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Research on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characterization
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Research on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characterization

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 1629

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Wenfeng Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resources and Reservoir Formation Process of the Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221000, China
Interests: mineralogy; trace element geochemistry; coal petrology; coal geology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Qingfeng Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-Based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization, Carbon Neutrality Institute, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China
Interests: distribution, mode of occurrence, and enrichment mechanisms of associated element in coal; mineralogy; coal geochemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Geochemically, the study of element distribution and isotopic compositions in minerals provides crucial insights into geological history, including the evolution of magmatic systems, tectonic activities, and the formation of the Earth's crust. Furthermore, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics can help assess environmental pollution status, study the migration and transformation of elements in the environment, and provide scientific basis for environmental protection and governance.

This Special Issue encompasses studies on mineralogy, including mineral composition, structure, and genesis, as well as geochemical analyses of elements and isotopes in coals and other sediments. Contributions may address characterization techniques (e.g., LA-ICP-MS, TOF-SIMS, EPMA, TEM, SEM-EDS, etc.) and their applications in understanding magmatic, metamorphic, sedimentary, and hydrothermal processes; the distribution; occurrence modes; metallogenic theories; and exploration of associated elements in coal. The submitted manuscripts should highlight the scientific significance of characterization in solving geological, environmental, or resource-related challenges.

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of coals;
  2. Distribution, occurrence, and enrichment mechanisms of associated elements in coal;
  3. Advanced techniques for microstructural and compositional analysis of minerals;
  4. Application of isotope geochemistry in ore-genesis studies;
  5. Environmental geochemistry;
  6. Mineral resource exploration.

We look forward to your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Wenfeng Wang
Dr. Qingfeng Lu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • minerals
  • elemental geochemistry
  • isotope geochemistry
  • characterization technology
  • distribution
  • occurrence
  • exploration
  • coal

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 8520 KB  
Article
Geochemical Characteristics of Coal-Bearing Elements and Their Geological Significance at the Southern Margin of the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang—A Case Study of the Sulphur Gully Mining Area
by Weiwei Xia, Jiapeng Zhang, Bo Wei, Shuo Feng, Xin Li, Lu Wang and Yilixia Yimiti
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 4471; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16094471 - 2 May 2026
Viewed by 383
Abstract
With the growing demand for strategic metals and the gradual depletion of traditional metal ore deposits, coal and coal-bearing strata are regarded as potential sources of rare metals; consequently, research into the characteristics of associated elements in coal-bearing strata has become one of [...] Read more.
With the growing demand for strategic metals and the gradual depletion of traditional metal ore deposits, coal and coal-bearing strata are regarded as potential sources of rare metals; consequently, research into the characteristics of associated elements in coal-bearing strata has become one of the primary avenues of searching for new alternative resources. To investigate the sedimentary environmental characteristics and controlling factors of the coal-bearing strata along the southern margin of the Junggar Basin, coal seams 9–15 of the Xishanyao Formation in Sulphur Gully (Early Middle Jurassic) were selected as the subject of this study. This study employed analytical techniques including industrial analysis, total sulphur analysis, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the mineralogical and elemental geochemical characteristics of coal samples from Seylangou mining area, specifically from coal seams 9–15 and their overlying and underlying strata. Based on analyses of elemental ratios such as Al2O3/TiO2, Sr/Ba, Rb/Sr, Ni/Co and V/(Ni + V), the source of material during the deposition of this deposit was identified, and the characteristics of the depositional environment, as indicated by palaeosalinity, palaeoclimate and redox conditions, were revealed. The results indicate that the macroscopic coal-rock types of coal seams 9–15 at the Sulphur Gully Coal Mine on the southern margin of the Junggar Basin are predominantly semi-dull to dull, with small amounts of filamentous coal and lustrous coal. The average proportion of the vitrinite group in the coal is 42.75%, the inertinite group is 51.40%, and the liptinite is 2.25%. The average content of inorganic matter in the coal is 3.60%, and the average maximum reflectance of the vitrinite group is 0.651%. The coal represents a transitional stage from low-rank to medium-rank coal, corresponding to a metamorphic stage of Grade I–II. The coal is classified as a bituminous coal with medium total moisture, very low ash, medium-volatile matter, medium-to-high fixed carbon and very low sulphur. The minerals in the coal seam are predominantly kaolinite, calcite and quartz. The major elements in the ceiling of the coal seam are dominated by SiO2, followed by Al2O3; the coal itself is dominated by CaO, SiO2 and Al2O3; and the base plate of the coal seam is dominated by Al2O3. The trace elements Cs and Bi are relatively enriched in the coal seam ceiling; Sr is relatively enriched in the coal; whilst Li, Cr and other elements are highly enriched in the coal seam base plate. The source rocks of the coal and the roof consist of deposits of felsic igneous rock (dacite), whilst the source rocks of the floor consist of deposits of intermediate igneous rock (andesite). The depositional environment ranges from marine brackish water at the base to transitional slightly brackish water and then to terrestrial freshwater at the top; the depositional climate was cold and arid, and the depositional environment was oxidising. This study provides valuable insights for further research into the elemental geochemical characteristics, sediment sources and depositional environments of the Xishanyao Formation coal seams in Liuhuangou, Xinjiang. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characterization)
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22 pages, 9904 KB  
Article
Geochemistry of Late Permian Coals in the Laochang Mining Area from Eastern Yunnan: Emphasis on Mineral Matter in Coal
by Qingfeng Lu, Wenfeng Wang, Shenjun Qin and Bo Zhu
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16010042 - 19 Dec 2025
Viewed by 574
Abstract
The mineral matter in coal has great significance for geological evolution, and clean and fractional utilization. The Laochang mining area is one of the largest anthracite coal production bases in Southern China, and the most important coal energy base in Yunnan province, China. [...] Read more.
The mineral matter in coal has great significance for geological evolution, and clean and fractional utilization. The Laochang mining area is one of the largest anthracite coal production bases in Southern China, and the most important coal energy base in Yunnan province, China. This study investigates the composition and mode of occurrence of mineral matter in the Laochang coals to reveal the sediment provenance, sedimentary environment, and hydrothermal fluids. The predominant minerals in the Laochang coals include oxide (quartz, anatase), clay (kaolinite, illite/smectite mixed layer), sulfide (pyrite, sphalerite), phosphate (xenotime, monazite, goyazite–gorceixite), and carbonate (calcite, dolomite, sideroplesite, siderite). The minerals in the Laochang coals are dominated by quartz (2.4~54.8%) and kaolinite (3.4~39.2%), followed by illite, smectite, muscovite, calcite, pyrite, and anatase. Quartz and dolomite in SB-7+8 coal have the highest proportions, reaching 54.8% and 17.3%. The modes of occurrence of minerals reflect that the Laochang coals are affected by the epigenetic hydrothermal fluids and seawater. The chalcophile elements Hg, Pb, Se, and Cr, and lithophile elements Li, Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and REY are slightly enriched in XB-3 coal, which is attributed to the intrusion of seawater and the supply of terrestrial detrital materials, respectively. REY is dominated by LREY, followed by MREY, and a lower level of HREY in the Laochang coals, which have a high fractionation degree. The REY enrichment H-type is influenced by the hydrothermal fluids. Based on the relationship between Al2O3 and TiO2, Al2O3/TiO2 and Nb/Yb, and the negative anomaly Eu, the detrital material in the erosion source area of the Laochang coal is derived from the Emeishan Large Igneous Province basalt and felsic–intermediate rocks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Mineralogical and Geochemical Characterization)
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