Germanium connection with ash content and toxic elementsin coal on the example of c5 seamof the Blagodatna mine field

Abstract

Purpose. To establish the nature and level of the statistical relationship between the concentrations of germanium and "toxic elements" in coal seam c5 of the "Blagodatna" mine and the main features of their distribution to assess possible environmental risks during the selective processing of coal enriched with this element. Methodology. The factual basis of the work was the results of 58 determinations of the spectral emission analysis of germanium, beryllium, fluorine, mercury and arsenic. To calculate basic statistical characteristics, all geochemical data were processed using STATISTICA 13.3 and IBM SPSS Statistics 22 programs.Construction of frequency histograms of germanium concentrations and coal seam thickness was performed, as well as determination of their distribution characteristics. Correlation and regression analyzes were performed using methods available in Micromine, one of the leading professional mining and geological information systems for 3D modeling, statistical data processing and mine planning. Findigs. The existence of an inverse and very weak correlation between the concentrations of germanium and the content of beryllium, fluorine, mercury and arsenic in coal seam c5 of the "Blagodatna" mine was established, which makes it possible to predict the minimal nature of possible environmental risks during the selective processing of germanium-enriched coal. All studied elements accumulated in several forms, which differed significantly in their genesis.Each of the elements that were studied in seam c5 of the "Blagodatna" mine accumulated in several forms, which differed significantly in their genesis. At the same time, the forms of their occurrence, which are responsible for the minimum contents, were jointly accumulated at the syngenetic stage. Scientific novelty. The existence of genetically different forms of germanium, arsenic, fluorine, mercury and beryllium in the coal seam was revealed. For all considered elements, the polymodality of the distributions was established with the same displacement of the distribution density to the left. It has been proven that the correlation between Ge and all "toxic" elements is inverse and very weak. Practical significance. A substantiated method of the most correct assessment of the central tendency of the distribution of a sample population of concentrations of germanium, arsenic, fluorine, mercury and beryllium in coal seam c5 of the "Blagodatna" mine.The presence of a very weak negative correlation between Ge content and toxic elements makes it possible to predict the minimal nature of possible environmental risks during the selective processing of Ge-enriched coal.