Date of Award
2026
Degree Name
Physical and Applied Science
College
College of Science
Type of Degree
M.S.
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Dr. Aley El-Shazly
Second Advisor
Dr. Michael Caudill
Third Advisor
Dr. David Brink-Roby
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) and Yttrium are classified as “critical minerals” that are used in many industries and are typically extracted from carbonatites and related alkaline plutonic rocks. The limited availability of REE+Y requires finding alternate sources such as coal fly ash, tonstein, fireclays, and shales. This study investigates the potential enrichment of shales, fireclays, and siltstones interbedded with coal from southwestern WV in REEY, and the mechanisms of such enrichment. Using ICP-AES analysis of various rock types shows that shales, silty shales, and siderite nodules interbedded with Fire Clay and Chilton Coal beds in the Kanawha Formation record the highest ΣREEY values. Scanning Electron Microscope examination of these samples shows that the REEY are hosted exclusively by monazite (Ce, La, Nd, Th)PO4, and xenotime (Y, HREE)PO4. Textures of these two minerals suggest a detrital origin with minor diagenetic overgrowths. The occurrence of the minerals sanidine, zircon with oscillatory zoning, and resorbed quartz grains all suggests that most detrital minerals have a volcanic origin. High ΣREEY values in siderite nodules containing framboidal pyrite can be linked to a diagenetic origin of this enrichment.
Subject(s)
Geology.
Geochemistry.
Sedimentology.
Sedimentary rocks.
Coal mines and mining.
Shale.
Mineralogy.
Minerals.
Petrology.
Rare earth metals.
Scanning electron microscopy.
West Virginia.
Recommended Citation
Long, Alyssa Cameron, "Investigation of REEY concentrations in argillaceous rocks associated with coal beds in southwestern West Virginia" (2026). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 2112.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/2112
Included in
Geochemistry Commons, Geology Commons, Other Earth Sciences Commons
