Trace element contents in composited samples of three lignite seams from the central part of the Drama lignite deposit, Macedonia, Greece

Drill core samples of three lignite seams from the central part of the Drama lignite deposit and their corresponding 1000 degrees C ash samples were analyzed for their trace element contents by Instrumental Neutron Activation (INAA) and Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) analyses. Compared to crustal abundances, the lignite samples are enriched in As, Br, Mo and Sb, while Ba, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Hf, La, Lu, Rb, Sc, Sm, Tb, Yb, Zn, Zr and Au are depleted. While Br is negatively correlated with the ash content of the lignite samples, Ce, Co, Cr, La, Sc, Sm and Yb are positively correlated. Elements from the sui rounding rocks and mineralizations of the Drama Basin have influenced the inorganic constituents of the lignite.