Assessing the Depositional Environment of Cretaceous Ge-Rich Coals in the Wulantuga Mine, Shengli Coalfield, Northeastern China

Abstract

To provide a new perspective on the formation of the Ge-rich coals, the depositional environment of the Wulantuga coals was studied with the incorporation of coal maceral and geochemistry-based indicators. The results show that the No.6 coal seam in the Wulantuga mine was formed in a mire with a succession of swamps, fens, and marsh. The average contents of Ge in coals formed in different mires, from high to low, are swamp (220 μg/g), marsh (205 μg/g), and fen (185 μg/g). The accumulation of the No.6 seam has been divided into four stages from bottom to top based on the identified coal facies types. The reducing condition and gelification of the ecosystem environment ranged from strong to weak, to strong, and back to weak. The variation of Ge concentrations also occurs in the same way. Strong reduction and gelification of the ecosystem environments can favor Ge enrichments in the Wulantuga coals. Sufficient sources and favorable conditions are essential for the unusual Ge enrichments in coals. This study provides a new perspective for the depositional environment of Ge-rich coals and is useful for the exploration of Ge-rich coal resources.