Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution, mode of occurrence, and significance of rare-earth elements in coal from Samaleswari open cast coal blocks, Odisha, India with their provenance and paleodepositional environment

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aims to thoroughly examine the distribution, concentration, and occurrence of a broad selection of REEs and major elements in coal samples from Samaleswari coal block, IB valley, Odisha, India using advanced geochemical tools. A total of 85 coal samples from four boreholes were characterized using proximate analysis and calorific value measurements. The corresponding ash samples were examined using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Electron Probe Microanalyzer (EPMA), and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).The coal ash samples were delineated to be rich in SiO2 (42–65%) along with a lower proportion of Al2O3 (24–41%), Fe2O3 (5–6%), and TiO2 (1–2%). The average concentration of REEs in the four boreholes was found to be 510 ppm, with the distribution pattern being Ce > La > Nd > Y > Pr > Sc > Sm > Gd > Dy > Er > Yb > Eu > Ho > Tb > Tm > Lu. The concentration of critical REEs varied in the range of 100–300 ppm, and outlook coefficient (Coutl) ranged from 0.7 to 1.0, demonstrating our coal seams' suitability as a promising source of REEs. A higher concentration of REEs in BH1 was correlated with a relatively higher proportion of apatite. The increment in REE concentration with depth was speculated to be due to their close association with hematite, especially in BH1 and BH2. A strong positive correlation of all the REEs with clay minerals and specifically TiO2 reinstates their abundance in fine-grained clastic sedimentary rocks which are not significantly affected by weathering. Point analysis using EPMA and Scanning Electron Microscope–Energy Dispersive Analysis X-ray (SEM–EDAX) confirmed the co-existence of La, Ce, Pr, and Nd in the Fe-containing aluminosilicate matrix. In addition, the major oxide ratio and their plot entail terrestrial depositional environment in the basin during coal formation and deposited in semi-arid climatic conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability statement

The data could be made available upon request to the authors.

References

  • Abaka-Wood GB, Ehrig K, Addai-Mensah J, Skinner W (2022) Recovery of rare earth elements minerals from iron-oxide-silicaterich tailings: research review. Eng 2022(3):259–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandopadhyay AK, Chatterjee R (2006) Proceedings 23rd Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, Coal Chemistry, Geosciences and Resources: Mineral Matter, Coal, Ash, Coal Combustion, 44.

  • Banerjee R, Mohanty A, Chakravarty S, Chakladar S, Biswas P (2021) A single-step process to leach out rare earth elements from coal ash using organic carboxylic acids. Hydrometallurgy 201:105575–105590

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Battsengel A, Batnasan A, Narankhuu A, Haga K, Watanabe Y, Shibayama A (2018) Recovery of light and heavy rare earth elements from apatite ore using sulphuric acid leaching, solvent extraction and precipitation. Hydrometallurgy 179:100–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharjee U, Kandpal TC (2002) Potential of fly ash utilisation in India. Energy 27:151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birk D, White JC (1991) Rare earth elements in bituminous coals and underclays of the Sydney Basin, Nova Scotia: element sites, distribution, mineralogy. Int J Coal Geol 19:219–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai S, Finkelman RB (2018) Coal as a promising source of critical elements: progress and future prospects. Int J Coal Geol 186:155–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai S, Seredin VV, Ward CR, Hower JC, Xing Y, Zhang W, Song W, Wang P (2015a) Enrichment of U-Se–Mo–Re–V in coals preserved within marine carbonate successions: geochemical and mineralogical data from the Late Permian guiding coalfield, Guizhou, China. Miner Depos 50:159–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai S, Yang J, Ward CR, Hower JC, Liu H, Garrison TM, French D, O’Keefe JMK (2015b) Geochemical and mineralogical evidence for a coal-hosted uranium deposit in the Yili Basin, Xinjiang, northwestern China. Ore Geol Rev 70:1–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai S, Graham IT, Ward CR (2016a) A review of anomalous rare earth elements and yttrium in coal. Int J Coal Geol 159:82–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai S, Xie P, Jia S, Ward CR, Hower HC, Yan X, French D (2017) Enrichment of U-Re-V-Cr-Se and rare earth elements in the Late Permian coals of the Moxinpo Coalfield, Chongqing, China: genetic implications from geochemical and mineralogical data. Ore Geol Rev 80:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai S, Guo W, Nechaev VP, French D, Ward CR, Spiro BF, Finkelman RB (2018) Modes of occurrence and origin of mineral matter in the Palaeogene coal (No. 19–2) from the Hunchun Coalfield, Jilin Province, China. Int J Coal Geol 189:94–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eskenazy GM (2009) Trace elements geochemistry of the Dobrudza coal basin, Bulgaria. Int J Coal Geol 78:192–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Firman F, Haya A (2021) Study on the potential rare earth elements in coal combustion product from Banjarsari power plant, South Sumatera. IOP Conf Ser: Mater Sci Eng 1125:012003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franus W, Wiatros-Motyka MM, Wdowin M (2015) Coal fly ash as a resource for rare earth elements. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:9464–9474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geological Survey of India (2019) Indian coal and lignite resources-2019. Natural Energy Resources Mission-II B, Government of India

