Vladimir V. Seredin and others presents data on widespread abnormal accumulations in coal deposits of some rare metal(loid)s (Ge, Ga, Se, Li and REE + Y), which play a key role in energy-efficient technologies and alternative power development. It is shown that enrichment of these metal(loid)s may occur in coal seams in host- and basement-rocks of coal basins at comparable concentrations to those in conventional ores. Genesis of high concentrations of the rare metal(loid)s and their modes of occurrence in coal basins are reviewed. Moreover, utilization prospects of these metal(loid)s as byproduct coal deposits are evaluated.
They conclude that for the resolution of current supply problems of rare metal(loid)s required for the development of alternative power and energy efficient technologies, it would be useful to focus on certain types of coal deposits that are currently being mined worldwide. Some metalliferous coal deposits may be sources for several metals used to produce clean energy: the Jungar deposit, China – Ga, REE + Y, and Li (Dai et al., 2012b); the Rakovka deposit, Russian Far East – Ge, Ga, and REE + Y (Seredin, 2004); the Aduunchulun, Mongolia – REE + Y (Arbuzov and Mashen’kin, 2007) and Se.
The data presented in this paper demonstrate how important it is to conduct full geochemical analysis of coals and host-rocks, not limited to potentially toxic elements or technologically important elements for coal power production. The benefits of rare metal extraction as a byproduct from coal deposits also include the relatively low cost of the necessary infrastructure and mining. Moreover, rare metal recovery from coal combustion residues can reduce adverse environmental effects. For example, extraction of Ga (together with Al, and Si) from the Jungar coal combustion residues will sharply reduce the quantity of stored fly ash. If the project proceeds as expected, more than
90% of the combustion residues will be processed in the metal recovery plant and, thus, the atmospheric pollution from dust carried by wind will be significantly reduced (Seredin, 2012). Thus development of rare metal resources for clean energy development during coal exploitation and coal utilization will not only increase beneficial use of coal deposits themselves but will also promote humanity’s further movement on the pro-climate activities.
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