Geological Controls on Enrichment of Rare Earth Elements and Yttrium (REY) in Late Permian Coals and Non-Coal Rocks in the Xian’an Coalfield, Guangxi Province

The highly elevated concentrations of the rare earth elements and yttrium (REY), U, Mo, Se, Pb in late Permian coals some coalfields Guangxi Province, South China, have been widely investigated; however, mode occurrence enrichment mechanism these critical are still under debate. This study investigates mineralogical geochemical compositions non-coal rocks from Xian’an Coalfield Province to discuss geological factors influencing distribution elements. mineral studied consists mainly quartz, a lesser extent, muscovite kaolinite, with trace amount anatase. significantly enriched REY, Pb, U display REY–U–Se–Mo–Pb-enrichment horizon (Horizon I) U–Mo-enrichment II) adjacent host or partings. show organic association while Mo is primarily hosted by Fe-sulfides within Horizon I. phosphate affinity II. Both input pyroclastic epiclastic materials leaching acidic solutions jointly govern II). REY I exceed cutoff grade and, therefore, can be regarded as promising raw REY.