Major and trace-element enrichments in the Karapınar coals (Konya, Turkey)

ABSTRACT

Ten major oxides and 27 trace elements were determined in 21 samples collected from four holes that were drilled into the fault-controlled coals of the Karapınar (Turkey) basin. On the basis of X-ray diffraction analyses, the coals contain, in order of abundance, calcite, quartz, dolomite, feldspar, mica, clay minerals, and gypsum. In samples from the study area, a high level of correlation was determined between Mo, Sb, As, U, and V, and S and TOC (Mo, r = 0.697; Sb, r = 0.902; As, r = 0.927; U, r = 0.653; V, r = 0.721). Relative to coals of the world, USA, Turkey, and China, coals of the study area are seen to be enriched up to 1,000 times with respect to Mg, Ca, Na, and K. The Karapınar coals were determined to be enriched in Pb, U, Ba, Cs, Nb, Y, Sr, Rb, Ni, Co, V, and Sc relative to average Turkish coals; in Mn, Na, Ca, Mg, Cs, Sr, Ni, and Cr relative to average Chinese coals; in Ti, K, Na, Ca, Mg, U, Ta, Ba, Cs, Sr, Rb, As, Ni, Co, V, and Cr relative to average worldwide coals; in Mn, P, Ti, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Si, U, Ta, Ba, Cs, Nb, Zr, Sr, Ni, Co, V, and Cr relative to average USA coals; and in Mn, P, Ti, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Sb, Nb, Zr, Sr, Rb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, and Sc relative to crustal averages (Clarke values). The aim of the present study was to determine the enrichment factors of the major- and trace-element contents of the Karapınar coals relative to coals of the world, USA, China, and Turkey, and to crustal averages.

Keywords:

• Coal
• enrichment factor
• Karapınar
• major oxide
• trace element

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) (Turkey), General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA) (Turkey), Research Unit of the Akdeniz University, and Steven Mittwede for contributions.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Research Unit of the Akdeniz University (Project Number: 2010.02.0121.017).