Petrology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of the Ge-rich coal from the Wulantuga Ge ore deposit, Inner Mongolia, China: New data and genetic implications

► The Wulantuga Ge-rich coal is enriched in inertinite (52.5% on average). ► A large proportion of quartz in the coal has an authigenic origin. ► Pyrite in the Wulantuga coal was derived from sulfate-rich hydrothermal fluids. ► The elevated elements in the coal include Be, F, Ge, As, Sb, Cs, W, Hg, and Tl. ► The Tl, Hg, As, and Sb in the coal are predominantly distributed in pyrite. ► Both the organic matter and the authigenic quartz are the carriers of W in the coal. ► REEs in the Ge-rich coals have a polygenetic and multistage nature. ► The Ge-coal is significantly enriched in Au, Pt, and Pd.