The coal and coal-bearing measures in the Jungar Coalfield in Inner Mongolia are characterized by rare earth element (REE) enrichment. Combustion in coal-fired power plants can lead to further enrichment of REEs in coal ash, which serves as a new potential source for REE extraction and smelting. Further, investigating the content, modes of occurrence, and transformation behavior of REEs during coal combustion may help in better understanding REE differentiation during coal combustion and facilitate the development of economically feasible REE recovery technologies. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed coal ash from the Jungar Energy Gangue Power Plant in Inner Mongolia via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Our results showed that the REE content of the feed coal was 220 μg/g, slightly higher than the average for global coal. Additionally, fly ash had a higher REE content (898 μg/g) than bottom ash, and its rare earth oxide content was approximately 1152 μg/g, which meets the industrial requirements. Bottom and fly ashes contained similar minerals; however, their relative abundances were different. Specifically, mullite, quartz, calcite, and gypsum were slightly more abundant in fly ash than in bottom ash, whereas amorphous solids were slightly more abundant in bottom ash than in fly ash. Furthermore, fly ash, dominated by Si- and Al-rich minerals, was composed of irregular particles of different shapes and sizes. It also contained monazite and REE fluoro-oxides, which possibly originated from the feed coal and had mineral structures that remained unchanged during coal combustion. Thus, the REE fluoro-oxides possibly resulted from the conversion of bastnaesite in the feed coal during combustion and thereafter became attached to the edge of the Si–Al minerals in the fly ash.

The Turpan-Hami Basin is one of the three coal-accumulating basins in Xinjiang. There is coal, natural gas, petroleum, sandstone-type uranium ore, and other ore resources in the Jurassic strata developed inside. This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the formation process of ore resources in the Turpan-Hami Basin by studying the provenance and depositional environment of No. 4 coal in the Sandaoling Mine. The results show that No. 4 coal is extra-low ash yield and extra-low sulfur coal. Compared with common Chinese coals and world hard coals, the trace element content in No. 4 coal is normal or depleted. The minerals in coal are mainly clay minerals, silica and sulfate minerals, and carbonates. The diagrams of Al₂O₃, TiO₂, Sr/Y, L,a/Yb, and the REY geochemical features indicate that the Paleozoic intermediates and felsitic igneous rocks in Harlik Mountain and Eastern Bogda Mountain are the main provenance of No. 4 coal. The syngenetic siderite, Sr/Ba, Th/U, total sulfur content, and maceral indices indicate that No. 4 coal was formed in a salt-lake environment, and the climate changed from dry and hot to warm and humid.

The rare earth elements (REE) content of the coal in the Erlian Basin was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and it turns out that the REE content from different geological age shows a significant difference: The REE content of the coal in the Jurassic Alatanheli Group is from 152.05×10⁻⁶ to 1416.21×10⁻⁶, with an average value of 397.31×10⁻⁶, and the relative concentration factor shows enriched; the REE content of the coal in Early Cretaceous Baiyanhua Group is from 20.65×10⁻⁶ to 102.53×10⁻⁶, the mean value is 49.06×10⁻⁶, and the relative concentration factor shows normally. The REE distribution patterns samples in Jurassic and Cretaceous shows the difference: The REE pattern in Jurassic coal mainly manifests as H-type distribution, with the Y, Lu positive anomaly, it is speculated that the fluid carried REE ions into the coal-bearing basin, and the heavy REE gather in the coal due to the different chemical properties of each REE. The REE occurrence mode is presumed to be mainly organic. Flat type is the REE main distribution pattern in Cretaceous coal. The REE patterns in clastic rocks of the roof, parting and floor of coal seam are similar to the REE patterns in the coal and the most possible reason is that the REE main source is from the clastic rock. It showed that the coal of the Early Jurassic, especially of Amugulen coalfield has resource value.

In deep underground environments, temperature is one of the key factors affecting the geochemistry behaviors of rare earth elements (REE) in organic-rich fluid. However, the influence of temperature on the interaction between humic acids (HA) and REE is not well known. In the present study, the influence of temperature on the HA–REE-binding behavior was evaluated based on heating experiments of REE-doped HA solution. Lignite-extracted HA and REE-binding experiments were conducted over a temperature range of 20 to 200 °C to quantify HA–REE complexation and the influence of temperature on HA binding sites. Results showed that increasing temperature and decreasing [REE]/[HA] ratio cause an increase of K_d value (the partition coefficient of REE between HA and aqueous solution). During heating $K_{\mathrm{d}}^{\mathrm{REE}}$ $K_{\mathrm{d}}^{\mathrm{REE}}$ patterns gradually change from middle REE-enriched-type (M-type) at 20 °C to light and middle REE-enriched-type (L-M-type) at 50 and 100 °C, and to light REE-enriched-type (L-type) at 150 °C and 200 °C. The increase of REE bonded with HA and modifications of $K_{\mathrm{d}}^{\mathrm{REE}}$ patterns during the thermal treatment may be attributed to the increase of REE-binding sites, especially carboxylic sites, as a consequent of HA decomposition. This study provides a glimpse into the HA–REE-binding behaviors in the deep underground environment, which may shed light on the geochemical characteristics of REE in some organic-bearing rocks, and their changes during the coalification process.

The resource characteristics of coal-rich, oil-deficient, and low-gas have determined the need to fully exploit the advantages of coal resources in China. China holds a large amount of low-rank coal with high volatile content and high tar yield. Based on the abundant oil-rich and low-rank coal resources, resource evaluation and research on its development and utilization are of great significance to the coal geology. According to the estimated reserves, the low-rank coal reserves are about 63.86 billion tons. Among the low-rank coals, the tar yield is greater than 7%, which is called oil-rich coal. Gas and semi-coke resources, which can greatly increase the application value of this type of coal resources. The oil-rich coal resources are widely distributed in the Carboniferous-Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Neogene in China. They are mainly distributed in the three provinces of Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Xinjiang, and also Qinghai and Gansu in space. The Carboniferous-Permian oil-rich coal is mainly distributed in Shaanxi Fugu mining area, and the Triassic oil-rich coal is mainly distributed in the Zichang mining area of Shaanxi Province. It shows that the oil-rich coals are mainly lignite and long-flame coal with low metamorphism but also contains a small amount of gas coal and gas-fat coal. The tar yield and volatile content generally have a positive correlation. It has great significance to further study on the oil-rich coal resources.