Proximate and ultimate analyses, heat content, and forms of sulfur have been determined for 116 Gulf Coast lignite samples. In addition, the chemical composition of 10 oxides and 29 trace elements has been determined. The lignite samples are from strata assigned to the Wilcox Group and were collected from localities in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama; the Claiborne Group in Arkansas and Tennessee; the Jackson Group in Arkansas; and the Midway Group in Alabama.

The ranges of the geometric means for elements Ga, Hg, Mo, Sc, U, V, and Y show small variation between sample localities; Co, Cr, La, Mn, Se, Zn, and Zr show larger variations. The average ash content for the lignite samples is 20.3%.

The arithmetic means of proximate and ultimate analyses show that moisture, oxygen, and sulfur contents are higher on the eastern side of the Mississippi embayment, and that volatile matter, fixed carbon, and BTUs are higher on the western side.

The trace-element content of the lignite samples in the vicinity of the igneous intrusives of Magnet Cove, Arkansas, show a systematic decrease in concentrations of 13 elements, both areally and stratigraphically away from the intrusives. This strongly suggests a source relationship of the elements to the Magnet Cove area.

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