Geochemical implications of minerals and environmentally sensitive elements of Giral lignite, Barmer Basin, Rajasthan (India)

The Barmer Basin of Rajasthan is significant for its Paleogene lignite sequences. The lignite seam occurs in Akli Formation of Barmer Basin at the depth of 06–241 m. A total of 57 lignite samples were collected from the working faces of lignite mine and were subjected to proximate analysis (moisture, ash yield, volatile matter, and fixed carbon), ultimate analysis (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur), elemental analysis (Fe, Ca, Mg, Cd, Mn, K, Na, Cu, Co, Ni, Cr, Zn, and Pb) and rock-eval pyrolysis for mineral carbon (MINC). Some elements like Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Zn, Pb, Na, and K occur in high concentration, while Mg and Ca have their concentrations lower than World Clarke average. In addition, various minerals and functional groups present in the lignite samples were analyzed through X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The mineral (weight and atomic) percentage has also been analyzed through scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS).