Abstract
Due to its environmental and resource impacts, the geochemistry of uranium in coal is of both academic and practical significance. In order to give a comprehensive summary about the geochemistry of uranium in coals, the abundance, distribution, and modes of occurrence of uranium in Chinese coals were reviewed in this paper. Although some coals from southwestern and northwestern China are significantly enriched in uranium, the common Chinese coals are of a comparable uranium concentration to the world coals. The roof and floor rocks, and parting of coalbeds, or coal benches that are close to the surrounding rock are favorable hosts for uranium in one coalbed. The uranium concentrations in coals of different ages decrease in this order, e.g., Paleogene and Neogene > Late Permian > Late Triassic > Late Carboniferous and Early Permian > Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous > Early and Middle Jurassic. Uranium in Chinese coals is mainly associated with organic matter, and is correspondingly enriched in subbituminous coal and lignite.
Highlights
Uranium is a radioactive element, which is both chemically and radiologically toxic [1]
As a companion paper to Chen et al [9], the abundance of uranium in common Chinese coals, some abnormally uranium-rich coals, spatial and temporal distribution of uranium in Chinese coals, modes of occurrence of uranium in Chinese coals, and relation of uranium to coal ranks are discussed in detail
If the uranium concentration in a coal is higher than 24.3 mg/kg, it was classified as significant enrichment
Summary
Uranium is a radioactive element, which is both chemically and radiologically toxic [1]. Coal combustion is considered as one source of radioactive material in the environment [2,3,4,5] Though it is controversial, the radiation doses from atmospheric emission of a coal-fired power plant were considered to be greater than those from a nuclear plant of comparable size [6,7]. In 1978, it was reported that as high as 2,975 kg uranium were emitted into the atmosphere from one Chinese coal-fired power plant [8]. Coal combustion residues derived from coals with the uranium concentrations higher than 10 mg/kg would be associated with radioactivity exceeding the standards for radiation in building materials [10]. As a companion paper to Chen et al [9], the abundance of uranium in common Chinese coals, some abnormally uranium-rich coals, spatial and temporal distribution of uranium in Chinese coals, modes of occurrence of uranium in Chinese coals, and relation of uranium to coal ranks are discussed in detail
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