  • Hayashi KI, Fujisawa H, Holland HD, Ohmoto H (1997) Geochemistry of 1.9 Ga sedimentary rocks from northeastern Labrador, Canada. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 61:4115–4137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hood MM, Taggart RK, Smith RC, Hsu-Kim H, Henke KR, Graham U, Groppo JG, Unrine JM, Hower JC (2017) Rare earth element distribution in fly ash derived from the fire clay coal, Kentucky. Coal Combust Gasif Prod 9:22–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Hower JC, Groppo JG, Joshi P, Dai S, Moecher DP, Johnston MN (2013) Location of cerium in coal combustion fly ashes: implications for recovery of lanthanides. Coal Combust Gasif Prod 5:73–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Hower JC, Eble CF, Dai S, Belkin HE (2016) Distribution of rare earth elements in eastern Kentucky coals: indicators of multiple modes of enrichment? Int J Coal Geol 160:73–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imchen W, Thong GT, Pongen T (2014) Provenance, tectonic setting and age of the sediments of the Upper Disang formation in the Phek district, Nagaland. J Asia Earth Sci 88:11–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Indian Minerals yearbook (2019) Part III: mineral reviews, 58th Edition, Govt. Of India, Ministry of Mines, Nagpur.

  • Ketris MP, Yudovich YaE (2009) Estimations of Clarkes for carbonaceous biolithes: world averages for trace element contents in black shales and coals. Int J Coal Geol 78:135–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King PL, Sham TK, Gordon RA, Dyar MD (2012) Microbeam X-ray analysis of Ce3+/Ce4+ in Ti-rich minerals: a case study with titanite (sphene) with implications for multivalent trace element substitution in minerals. Am Miner 98:110–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolker A, Scott C, Hower JC, Vazquez JA, Lopano CL, Dai S (2017) Distribution of rare earth elements in coal combustion fly ash, determined by SHRIMP-RG ion microprobe. Int J Coal Geol 184:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kortenski J, Bakardjiev S (1993) Rare earth and radioactive elements in some coals from the Sofia, Svoge and Pernik Basins, Bulgaria. Int J Coal Geol 22:237–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin R, Bank TL, Roth EA, Granite EJ, Soong Y (2017) Organic and inorganic associations of rare earth elements in central Appalachian coal. Int J Coal Geol 179:295–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manjrekar VD, Choudhury V, Gautam KVVS (2006) Coal. In: Mahalik NK (ed) Geology and mineral resources of Orissa. Society of Geoscientists and Allied Technologist, Bhubaneswar, pp 205–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayfield DB, Lewis AS (2013) Environmental review of coal ash as a resource for rare earth and strategic elements. Proceedings of the 2013 World of Coal Ash (WOCA) Conference, Lexington, KY, USA

