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Minerals
Special Issues
Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Coal and Coal-Bearing Strata
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Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Coal and Coal-Bearing Strata

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 6310

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Fenghua Zhao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Geoscience and Survey Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Interests: coal geochemistry; coal geology; water environment geochemistry; hydrogeology; coal structure; coal utilization
Dr. Dongna Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Interests: coal petrology; coal geochemistry; coal-hosted metal deposits; petrogeochemistry; coal-bearing basin sedimentary and tectonic evolution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As an important basic energy, coal has made great contributions to the development of human society. At present, in order to control the emission of carbon dioxide, we are trying to reduce the use of coal and realize its clean utilization as much as possible. Methane from coal-bearing measures (including coalbed methane) is an important unconventional clean energy source. The mineralogical and geochemical information of coal and coal-bearing strata is not only helpful for us to understand the formation mechanism of coal and coal-bearing strata, but also helpful for us to realize the clean utilization of coal.

This Special Issue is organized into the following sections:

  • Section 1. Advances in sedimentology of coal-bearing strata;
  • Section 2. Advances in mineralogy and geochemistry of strategic key metals (such as Ga and Ge, etc.) in coal;
  • Section 3. Advances in mineralogy and geochemistry of hazardous elements in coal;
  • Section 4. Advances in methane of coal-bearing measures.

This Special Issue aims to contribute to the disclosure of advances in mineralogy and geochemistry of coal and coal-bearing strata in order to better understand the formation mechanism of coal and coal-bearing measures, as well as the clean utilization of coal.

Prof. Dr. Fenghua Zhao
Dr. Dongna Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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

  • coal
  • strategic key metals
  • hazardous elements
  • clean utilization
  • methane of coal-bearing measures

