CONCENTRATION OF ELEMENTS IN LACUSTRINE COALS FROM ZONE-A HAT CREEK DEPOSIT NO-1, BRITISH-COLUMBIA, CANADA

This objective of the present study is to explore: (a) the variation of trace-element concentration with depth; (b) the lacustrine environments of coal formation; and (c) the variation of trace elements in resinite and huminite of the same rank. This study shows: (1) As, B, Br, Cl and S are the only elements organically associated in these samples; (2) Concentration of certain elements such as Fe, Mn and Co can be related to the presence or absence of carbonate and/or sulfide minerals; (3) distribution of certain elements, (i. e. Al, B, Br, Cl, Cr, Fe, Th, U and Zn) follow similar patterns of concentration or depletion across the vertical thickness of Zone A and suggest three depositional cycles; (4) concentration of boron versus chromium, sodium, sulfur and uranium for these coals clearly placed them in a freshwater environment; (5) Rates of sedimentation using the Na/K ratio also suggest three depositional cycles; (6) in resinite samples, hand-picked from these coals, the concentrations of all elements except As and Se were lower than their concentrations in the whole coals.