Trace Minerals in West Virginia Coals

Zircon is a minor mineral occurring in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks which is highly resistant to weathering.  Zircon in coal is of detrital origin, and was likely introduced into the coal forming swamp as extremely small waterborne and windblown grains.  Zircon has also been shown to occur in volcanic ash deposits in Fire Clay coal in West Virginia and other coals worldwide ^1,2,3,4.  Zircon was observed in 23 of 24 coal samples in an unpublished study using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at the WVGES.  The 10 micron zircon grain shown in this SEM image of coal is in a shale parting in coal composed of clay minerals of detrital origin and the zircon is very likely to be of detrital origin. (Dots at the bottom of the photograph are each 10 µm apart.)

References:
    1.    Blake, B.M. et al., (1994)
    2.    Rice, C.L. et al., (1994)
    3.    Lyons, P.C., et al., (1992)
    4.    Hower, J.C. et al., (1999)
 

To request specific information from a Survey geologist click here.

Page last revised: March 1, 2002

Page created and maintained by:
            West Virginia Geological & Economic Survey
  Address:  Mont Chateau Research Center
            Cheat Lake exit off I-68
            P.O. Box 879
            Morgantown, WV  26507-0879
Telephone:  1-800-WV-GEOLOgy (1-800-984-3656) or 304-594-2331
      FAX:  304-594-2575
    Hours:  8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday - Friday