The abundance, distribution, and enrichment mechanism of harmful trace elements in coals from Guizhou, Southwestern China

Coal seams can enrich a variety of harmful trace elements under specific geological conditions. The spatial distribution of harmful trace elements in coal is extremely uneven, and the distribution characteristics of each element content are different. The harmful elements released in the process of coal mining and utilization will cause serious harm to the environment and the human body. It is of great resource significance to study the geochemistry of coal that affects the enrichment and distribution characteristics of harmful trace elements. Based on the domestic and foreign literature on coal geochemistry in Guizhou published by previous investigators, this study counted 1097 sample data from 23 major coal-producing counties in Guizhou Province, systematically summarized the relevant research results of harmful trace elements in the coal of Guizhou, and revealed the overall distribution and enrichment characteristics of harmful trace elements in the coal of Guizhou. The results show that the average contents of Cd, Pb, Se, Cu, Mo, U, V, As, Hg, and Cr in coal of Guizhou are higher than those in Chinese coal and world coal. A variety of harmful trace elements in the coal of Guizhou have high background values, especially in Liupanshui, Xingyi and Qianbei coalfield. The enrichment of various harmful trace elements in the Late Permian coal in Guizhou is mainly related to the combined action of various geological and geochemical factors. The supply of terrigenous debris and sedimentary environment may be the basic background of the enrichment of harmful elements in western Guizhou, while low-temperature hydrothermal activity and volcanic ash deposition may be the main reasons for the enrichment of harmful elements in southwestern Guizhou.