Abstract
Twenty-one coal samples obtained from the Antaibao Mine, Ningwu coalfield, China, were analyzed for 46 trace elements by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometer (ICP–MS), and the macerals were identified and coal facies were defined by microscopic method. Compared with the average content of trace element in the No. 11 coal, the dry forest swamp is rich in some elements (Sc, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Nb, Mo, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, Ta, W, Tl, Bi, Th, U, Zr, Hf and REE). Since the provenance is dominated by the terrigenous clastic, most of the trace elements were associated with terrigenous clastic and clay. The wet forest swamp contained lower concentrations in some elements (V, Cr, Ni, Zn, Ga, Rb, Nb, Mo, Cd, Cs, Ba, Ta, W, Re, Bi, Th, U, Zr and Hf) because the elements were influenced by sea water. The low swamp was enriched in REE because of the influences of both terrigenous environment and sea water.