Uranium and some other trace metal element concentration of some Turkish coal ashes

This study focuses on uranium and some other trace element concentrations and distributions of some coal occurrences that had been formed in Trachea and Anatolia, Turkey. Coal occurrences are in different age and rank. Most of them are young and their ranks are low. Ashes of coal samples have been picked up from different parts of Turkey and were analyzed and evaluated in terms of uranium and some trace element contents. Chemical investigations were performed on the coal ashes via fluorometric method for analyzing uranium concentration, some trace and major element concentrations were analyzed by AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) and FP (Flame Photometry) methods. The analyses results show that the uranium content in coal ashes change between 0 - 178 ppm, while the average of Turkish coals is 10 - 33 ppm. Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ag, Fe, Ca, Na and K concentrations were also detected. The mentioned trace element concentrations are over the world averages in most of coal ash samples. Uranium was enriched in the western Anatolia, especially in Mugla - Yatagan, Aydin - Soke, Kutahya - Gediz and Acemkiri coal fields. Also, an asphaltite sample from Sirnak includes noticeable amount of uranium concentration. Uranium accumulation of the coal samples probably depended on surrounding units as the source rocks.