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 8845 KiB  
Article
Occurrence State and Genesis of Large Particle Marcasite in a Thick Coal Seam of the Zhundong Coalfield in Xinjiang
by Xue Wu, Ning Lü, Shuo Feng, Wenfeng Wang, Jijun Tian, Xin Li and Hayerhan Xadethan
Minerals 2025, 15(8), 816; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080816 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 217
Abstract
The Junggar Basin contains a large amount of coal resources and is an important coal production base in China. The coal seam in Zhundong coalfield has a large single-layer thickness and high content of inertinite, but large particle Fe-sulphide minerals are associated with [...] Read more.
The Junggar Basin contains a large amount of coal resources and is an important coal production base in China. The coal seam in Zhundong coalfield has a large single-layer thickness and high content of inertinite, but large particle Fe-sulphide minerals are associated with coal seams in some mining areas. A series of economic and environmental problems caused by the combustion of large-grained Fe-sulphide minerals in coal have seriously affected the economic, clean and efficient utilization of coal. In this paper, the ultra-thick coal seam of the Xishanyao formation in the Yihua open-pit mine of the Zhundong coalfield is taken as the research object. Through the analysis of coal quality, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer test of major elements in coal, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry test of trace elements, SEM-Raman identification of Fe-sulphide minerals in coal and LA-MC-ICP-MS test of sulfur isotope of marcasite, the coal quality characteristics, main and trace element characteristics, macro and micro occurrence characteristics of Fe-sulphide minerals and sulfur isotope characteristics of marcasite in the ultra-thick coal seam of the Xishanyao formation are tested. On this basis, the occurrence state and genesis of large particle Fe-sulphide minerals in the ultra-thick coal seam of the Xishanyao formation are clarified. The main results and understandings are as follows: (1) the occurrence state of Fe-sulphide minerals in extremely thick coal seams is clarified. The Fe-sulphide minerals in the extremely thick coal seam are mainly marcasite, and concentrated in the YH-2, YH-3, YH-8, YH-9, YH-14, YH-15 and YH-16 horizons. Macroscopically, Fe-sulphide minerals mainly occur in three forms: thin film Fe-sulphide minerals, nodular Fe-sulphide minerals, and disseminated Fe-sulphide minerals. Microscopically, they mainly occur in four forms: flake, block, spearhead, and crack filling. (2) The difference in sulfur isotope of marcasite was discussed, and the formation period of marcasite was preliminarily divided. The overall variation range of the δ34S value of marcasite is wide, and the extreme values are quite different. The polyflake marcasite was formed in the early stage of diagenesis and the δ34S value was negative, while the fissure filling marcasite was formed in the late stage of diagenesis and the δ34S value was positive. (3) The coal quality characteristics of the thick coal seam were analyzed. The organic components in the thick coal seam are mainly inertinite, and the inorganic components are mainly clay minerals and marcasite. (4) The difference between the element content in the thick coal seam of the Zhundong coalfield and the average element content of Chinese coal was compared. The major element oxides in the thick coal seam are mainly CaO and MgO, followed by SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and Na2O. Li, Ga, Ba, U and Th are enriched in trace elements. (5) The coal-accumulating environment characteristics of the extremely thick coal seam are revealed. The whole thick coal seam is formed in an acidic oxidation environment, and the horizon with Fe-sulphide minerals is in an acidic reduction environment. The acidic reduction environment is conducive to the formation of marcasite and is not conducive to the formation of pyrite. (6) There are many matrix vitrinite, inertinite content, clay content, and terrigenous debris in the extremely thick coal seam. The good supply of peat swamp, suitable reduction environment and pH value, as well as groundwater leaching and infiltration, together cause the occurrence of large-grained Fe-sulphide minerals in the extremely thick coal seam of the Xishanyao formation in the Zhundong coalfield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Coal and Coal-Bearing Strata)
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16 pages, 6672 KiB  
Article
Lithology and Macroscopic Coal Lithotype Identification of Coal-Bearing Measures Based on Elemental Mud Logging: A Case Study of the Eastern Ordos Basin Coal Seam
by Yuejiao Liu, Wenya Zhang, Fuqiang Lai, Mingyang Zhang, Honghua Sun, Zongsheng Zhou, Jianmeng Sun, Ruyue Wang and Shanshan Zheng
Minerals 2025, 15(6), 616; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15060616 - 9 Jun 2025
Viewed by 285
Abstract
China is rich in coalbed methane (CBM) resources, and the key to realizing the scale and efficiency of CBM development is to build “engineering tools” for exploration and development continuously. Accurate calculation of rock components and precise identification of lithology and macroscopic coal [...] Read more.
China is rich in coalbed methane (CBM) resources, and the key to realizing the scale and efficiency of CBM development is to build “engineering tools” for exploration and development continuously. Accurate calculation of rock components and precise identification of lithology and macroscopic coal lithotypes of coal-bearing measures are the basis for the evaluation of CBM geological engineering. This paper proposes a method to identify the lithology and macroscopic coal lithotypes of coal-bearing measures based on elemental mud logging. Firstly, a coal seam demarcation line is constructed based on the elemental mud logging to divide the coal and non-coal seams. Secondly, the content of each component in the coal and non-coal seams is calculated. Finally, based on the results of the calculations, a method for recognizing the lithology of non-coal seams and macroscopic coal lithotypes of coal seams is constructed based on the combination of the S (sulfur) element innovatively. The calculation error of mineral and proximate analysis components is less than 10%, and the average accuracy of lithology and macroscopic coal lithotype identification is as high as 87%. The results can provide important technical guidance for the geological evaluation of coal-bearing measures and the selection of target seams. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Coal and Coal-Bearing Strata)
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21 pages, 3815 KiB  
Article
Paleoenvironmental Controls and Economic Potential of Li-REY Enrichment in the Upper Carboniferous Coal-Bearing “Si–Al–Fe” Strata, Northeastern Qinshui Basin
by Ning Wang, Jun Zhao, Yingxia Xu, Mangen Mu, Shangqing Zhang, Libo Jing, Guoshu Huang, Liang Liu and Pengfei Tian
Minerals 2025, 15(3), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15030269 - 5 Mar 2025
Viewed by 715
Abstract
Critical metals in coal-bearing strata have recently emerged as a frontier hotspot in both coal geology and ore deposit research. In the Upper Carboniferous coal-bearing “Si–Al–Fe” strata (Benxi Formation) of the North China Craton (NCC), several critical metals, including Li, Ga, Sc, V, [...] Read more.
