Trace Elements in West Virginia Coals

YTTRIUM (Y)

Yttrium is an element found in low abundance in most coals, but is of no environmental concern.

Geologic Distribution: The primary association of yttrium in coal is in the trace mineral xenotime (YPO₄) ¹. Yttrium is also a minor component of the mineral monazite. Xenotime was found in 13 of 24 coal samples and monazite was found in 22 of 24 samples examined in an unpublished study by the WVGES. Yttrium averaged 7.53 ppm in West Virginia coals. Yttrium did not correlate with ash yield, total sulfur, or pyritic sulfur but moderately with several rare earth elements including dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), ytterbium (Yb), neodymium (Nd), lutetium Lu), gadolinium (Gd), europium (Eu) and samarium (Sm) and several ash related elements such as vanadium (V), gallium (Ga), scandium (Sc), zirconium (Zr) and lead (Pb). Yttrium shows a slight trend with most coals containing less than 10 ppm, and highest Y in coals of the middle Kanawha Formation and above, with low Y in the important Monongahela Group Pittsburgh and Redstone coals.

Economic Impact: Yttrium is mainly used in red phosphors for television picture tubes ².

Environmental Impact: Yttrium is an element with no detrimental environmental effects during mining or utilization ¹.

References:
1. Swaine, D.J., (1990)
2. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics

To request specific information from a Survey geologist click here.

Page last revised: March 1, 2002

Please send questions, comments, and/or suggestions to webmaster.

Page created and maintained by:
            West Virginia Geological & Economic Survey
  Address:  Mont Chateau Research Center
            Cheat Lake exit off I-68
            P.O. Box 879
            Morgantown, WV  26507-0879
Telephone:  1-800-WV-GEOLOgy (1-800-984-3656) or 304-594-2331
      FAX:  304-594-2575
    Hours:  8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday - Friday

Permission to reproduce this material is granted if acknowledgment is given to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey.