Trace Elements in West Virginia Coals
Trace Elements in West Virginia Coals
INDIUM (In)
Geologic Distribution: Indium was above the detection limits in only 5 of 546 coal samples analyzed and ranged from 0.37 to 1.28 ppm on a whole coal basis. In the literature indium is associated with sulfides or carbonate minerals 1, including sphalerite from Illinois coals 2, and clays 3. Two of the 5 samples containing detectable In were from the Redstone coal, others were samples of the Peerless, No.2 Gas and Coalburg coals.
Economic Impact: Indium in coal has no economic impact. Indium is used in bearing alloys, germanium transistors, rectifiers, thermistors and photoconductors 4.
Environmental Impact: Indium has no known deleterious health or environmental effects 3, 4.
References:
1. Finkelman,
R.B., (1981)
2. Cahill
and Shiley, (1981)
3. Swaine,
D.J., (1990)
4. CRC Handbook
of Chemistry and Physics
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