Geochemical mapping and distribution patterns of critical elements resources in Chinese coal-bearing strata

Critical elements in coal have attracted global attention in recent years due to a substantial increase in demand driven by economic development and defense security needs. Understanding their geochemical distribution patterns is crucial for the future strategic management and effective utilization of these metals. As the world's largest coal-producing country which has a complex condition of coal formation, China provides an ideal natural laboratory for studying the geochemical characteristics of critical elements in coal. This work collected a large dataset on critical elements, including U (n = 1461), Ga (n = 1556), Ge (n = 1210), V (n = 1461), Zr (n = 1199), and Li (n = 1122) from Chinese coal using multi-analysis methods to understand their spatial distribution patterns. With these data, we have: (1) updated the average contents of critical elements (U, Ga, Ge, V, Zr, and Li) in Chinese coals, which showed a more enriched Ga, V, Zr, and Li level compared with the global average; (2) generated a set of geochemical distribution maps for these elements in Chinese coals and coal ashes, targeting key potential areas for their exploration within China's coal-bearing regions based on development and utilization grades. With these important geochemical data, this work provides critical information for studying geochemical characteristics of the trace elements in coal, offering a valuable reference for prospecting and utilizing critical elements in coal.