Trace elements geochemistry of the Golbanoo coal basin, Iran

ABSTRACT The Jurassic coal deposit in the Golbanoo area contains coal seams with thickness ranges from 5 cm to 1 m and is underlain and overlain by thin coaly shale, sandstone and siltstone beds. This study reports on the geochemical features of coals and non-coal rocks based on the 30 channel samples were collected and analyzed for trace elements using neutron activation analysis (INAA) and for major elements by X-ray fluorescence. The Al2O3, SiO2 and Fe2O3 concentrations are the main oxides. The amounts of trace elements (As, Ag, Br, Sb, Cr, Co, Sr, Zn, Ta, and ∑REE) in Golbanoo coal are high compared to world types of coal. The volcanic activity and their sulfide mineralization in study area is a favorable factor for accumulation of trace element in coal layers.