Distribution of major oxides and trace elements concentration of Mancilik (Gönen - Balikesir) coal deposit

Coal is clearly important for Turkey, with over half of electric generation provided from fossil fuels (coal and natural gas). Therefore, large amounts of various trace elements are isolated every year with the coal ash. Coal's trace element concentration is getting more important in terms of environmental, economic, by-product, and technological behavior of coals and their effects on public health. The investigation is focused on trace elements in Mancilik (Gönen) coal deposit, Biga Peninsula, NW Turkey. The basement of the region, which consists of the Paleozoic-Mesozoic metamorphic rocks (mainly of gneisses, amphibolites, marbles, and metaophiolites) and crystallized limestone, is in the subsurface near the Mancilik coal field. The Tertiary volcanics are andesitic, dacitic, and rhyodacitic. The Miocene coals were deposited and alternated with volcanic-sedimentary rocks, which consists of sandstone, conglomerate, claystone, bituminous shale, agglomerate, and tuff. The coal occurrence was sampled and analyzed. The analyses were correlated and interpreted with the previous studies. Chemical investigations were performed on the coal ashes via XRF and ICP-EAS methods at University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research's laboratories. The trace element analyses show that As, Ga, and U are significant enriched in the samples. The contents of Mo, Pb, V, Rb and Sb are also higher than world coals. The abundance of the investigated trace elements can lead to cause some environmental problems and related disease, factors which should be considered in the usage potential of the coals.