Inorganic Geochemistry of Coal

1st Edition - June 22, 2023
Authors: Shifeng Dai, Robert B. Finkelman, James C. Hower, David French, Ian T. Graham, Lei Zhao
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 5 6 3 4 - 5
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 5 6 3 5 - 2

Inorganic Geochemistry of Coal explains how to determine the concentrations and modes of occurrence of elements in coal, how to diminish adverse effects of toxic elements on… Read more

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Inorganic Geochemistry of Coal explains how to determine the concentrations and modes of occurrence of elements in coal, how to diminish adverse effects of toxic elements on the environment and human health, which elements in coal could be industrially utilized, and which elements can be successfully used as indications for deciphering depositional environments and tectonic evolution. As coal use will remain at an all-time high for the next several decades, there is a critical need for understanding the properties of this fuel to ensure efficient use, encourage its economic by-product potential, and to help minimize its negative technological, environmental and health impacts.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Pioneers of Inorganic Geochemistry of Coal
Preface
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Analytical methods for elements in coal
2.1. Coal sampling
2.2. Determination methods for concentrations of elements in coal
2.3. Analytical methods for modes of occurrence of elements in coal
Chapter 3. Abundance of elements in coal
3.1. Element concentrations on a whole-coal basis versus an ash basis
3.2. Classification of major and trace elements in coal based on their abundance
3.3. Estimations of concentration averages of elements in coal
3.4. Overall comparison of concentrations of elements in some coals
Chapter 4. Definition of modes of occurrence of elements in coal
4.1. What are the modes of occurrence of elements in coal?
4.2. Types of modes of occurrence of elements in coal
4.3. Coal composition in comparison with the Earth's crust
Chapter 5. The importance of abundance and modes of occurrence of element in coals
5.1. Textural evidence of the source of elements
5.2. Geochemical significance of elements hosted in syngenetic minerals
5.3. Economic by-product recovery
5.4. Technological importance (abrasion, corrosion, fouling, and slagging)
5.5. Environmental impacts
5.6. Human health impacts
5.7. Concluding remarks
Chapter 6. Modes of occurrence of elements in coal
6.1. Major elements
6.2. Trace elements in coal
6.3. Concluding remarks
Chapter 7. Minerals in coal as the hosts of chemical elements
7.1. The significance of minerals in coal
7.2. Minerals found in coal
7.3. Minerals and mineral groups as host of chemical elements
Chapter 8. Enrichment mechanisms of elements in coal
8.1. Erosion products from sediment-source region
8.2. Seawater influence
8.3. Altered volcanic ashes in coal
8.4. Pore waters in coal
8.5. Hydrothermal fluids
8.6. Groundwater
8.7. The role of organic matter
Chapter 9. Health impacts of the inorganic constituents in coal
9.1. Arsenic
9.2. Fluorine
9.3. Selenium
9.4. Iodine
9.5. Mercury
9.6. Naturally—occurring radioactive materials
9.7. Uncontrolled coal fires
9.8. Health impacts of coal mining
9.9. Premature deaths
Chapter 10. Critical elements in coal
10.1. Significance of critical element recovery from coal ash
10.2. Overview of some critical elements in coal
10.3. Benefits and future prospects
10.4. REY in coal: classification, economic evaluation, and origin
10.5. REY in coal: anomalies and controlling factors
10.6. The Yili coal-hosted uranium deposit: case study
10.7. The Wulantuga Ge deposit: case study
10.8. Ga, Li, Al and REY in Jungar coals: case study
10.9. REY in the Fire Clay coal, Central Appalachians, USA: case study
Chapter 11. Future directions and applications
References
Index

Shifeng Dai

Shifeng Dai is a professor at the Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing). He had his Ph.D. (2002) from China University of Mining and Technology. His research fields include coal geology, coal geochemistry, and coal-hosted critical metal ore deposits. He is the Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of Coal Geology (2007- ) and was the President of The Society For Organic Petrology (2015–2017). He is the Chief Scientist of National Key Basic Research Program of China and Changjiang Scholar Professor of Ministry of Education (China). He published over 180 research papers, co-authored/edited five books, and edited eight special issues for international journals. He is a recipient of the highest award of the of The Society For Organic Petrology John Castano Award (2021) and the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (2007).

