Mineralogy and geochemistry of a vitrain lens with unique trace element content from the Vulche Pole coal deposit, Bulgaria

Abstract

The mineralogy, elemental composition and modes of element occurrence in a vitrain lens from the western and peripheral part of the Vulche Pole coal deposit (Bulgaria) were studied. The low ash coal lens contains a great variety of detrital and authigenic minerals. The detrital minerals and phases includes quartz, K-feldspars, plagioclases, biotite, amphibole, zircon, apatite, volcanic glass and native Au. The authigenic minerals are presented by pyrite, sphalerite, galena, gypsum, jarosite and anglesite. Despite extremely high concentrations of such elements as Ge, U, Sb, Sm, V, Mo, Ce, Hf, Y, Yb, Zn, As, Tb and Zr, these elements demonstrate a strong association or dominant affinity with the organic matter.