Geochemical investigation of the Witbank coalfield using instrumental neutron activation analysis

R. Hart; R. Leahy; R. Falcon

doi:10.1007/bf02516156

Jump to Content

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Volume/Issue:: Volume 71: Issue 1-2

Geochemical investigation of the Witbank coalfield using instrumental neutron activation analysis

Authors:

R. Hart

R. Hart SA Atomic Energy Board Pelindaba (South Africa)

Search for other papers by R. Hart in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

R. Leahy

R. Leahy University of the Witwatersrand Nuclear Physics Research Unit 1 Jan Smuts Avenue 2001 Johannesburg (South Africa)

Search for other papers by R. Leahy in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

, and

R. Falcon

R. Falcon University of the Witwatersrand Nuclear Physics Research Unit 1 Jan Smuts Avenue 2001 Johannesburg (South Africa)

Search for other papers by R. Falcon in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

View More View Less

Pages:: 285–297

Online Publication Date:: 09 Jan 2007

Publication Date:: 01 Mar 1982

Article Category:: Research Article

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02516156

Restricted access

Abstract

The No. 2 coal seam of the Witbank basin, South Africa, has a well defined geological layering that extends laterally over most of the basin. Palaeoenvironmental studies indicate that the No. 2 seam accumulated in two distinct depositional environments: glaciofluvial channels and regions represented by transgressive marine sediments. A systematically selected suite of samples was collected to study the distribution of trace elements both laterally and vertically across the No. 2 seam. A total of 121 coal samples were analysed for 15 trace elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Detailed trace element profiles across the No. 2 seam indicate that trace elements associated with the inorganic minerals in coal reflect vertical changes in the clastic source areas, environments of precipitation and accumulation or intrusive mineralisation in the post-peat swamp phases of the No. 2 seam. Trace elements associated with the organic matter in coal relate to changes in the palaeoenvironment or possible plant associations. Variation in the concentration of Br across the Witbank basin reflect regional changes in the depositional environment. In turn the chemical nature of the depositional environment strongly effects the distribution of some trace elements among maceral groups.

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share Link

Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://akjournals.com/abstract/journals/10967/71/1-2/article-p285.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Print ISSN:: 0236-5731

Online ISSN:: 1588-2780

To see the editorial board, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Manuscript Submission: HERE

For subscription options, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Journal of Radionalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Language	English
Size	A4
Year of Foundation	1968
Volumes per Year	1
Issues per Year	12
Founder	Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher	Akadémiai Kiadó Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245. CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible Publisher	Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN	0236-5731 (Print)
ISSN	1588-2780 (Online)