The origin, migration, and accumulation mechanism of germanium and the metallogenic model of coal-hosted Ge ore deposits in Wulantuga, Erlian Basin, China

Assessing the Depositional Environment of Cretaceous Ge-Rich Coals in the Wulantuga Mine, Shengli Coalfield, Northeastern China

“…As shown in Table and Figure A, the positive correlations of Ge vs total sulfur (0.54) and Ge vs pyrite suggest that Ge also has some similarities with chalcophile elements (e.g., sulfur), which is also consistent with the previous studies. , As shown in Table and Figure B, the negative correlation coefficient of Ge vs ash yield (−0.25) indicates that Ge perhaps has a weak association with mineral matter in the studied coals, which is consistent with the previous study . Considering the different redox conditions during the formation of vitrinite and inertinite, the positive correlations of Ge vs vitrinite (0.3) and vs V/I (0.33) and the negative correlation of Ge vs inertinite (−0.28) imply that a strong reducing condition can favor the enrichment of Ge in the Wulantuga coals.…”

“…2 Ge-rich coals from the Wulantuga mine, Shengli coalfield, northeastern China have attracted the interest of different scholars 3−12 because Ge is significantly enriched in these coals and the concentration of Ge in the corresponding fly ash far exceeds its industrial cut-off grade. 4,5,7 Previous studies on Wulantuga coals mainly involved coal petrology, 7 geochemistry, 5 mineralogy, 4,7 paleopathology, 8 Ge distribution, 6 the genesis/origin of Ge, 5,11 and combustion byproducts of these coals. 13 The origin of Ge in the Wulantuga coals is inferred to be from the surrounding Hercynian parent granite and to be mainly related to the hydrothermal activity.…”

“…6,7,11,14,15 The hydrothermal model of the Ge mineralization formation in coals has been proposed and is widely acknowledged. 7,11 Recently, a hydrogenic hypergenic model of the formation of complex Ge coal deposits was proposed based on the new data from Far East coals in Russian. 16 In this study, the favorable depositional environment of the Ge-rich coals in the Wulantuga mine has been studied from coal maceral indices and geochemical indicators.…”

“…13 The origin of Ge in the Wulantuga coals is inferred to be from the surrounding Hercynian parent granite and to be mainly related to the hydrothermal activity. 6,7,11,14,15 The hydrothermal model of the Ge mineralization formation in coals has been proposed and is widely acknowledged. 7,11 Recently, a hydrogenic hypergenic model of the formation of complex Ge coal deposits was proposed based on the new data from Far East coals in Russian.…”

“…The enrichments of Ge in the upper and lower margins of many coal seams from different coalfields throughout the world have long been noted . Ge-rich coals from the Wulantuga mine, Shengli coalfield, northeastern China have attracted the interest of different scholars − because Ge is significantly enriched in these coals and the concentration of Ge in the corresponding fly ash far exceeds its industrial cut-off grade. ,, Previous studies on Wulantuga coals mainly involved coal petrology, geochemistry, mineralogy, , paleopathology, Ge distribution, the genesis/origin of Ge, , and combustion byproducts of these coals . The origin of Ge in the Wulantuga coals is inferred to be from the surrounding Hercynian parent granite and to be mainly related to the hydrothermal activity. ,,,, The hydrothermal model of the Ge mineralization formation in coals has been proposed and is widely acknowledged. , Recently, a hydrogenic hypergenic model of the formation of complex Ge coal deposits was proposed based on the new data from Far East coals in Russian .…”