Affiliations and expertise

State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, China

Robert B. Finkelman

Dr. Robert B. Finkelman, retired in 2005 after 32 years with the U.S. Geological Survey. He is currently a Research Professor in the Dept. of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Dallas and a Distinguished Professor at the China University of Mining and Technology. Most of Dr. Finkelman’s professional career has been devoted to understanding the properties of coal and how these properties affect coal’s technological performance, economic byproduct potential and environmental and health impacts. He has authored more than 850 publications. Dr. Finkelman is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America and has served as Chairman of the Geological Society of America’s Coal Geology Division and as president of the Society for Organic Petrology. He was a recipient of the Gordon H. Wood Jr. Memorial Award from the AAPG Eastern Section; and a recipient of the Cady Award from the GSA’s Coal Geology Division.

Affiliations and expertise

Geosciences Department, University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX, USA

James C. Hower

Jim Hower received his BA, MS, and PhD degrees in geology from Millersville University, Ohio State, and Penn State. He has been a scientist at the University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) since 1978 and has been a Research Professor in the University of Kentucky Department of Earth & Environmental Research since 2016 with a research focus on a broad range of topics within coal and fly ash petrology and chemistry. As of June 30th, Jim retired from the university, but he is still active at the CAER and elsewhere. He has authored over 480 publications in more than 120 journals and books. He was the editor of International Journal of Coal Geology and Coal Combustion & Gasification Products for 10 years each. Jim has received the top awards from The Society for Organic Petrology, International Committee for Coal & Organic Petrology, and the Geological Society of America’s Energy Geology Division.

Affiliations and expertise

University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research, Lexington, KY, USA

David French

David French is an Adjunct Associate Professor within the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. He received his BA from Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand, and his PhD in igneous petrology from Newcastle University, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Initially he was an exploration and mining geologist for base and precious metals and industrial minerals. Subsequently, he was a research associate involved in a study of Australian oil shales followed by a period as a manager of a coal trace element geochemistry and mineralogy laboratory section. David then joined the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, initially applying advanced mineralogical techniques to ore formation research, then to studies of coal geochemistry, mineralogy, and coal utilization by-products. Since 2014 he has been an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of New South Wales continuing his research interest. He has published over 130 papers and numerous research reports.

Affiliations and expertise

Earth and Sustainability Sciences Research Centre, School of Biological, earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Ian T. Graham

Ian Graham is a senior lecturer in Earth Sciences within the School of Biological, earth and Environmnetal Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Australia. He received his BAppSc (1st class honours) and PhD degrees from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, Australia. His research fields are very broad and generally cover the fields of mineralogy, geochemistry and igneous petrology. He particularly focusses on inorganic geochemistry and mineral matter within coal, unconventional sediment-hosted critical element mineralisation, intraplate volcanism, gem deposits and Ag-Au deposits. He has published over 115 journal papers, co-authored/edited 5 books, and edited 4 special issues for international journals. He is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Coal Geology and Mineralogical Magazine.

Affiliations and expertise

Earth and Sustainability Sciences Research Centre, School of Biological, earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Lei Zhao

Lei Zhao received a bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering from China University of Mining and Technology in 2004, her MSc degree from China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing) in 2007, and PhD in Applied Geology from the University of New South Wales, Australia in 2012. She is a professor at China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), China. Her main research interests are mineral matter and trace elements in coal, strategically critical metals in coal-bearing sequences and coal combustion by-products, as well as environmental impact of coal utilization. She is a member of the editorial board of International Journal of Coal Geology (2015-present). She is a recipient of the National Science Fund of China for Excellent Young Scholars. She has authored and co-authored over 20 refereed journal articles, and co-edited 2 special issues for international journals.

Affiliations and expertise

College of Geoscience and Survey Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, China