  • Mishra V, Bhowmick T, Chakravarty S, Varma AK, Sharma M (2016) Influence of coal quality on combustion behaviour and mineral phases transformations. Fuel 186:443–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohanty A, Das S, Vijayan V, Sengupta D, Saha S (2003) Geochemical studies of monazite sands of Chhatrapur beach placer deposit of Orissa, India by PIXE and EDXRF method. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res, Sect B 211:145–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee S, Srivastava SK (2006) Minerals transformations in Northeastern Region coals of India on heat treatment. Energy Fuels 20:1089–1096

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oreskes N, Einaudi MT (1990) Origin of rare earth element-enriched hematite breccias at the Olympic Dam Cu-U-Au-Ag deposit, Roxby Downs, South Australia. Econ Geol 85:1–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin S, Gao K, Sun Y, Wang J, Zhao C, Li S, Lu Q (2018) Geochemical characteristics of rare-metal, rare-scattered, and rare-earth elements and minerals in the late Permian coals from the Moxinpo mine, Chongqing, China. Energy Fuels 32:3138–3151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rautenbach R, Matjie R, Strydom C, Bunt J (2021) Transformation of inherent and extraneous minerals in feed coals of commercial power stations and their density-separated fractions. Energy Geosci 2:136–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saha D, Chakravarty S, Shome D, Basariya MR, Kumari A, Kundu AK, Chatterjee D, Adhikari J, Chatterjee D (2016) Distribution and affinity of trace elements in Samaleswari coal, Eastern India. Fuel 181:376–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saha D, Chatterjee D, Chakravarty S, Mazumder M (2018) Trace element geochemistry and mineralogy of coal from Samaleswari open cast coal block (S-OCB), Eastern India. Phys Chem Earth, Parts a/b/c 104:47–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saikia BK, Hower JC, Islam N, Sharma A, Das P (2021) Geochemistry and petrology of coal and coal fly ash from a thermal power plant in India. Fuel 291:120122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Senapaty A, Behera P (2015) Stratigraphic control of petrography and chemical composition of the lower Gondwana coals, Ib-valley coalfield, Odisha, India. J Geosci Environ Prot 03:56–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Seredin VV (1996) Rare earth element-bearing coals from the Russian Far East deposits. Int J Coal Geol 30:101–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seredin VV (1998) Rare earth mineralization in Late Cenozoic explosion structures (Khankai massif, Primorskii Krai, Russia). Geol Ore Depos 40:357–371

    Google Scholar 

  • Seredin VV, Dai S (2012) Coal deposits as potential alternative sources for lanthanides and yttrium. Int J Coal Geol 94:67–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seredin VV, Dai S, Sun Y, Chekryzhov IY (2013) Coal deposits as promising sources of rare metals for alternative power and energy-efficient technologies. Appl Geochem 31:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh PK, Singh GP, Singh MP, Naik AS (2013) The petrology of coals from the Rampur seam-IV and the Lajkura seam, Ib river coalfield, Mahanadi Valley, Orissa, India. Energy Sources, Part A 35:1681–1690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sorokin AP, Konyushok AA, Ageev OA, Zarubina NV, Ivanov VV, Wang J (2019) Distribution of rare earth and selected trace elements in combustion products of Yerkovetskoe brown coal deposit (Amur Region, Russia). Energy Explor Exploit 37:1721–1736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuckman MY, Lopano CL, Granite EJ (2018) Distribution and speciation of rare earth elements in coal combustion by-products via synchrotron microscopy and spectroscopy. Int J Coal Geol 195:125–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suttner LJ, Dutta PK (1986) Alluvial sandstone composition and paleoclimate, I. Framework mineralogy. J Sediment Res 56:329–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatar A, Alipour-Asll M (2020) Geochemistry of major, trace and rare earth elements in coals from the Tazareh mine, eastern Alborz coalfield, NE Iran. Geochem: Explor Environ, Anal 20:381–398

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor SR, McLennan SM (1985) The continental crust: its composition and evolution, United States.

