Geochemical properties of Gümüşyazı Gülşehir(Nevşehir) coals

This study aims to determine trace element enrichment patterns and possible sources by geochemically characterizing Nevşehir coals. Nevşehir (Gümüşyazı-Nevşehir) coals are located within the rocks of the Late Miocene Kızılöz Formation (Arafa Member). This coals are richer in huminite maceral group, and the domi-nant maceral group is ulminites. Mineral matters of coals are inorganic components such as oxi-dised framboidal pyrite, iron oxide minerals, glassy phase, clay and carbonate minerals. Nevşehir coals have great potential in terms of the valuable metals and trace elements they contain. The values obtained in the main oxide analyses of Nevşehir coals are; Al2O3 19.6-27.8% (average: 22.66), CaO 2.5-9.1% (average: 5.78), Fe2O3 9.9-16.2% (average: 13.01), SiO2 46-55.4% (average: 48.8) and SO3 1.6-11% (average: 4.71). The concentrations of other main oxide elements are very low. Compared with the relevant Clarke values for lignite, subbituminous coals and ashes worldwide, Nevşehir coals have higher values for most trace elements including As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sr, Th, U, V, Y and Zn. The coal samples included in this study are enriched in As (average 149.25 μg/g), V (244.75 μg/g), Cr (158.875 μg/g), Ga (17.75 μg/g), Ni (215.5 μg/g), Th (16.75 μg/g), Zn (143.125 μg/g) and U (54.125 μg/g) compared to the world coal average.