Major-trace element enrichment of coal bearing formations around Karaigdemir damn lake (Tekirdag) and effects of these enriching elements upon environmental health

Thrace District in Turkey is a region which shows significant reserves in terms of coal and natual gas. Study area of this work is also located around Karaigdemir Damn Lake in Malkara district of Tekirdag province. At this area Oligocene aged Danismen Formation, which consists of gray-green colored claystone, sandstone, conglomerate, tuff alternation with lignites, outcrops. Besides of the organic content at coal composition, coals contain some inorganic content. Even small amount of some of these elements can lead irreparable problems for the environment and human health. In this study, samples which collected from coals and coal contained formations at study area, were subjected to major-trace element analysis and average concentration of each element was calculated. The average concentration of coal samples was compared with Upper Continental Crust, Turkey, USA, China and World coal averages and values which exceed the World coal averages were detected and the negative effets of these detected elements upon environment and human health revealed. Additionally, Pearson correlation constant was calculated by the help of statistical analyses and correlation matrix were constructed. According to this matrix, the relationship between the elements and by the help of XRD analyses the deposition environment was interpreted. According to the major-trace element analysis of samples, taken from study areas' coal and coal bearing formations, enriching major elements were observed as Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Ti, Mn and enriching trace elements were observed as Ba, Ni, Sc, Be, Co, Cs, Ga, Hf, Nb, Rb, Sn, Sr, Ta, Th, V, W, Zr, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Lu, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni based on World coal values. If it is considered to the environmental aspects, Mn, Ni, Pb, Be, V, Cu, Th, Zn, Ba, Co, Sn, Ti elements were determined as the most harmful elements. Minerals detected by the XRD whole rock and clay mineral analysis are quartz, calcite, dolomite, feldspar, pyrite, mica, chlorite and clay minerals. With the examining of the detailed clay analysis, the presence of smectite, illite, kaolinite, chlorite minerals were detected. It has been determined that the dominant clay minerals are smectite, illite and chlorite. The abundance of smectite indicates that maturation of the coals is not fully realized. The presence of kaolinite mineral in only one sample indicates that it probably came as a result of transportation. KEYWORDS: Danismen Formation, Karaigdemir, Lignite, Major-Trace element, Malkara, Thrace