  • Tobia FH, Al-Jaleel HS, Ahmad IN (2019) Provenance and depositional environment of the Middle-Late Jurassic shales, northern Iraq. Geosci J 23:747–765

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Energy (2017) National energy technology laboratory

  • Varga G (2007) The structure of kaolinite and metakaolinite. Epitoanyag 59:4–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Qin Y, Sang S, Zhu Y, Wang C, Weiss DJ (2008) Geochemistry of rare earth elements in a marine influenced coal and its organic solvent extracts from the Antaibao mining district, Shanxi, China. Int J Coal Geol 76:309–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Tang Y, Jiang Y, Xie P, Zhang S, Chen Z (2017) Mineralogy and geochemistry of an organic- and V-Cr-Mo-U-rich siliceous rock of Late Permian age, western Hubei Province, China. Int J Coal Geol 172:19–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z, Dai S, Zou J, French D, Graham IT (2019) Rare earth elements and yttrium in coal ash from the Luzhou power plant in Sichuan, Southwest China: concentration, characterization and optimized extraction. Int J Coal Geol 203:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Lv D, Hower JC, Zhang Z, Raji M, Tang J, Liu Y, Gao J (2022) Geochemical characteristics and paleoclimate implication of Middle Jurassic coal in the Ordos Basin, China. Ore Geol Rev 144:104848

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward CR (2002) Analysis and significance of mineral matter in coal seams. Int J Coal Geol 50:135–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward CR (2016) Analysis, origin and significance of mineral matter in coal: an updated review. Int J Coal Geol 165:1–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang J, Zhao Y, Zyryanov V, Zhang J, Zheng C (2014) Physical–chemical characteristics and elements enrichment of magnetospheres from coal fly ashes. Fuel 135:15–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XL, Gao ZQ, Fan TL, Xue JQ, Li WH, Zhang H, Cao FD (2020) Element geochemical characteristics, provenance attributes, and paleosedimentary environment of the Paleogene strata in the Lenghu area, northwestern Qaidam Basin. J Petrol Sci Eng 195:107750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Ward CR, French D, Graham IT (2013) Mineralogical composition of Late Permian coal seams in the Songzao Coalfield, southwestern China. Int J Coal Geol 116–117:208–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Dai S, Graham IT, Li X, Liu H, Song X, Hower JC, Zhou Y (2017) Cryptic sediment-hosted critical element mineralization from eastern Yunnan Province, southwestern China: mineralogy, geochemistry, relationship to Emeishan alkaline magmatism and possible origin. Ore Geol Rev 80:116–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng L, Liu G, Chou CL, Qi C, Zhang Y (2007) Geochemistry of rare earth elements in Permian coals from the Huaibei coalfield, China. J Asian Earth Sci 31:167–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to extend their gratitude to Director, CSIR-NML for allowing them to carry out and publish this work. We would like to thank CMPDIL (Coal India Ltd.) for the coal samples.

Funding

This study was funded by National Metallurgical Laboratory.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Analytical and Applied Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, 831007, India

    Sneha Kumari, Toushali Roy, Saswati Chakladar, Alok Kumar, Md. Arif, Ashok Mohanty, Rajen Kundu & Sanchita Chakravarty

  2. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Alok Kumar

Authors
  1. Sneha Kumari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Toushali Roy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Saswati Chakladar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alok Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Md. Arif
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ashok Mohanty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Rajen Kundu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Sanchita Chakravarty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

1. SK: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft 2. TR: Review & editing, Formal analysis 3. SC: Writing – original draft, review & editing, Formal analysis, Interpretation 4. AK: Manuscript writing, review & editing in the original draft, illustrations, Interpretation 4. MA: Formal analysis, Review & edit the original draft 5. AM: Review & edit the original draft, Formal analysis 6. RK: Review & edit the original draft, Formal analysis 7. SC: Project administration, Investigation, Supervision. Conceptualization.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sanchita Chakravarty.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 61 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kumari, S., Roy, T., Chakladar, S. et al. Distribution, mode of occurrence, and significance of rare-earth elements in coal from Samaleswari open cast coal blocks, Odisha, India with their provenance and paleodepositional environment. Environ Earth Sci 82, 130 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-10777-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-10777-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation