Geochemical Characteristics of Selenium and Its Correlation to Other Elements and Minerals in Selenium-Enriched Rocks in Ziyang County, Shaanxi Province, China

Ziyang County, Shaanxi Province, China is a world known selenium（Se）-enriched area, and a severe selenosis incident was reported in Naore Village during the 1990 s. This study investigated the geochemical characteristics of Se and its fractions in Se-enriched rocks from Ziyang. Se distribution is uneven, ranging from 0.23 to 57.00 μg/g（17.29±15.52 μg/g）. Se content is higher in slate than chert, and even lower in carbonate rocks. Cd, As and V are enriched but Pb is depleted in Se-enriched strata. Se has different correlations both with TS（total sulfur）（R~2=0.59 for chert） and TC（total carbon）（R~2=0.77 for slate, R~2=0.87 for carbonate）. Se has significant positive correlations with V（r=0.65）, As（r=0.485）, Cd（r=0.459） and Pb（r=0.405）. The Se level correlates with mineral content, positively with pyrite, chlorite and illite, negatively with albite. Se associated with sulfide/selenide and elemental Se are the predominant fractions of total recovered Se, suggesting that a reducing environment and the formation of sulfides were significant to Se deposition during its geochemical cycle. Although low concentration of bio-available Se（average 5.62%±3.69%） may reduce the risk of Se poisoning in the target area, utilization of Se-rich rock as natural fertilizer should be restricted.