Trace Elements in West Virginia Coals

RUBIDIUM (Rb)

Rubidium is a trace element with no apparent deleterious effects in mining and utilization of coal.

Geologic Distribution: Rubidium in coal is primarily within the clay minerals illite and mixed-layer clays ^1,2. Mean whole coal rubidium in West Virginia coals was 23.62 ppm. Rubidium correlated very highly (r = +0.9135) with cesium (Cs) possibly because of their similar atomic radii, and these elements are known to be closely associated in nature, for example in the mineral pollucite (CsAlSi₂O₆), which has never been documented in coal ³. These two elements probably substitute for K in ubiquitous clay minerals in coal, thus explaining their lack of stratigraphic or geographic trends in abundance.

Economic Impact: Rubidium in coal has no economic impact. Rubidium is used as a "getter" in vacuum tubes, in photocells, and is used in the manufacture of special glasses ³.

Environmental Impact: Rubidium has no detrimental environmental effects during mining and use ⁴.

References:
    1. Finkelman, R.B., (1981)
    2. Palmer, C.A. and Filby, R.H., (1984)
    3. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
    4. Swaine, D.J., (1990)

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Page last revised: March 2, 2002

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