Changes in the Concentration of Some Rare Earth Elements in Coal Waste

Abstract

Coal waste is formed during coal mining and processing operations. That waste comprises mainly sedimentary rocks that occur in roofs and floors of underground workings and in partings in coal seams. It contains numerous trace elements, including rare earth elements (REEs). Hypergenic processes that take place in coal waste piles may lead to endogenous fires. Thermal transformations of waste have an effect on changes in its phase and chemical composition, including the concentration of trace elements. The paper presents changes in the content of selected rare earth elements (Sc, Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu) in wastes of varying degree of thermal transformation. The results of REE content determination in lump samples were subjected to statistical analysis and coefficients of correlation between the studied rare earth elements and the main chemical constituents were determined. The primary carriers of REEs in coal waste are clay minerals. Phase transformations that take place at high temperatures (including dehydroxylation of clay minerals and formation of minerals characteristic of contact metamorphism) cause changes in the concentration of rare earth elements.