A Provenance Study of Mineral Matter in Coal from Appalachian Basin Coal Mining Regions and Implications Regarding the Respirable Health of Underground Coal Workers: A Geochemical and Nd Isotope Investigation

Details

• Personal Author:
  Schatzel, Steven J. ; Stewart BW
• Description:
  This study presents geochemical data produced from the analysis of coal and adjacent rock samples retrieved from coal mining regions in the U.S. to examine mineral matter provenance. Study sites included the Northern Appalachian Basin, where the units of interest were the Lower Kittanning Coal bed, the overlying Columbiana Shale, and the underlying paleosol (Allegheny Formation). Additional study sites were located in the Central Appalachian Basin, where sampling was conducted on strata associated with multiple coal beds of Middle and Lower Pennsylvanian age. The Central Appalachian Basin rock and coal samples were much lower in overall mineral matter and contained very little carbonate (calcite and siderite) or pyrite mineralogy, which was common at the Northern Appalachian Basin sites. Elemental analysis of rock samples indicated a trend of enrichment in Ca, Mg, Mn, Na, and K cations in the immediate overburden compared to the underlying rock in the Central Appalachian Basin. A similar trend was observed in coal related strata from the Northern Appalachian Basin which was attributed to epigenetic marine incursions. Rare earth element (REE) concentrations were determined in the samples, and showed Eu and Ce anomalies when normalized by chondritic values. The total REE content of the overburden is generally less than that of the underlying rock units. Neodymium isotopic analysis of the Lower Kittanning coal, overburden, and paleosol from the Northern Basin indicate partial resetting of the Sm-Nd system close to the time of deposition. The data indicate a common Appalachian source for the clastic mineral matter in the overburden, underclay, and coal mineral matter. The geochemical findings of this study may provide a viable method for distinguishing respirable dust sources in both Appalachian Basins. There are potential applications for this research to aid in the respiratory health of underground coal miners. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chemistry Chemistry, Analytic Coal Coal Mining Dust Geology Metals Metals, Heavy Minerals Mining Occupational Health Safety

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• Keywords:
  Analytical-chemistry Analytical-processes Author Keywords: Coal Mining Carbonates Chemical-analysis Chemical-structure Coal-dust Coal-mining Coal Mineralogy Crystal-structure Geochemistry Heavy-metals Isotope-effect Metal-compounds Metallic-ions Metallic-minerals Mineral-deposits Mining-industry Neodymium Isotopes Rare-earth-metals Respirable-dust Rock-mechanics Sampling Silicosis Underground-mining

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0166-5162
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OMSHR - Office of Mine Safety and Health Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  123-136
• Volume:
  94
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20040526
• Citation:
  Int J Coal Geol 2012 May; 94:123-136
• Contact Point Address:
  Steven J. Schatzel, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, PO Box 18070, Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA
• Email:
  zia6@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Calcium (CAS RN 7440-70-2) ; Calcium carbonate (CAS RN 471-34-1) ; Magnesium (CAS RN 7439-95-4) ; Manganese (CAS RN 7439-96-5) ; Potassium (CAS RN 7440-09-7) ; Pyrite (CAS RN 1309-36-0) ; Siderite (CAS RN 14476-16-5) ; Sodium (CAS RN 7440-23-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Coal Geology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9146bcef25b7a431b3471c0e2279b42aca463443467b34e82464d378f307cda4cf22dc1e3e153ee6a17283cf2a24f15381a83471a7990faa97ac4bfdec9ff287
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227425/cdc_227425_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.51 MB ]