the more intensive seawater invasion gives rise to higher sulfur, Co, Ni, As, and Se contents, as well as higher Sr/Ba ratio in layers A–C than in layers D–F; (2) both the input of alkaline pyroclastic materials and the solution/rock interaction jointly govern the anomalous enrichment of REY; and (3) the influx of syngenetic or early diagenetic hydrothermal fluids is the predominant source of U, Mo, V, Se, and As. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shaanxi is among the provinces with abundant coal resources in North China. These enormous coal resources (approx. 4143 Gt) are widely distributed in the Ordos Basin and its marginal fold belts. The main coal-bearing strata consist of the late Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation, the early Permain Shanxi Formation, the late Triassic Wayaobao Formation, and the middle Jurassic Yan'an Formation, which were respectively deposited in coastal plains and a lagoon environment, a continental environment, an inland open lake and a confined lake environment. The Permo-Carboniferous coals are low volatile bituminous and characterized by relatively high vitrinite content, which decreases from south to north, and from the lower coal seams upwards. By contrast, the late Triassic and middle Jurassic coals are highly volatile bituminous, but are respectively characterized by relatively high vitrinite and high inertinite content. Minerals in the Permo-Carboniferous coals, the late Triassic coals, and the middle Jurassic coals, are respectively dominated by kaolinite and calcite, quartz and kaolinite, and quartz and calcite. Furthermore, contemporary coals deposited in different coal fields or even different mines of the same coal field present different mineral characteristics. The Permain Shanxi Formation coals from the Shanbei C-P coalfield in the north of Shaanxi Province are characterized by higher kaolinite and lower carbonate contents compared to those from the Weibei C-P coalfield in the south of Shaanxi Province. The distinctive mineralogical characteristics of coals formed in different coalfields and different geological ages were ascribed to integrated influences of different terrigenous detrital input from sediment provenance, sedimentary settings (e.g., subsidence rate, sea transgression, and regression process), and hydrothermal activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The late Triassic coals from, Northeastern Vietnam were formed in limnic sedimentary environment. • Coals from the Coc Sau open-pit mine in Cam Pha Coalfield are promising economic source of critical elements (Rb and Cs). • High enriched Rb and Cs in the Coc Sau coals most likely occur in K-rich clay minerals, e.g., muscovite. • Rb and Cs enrichment are originated from terrigenous influx from felsic-intermediate sediment provenance. The current study investigates the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the Late Triassic coals from the Coc Sau open-pit mine, Cam Pha Coalfield (Quang Ninh Province, Northeastern Vietnam) using Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), inductively coupled plasma atomic-emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Coals from Coc Sau open-pit mine are characterized by medium ash yield (avg. 29.7%), low sulfur content (avg. 0.17%), and low moisture content (avg. 1.8%). The volatile matter content (avg. 8.4%) indicates a semianthracite rank. The crystalline phases identified in Coc Sau coals and host rocks (roof, floor, parting) are primarily quartz, kaolinite and muscovite, with small proportions of ankerite, clinochlore, anatase, calcite, and tobelite. Illite, pyrite, and siderite were occasionally detected in individual samples. In addition, several minerals below the XRD detection limit, such as barite, apatite, zircon, xenotime, and florencite were observed by SEM. The low sulfur concentrations, low Sr/Ba ratio and relatively high ash yield of these coals indicate a continental lake basin sedimentary environment with a relatively strong supply of terrigenous detritus. Quartz, kaolinite, and muscovite were most likely derived from the terrigenous source region surrounding the basin, and the other minerals are mainly of authigenic origin. Relative to worldwide coals, the Coc Sau coals and host rocks are highly enriched in Rb and Cs, which can be a potential source for Rb and Cs recovery during coal utilization and combustion. Rubidium and Cs enriched in the coals are positively correlated with Al and K, indicating that they most likely occur in potassium-rich clay minerals (e.g., muscovite), and originate from weathered felsic terrigenous detritus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Upper Triassic coal from the Nui Hong open-pit mine is high-organic-sulfur coal. • The Nui Hong coal is promising economic source for strategic metal recovery. • Highly elevated Cs in coal most likely occurs in K-rich tobelite and illite. • Elevated Mo, Sb, U, Ge, and Tl are mainly associated with organic matter in coal. • Enrichment of strategic metals in Nui Hong coal is due to hydrothermal activities. Research on coal-hosted strategic metal ore deposits is an important subject in coal geology and mineral deposit worldwide. However, the related geological characteristics of coals from Vietnam have seldom been investigated, let alone the strategic metals in coals. This paper investigates the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the Upper Triassic coal from the Nui Hong open-pit mine, Thai Nguyen Coalfield, NE Vietnam, with emphasis on the enrichment of strategic metals in coal. The Nui Hong coal is low-volatile bituminous with high sulfur organic content. Minerals in the Nui Hong coal is predominantly composed of authigenic quartz, tobelite, pyrite, and calcite, with a small proportion of sphalerite, gypsum and fluorapatite in some coal bench samples. Mo-U-V-Se and Ge-W-Sb-Cs-Tl(-U) strategic metal element assemblages along with As-P toxic element association is significantly enriched in the Nui Hong coal, pointing to a significant economic benefit for Cs, Mo, U, and Ge recovery from the Nui Hong coal. The Ge enrichment in the Nui Hong coal provides a new perspective on prospecting of coal-hosted Ge deposit in high-rank coal. Cesium mostly occurs in K-rich aluminosilicate minerals (tobelite and/or illite), while Mo, Sb, U, Ge, and Tl are predominantly associated with organic matter in the Nui Hong coal. Multistage hydrothermal activities occurring in the marine-influenced S-rich, Fe-poor and clastic-starved anoxic-euxinic coal-forming environment are responsible for the significant enrichment of strategic metal elements in the upper Triassic coals from the Nui Hong open-pit mine, Thai Nguyen Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper represents the first integrated research on the mineralogical, geochemical and stable isotope characteristics of the Upper Triassic high‑sulfur coals from the Khanh Hoa open-pit mine, Thai Nguyen Coalfield, NE Vietnam. Formed in a marine-influenced carbonate succession, the Khanh Hoa coal is characterized by medium ash yield, low volatile matter yield, and high sulfur content. Minerals in the Khanh Hoa coal are predominantly composed of authigenic calcite in the upper portion; and pyrite, quartz, with minor amounts of tobelite ([(NH 4), K] (Si, Al) 4 Al 2 O 10 (OH) 2), gypsum in the middle and lower portions. The high‑sulfur Khanh Hoa coal is enriched in an As-Mo-Sb-U-Cs-P assemblage, which presents both an organic and inorganic mode of occurrence, and is largely ascribed to hydrothermal fluids. The δ 13C values of the Khanh Hoa coal range from −24.77‰ to −22.80‰ (avg. −23.33‰), reflecting a change in sedimentation pattern (from transgressive to high stand system upwards). The δ 15N values of the Khanh Hoa coal range from 2.41‰ to 3.73‰ (avg. 3.30‰), possibly resulted from influenced by seawater influence and a redox environment. The mineralogical, geochemical and isotopic characteristics reflected that the high‑sulfur Khanh Hoa coal was formed/preserved in marine-influenced anoxic environment, with low detrital input, and strong activities of multi-stage hydrothermal solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]