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The coal-bearing sequences of the Late Permian in southwest China are enriched in critical elements Sc, V, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf. Ascertaining the conditions and basis for the enrichment of critical elements in this area is very important to support the critical metal demands of China. In this study, we analyzed the concentrations of elemental compositions of coal samples collected from the Late Permian Guishan coalfield in the eastern Yunnan, China. The results show that the C4-Upper coal seam of the Feilongma mine and C5 + 10 coal seam of the Shipeng mine are indeed rich in critical elements. The average concentration coefficients (CC) of transition metal elements Sc, V, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn are 3.23 and 2.93, respectively, in the two coal seams. The average CCs of high-field-strength elements Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf and non-variable valence chalcophile elements Ga and In are 2.21 and 2.53, respectively, in the two coal seams. The C4-Upper coal seam of the Feilongma mine can be divided into two sections based on the different ash contents, and the CCs of the critical elements in the two sections are almost equal. The main minerals in the two coal seams are kaolinite, siderite, quartz, gypsum, rozenite and marcasite. Multiple indicators of provenance show that the enrichment of critical elements in the Guishan coalfield is controlled by clastic terrigenous material. The source area of the Guishan coalfield is Kangdian Oldland in the northwest, and the main clastic materials are related with high-Ti basalts from the Emeishan Large Igneous Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A previous study suggested that the lowest Xuanwei Formation is derived from weathered clastic materials of silicic composition from the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP) based on chemostratigraphic correlations (Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 ratios) between the two. In this study, we have adopted the model that the Emeishan mantle plume commenced and terminated within a short duration and have investigated the detailed mineralogy and geochemistry of carefully sampled rocks from the lower sections of the Xuanwei Formation, eastern Yunnan Province, Southwest China. These samples are intensely argillized and characterized by high proportions of clay minerals and quartz. The samples with Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 > 7 from the lowest Xuanwei Formation have an anomalous natural gamma response and high concentrations of Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, Th, U, Ga and REY (rare earth elements and yttrium). Our results suggest that the samples with Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 > 7 from the lowest Xuanwei Formation represent felsic volcanic tuff instead of acidic clasts as originally proposed. The lowest Xuanwei Formation and the Wangpo Bed are the felsic tuffaceous layers interbedded with clastic rocks derived from the Emeishan high-Ti basalts. Such volcanic layers most likely represent ELIP felsic tuff originated from the extrusive equivalent of Nb–Zr-enriched alkaline syenitic magmatism at the waning stage of Emeishan mantle plume activity. This study has verified the existence of extensive alkaline felsic volcanism of early Late Permian age. Such alkaline volcanism may have been catastrophic and have contributed to the end-Guadalupian mass extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]