Critical metals in coal-bearing strata have recently emerged as a frontier hotspot in both coal geology and ore deposit research. In the Upper Carboniferous coal-bearing “Si–Al–Fe” strata (Benxi Formation) of the North China Craton (NCC), several critical metals, including Li, Ga, Sc, V, and rare earth elements and Y (REY or REE + Y), have been discovered, with notable mineralization anomalies observed across northern, central, and southern Shanxi Province. However, despite the widespread occurrence of outcrops of the “Si–Al–Fe” strata in the northeastern Qinshui Basin of eastern Shanxi, there has been no prior report on the critical metal content in this region. Traditionally, the “Si–Al–Fe” strata have been regarded as a primary source of clastic material for the surrounding coal seams of the Carboniferous–Permian Taiyuan and Shanxi Formations, which are known to display critical metal anomalies (e.g., Li and Ga). Given these observations, it is hypothesized that the “Si–Al–Fe” strata in the northeastern Qinshui Basin may also contain critical metal mineralization. To evaluate this hypothesis, new outcrop samples from the “Si–Al–Fe” strata of the Benxi Formation in the Yangquan area of the northeastern Qinshui Basin were collected. Detailed studies on critical metal enrichment were assessed using petrographic observations, mineralogy (XRD, X-ray diffractometer), and geochemistry (XRF, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, and ICP-MS, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer). The results indicate that the siliceous, ferruginous, and aluminous rocks within the study strata exhibit varying degrees of critical metal mineralization, mainly consisting of Li and REY, with minor associated Nb, Zr, and Ga. The Al2O3/TiO2, Nb/Y vs. Zr/TiO2, and Nb/Yb vs. Al2O3/TiO2 diagrams suggest that these critical metal-enriched layers likely have a mixed origin, comprising both intermediate–felsic magmatic rocks and metamorphic rocks derived from the NCC, as well as alkaline volcaniclastics associated with the Tarim Large Igneous Province (TLIP). Furthermore, combined geochemical parameters, such as the CIA (chemical index of alteration), Sr/Cu vs. Ga/Rb, Th/U, and Ni/Co vs. V/(V + Ni), indicate that the “Si–Al–Fe” strata in the northeastern Qinshui Basin were deposited under warm-to-hot, humid climate conditions, likely in suboxic-to-anoxic environments. Additionally, an economic evaluation suggests that the “Si–Al–Fe” strata in the northeastern Qinshui Basin hold considerable potential as a resource for the industrial extraction of Li, REY, Nb, Zr, and Ga. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Coal and Coal-Bearing Strata)
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14 pages, 4470 KiB  
Article
The Occurrence and Distribution of Nitrogen in Coal of Different Ranks and Densities
by Dongna Liu, Qi Zhang, Fenghua Zhao, Xile Liu and Shangqing Zhang
Minerals 2024, 14(6), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14060549 - 26 May 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1860
Abstract
Nitrogen is one of the significant pollutants emitted from coal combustion, and the study of its distribution and occurrence is very important for the efficient and clean utilization of coal resources. Four kinds of coal with different metamorphic ranks from major coal-producing provinces [...] Read more.
Nitrogen is one of the significant pollutants emitted from coal combustion, and the study of its distribution and occurrence is very important for the efficient and clean utilization of coal resources. Four kinds of coal with different metamorphic ranks from major coal-producing provinces of China were studied. A gravity float-and-sink experiment was applied to obtain coal samples with different densities from Shanxi Province. The microscope optical method, Kjeldahl method, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to assess the occurrence, form, and distribution of nitrogen in the coal. The results show that the nitrogen content was about 0.47%–1.85%, and the maximum nitrogen content was positively correlated with the rank of coal, but the difference was not obvious. In the low-rank coal, the nitrogen content was mainly related to vitrinite and inertinite, while in the middle–high-rank coal, the nitrogen content was mainly related to inertinite and minerals. Pyrrolic (N-5) and pyridinic (N-6) were the main forms of nitrogen in the low-rank coal. The contents of N-6 and N-5 decreased with increases in the coal density, but the contents of quaternary N-Q1 and quaternary N-Q2 increased. N-Q2 mainly comes from fixed ammonia nitrogen in minerals, and vitrinite and liptinite contain more N-6 and less N-Q1 than inertinite. This research provides valuable evaluation guidance for the efficient utilization of coal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Coal and Coal-Bearing Strata)
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18 pages, 13906 KiB  
Article
Cooperative Exploration Model of Coal–Gallium Deposit: A Case Study of the Heidaigou Coal–Gallium Deposit in the Jungar Coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China
by Yun Zhang, Yingchun Wei, Daiyong Cao, Xin Li, Jinhao Wei, Laixin Xu, Bo Dong and Tengyue Xu
Minerals 2024, 14(2), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14020156 - 31 Jan 2024
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2146
Abstract
Gallium (Ga) is a typical scattered trace element that is irreplaceable in strategic sectors such as national defense, wireless communications, new materials, renewable energy, and healthcare. The coal–Ga deposit is an important complement to traditional Ga resources and has become a significant focus [...] Read more.
Gallium (Ga) is a typical scattered trace element that is irreplaceable in strategic sectors such as national defense, wireless communications, new materials, renewable energy, and healthcare. The coal–Ga deposit is an important complement to traditional Ga resources and has become a significant focus for Ga mineral resource exploration. Therefore, there is an urgent need to research the coal–Ga cooperative exploration model from both technical and economic perspectives. Taking the Heidaigou coal–Ga deposit as an example, the enrichment zone of coal–Ga is predominantly situated in the northern part of the exploration area, adjacent to the fault zone. The Ga concentration demonstrates a gradual decline from the north–central region towards the northeast and southeast. Similar vertical Ga distribution patterns are observed in adjacent drillings, with notably higher concentrations in the roof, floor, and parting layers. The cooperative exploration model for coal–Ga deposits is proposed based on the above features. The model employs a comprehensive set of cooperative technical methods, such as remote sensing, geological mapping, seismic exploration, drilling, petrogeochemistry, and well logging. The layout of exploration engineering and the concentration of Ga provide the basis for the estimation of Ga resources. Additionally, the model provides an important scientific basis for the improvement of the strategic coordination ability of Ga mineral resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of Coal and Coal-Bearing Strata)
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