The Paleocene coals of the Salt Range in the Punjab Province of Pakistan have great economic potential; however, their trace element and stable isotopic characteristics have not been studied in detail except for a few sporadic samples. In this study, a total of 59 coal samples of which 14 are obtained from open cast mines have been investigated for elemental composition and δ¹³C-δ¹⁵N isotopic signatures. Average contents of trace elements such as Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sr, Th, U, V, and Zn are 7.4, 41.7, 11.2, 12.5, 90.2, 4.0, 1.9, 128, and 31.1 mg/kg, respectively. These values, when compared with the World Coal Clarke values, were relatively higher in low-rank coals in comparison with Clarke values for brown coals. Likewise, As (20.4 mg/kg), Co (6.6 mg/kg), Cr (22.4 mg/kg), Cu (13.3 mg/kg), Pb (19.2 mg/kg), Sr (154.7 mg/kg), Th (2.5 mg/kg), V (47.8 mg/kg), and Zn (75.1 mg/kg) were significantly higher in the sub-bituminous to bituminous coals of the Salt Range. Mineralogical analysis, based on X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, revealed that the studied samples contain illite, kaolinite calcite, gypsum, pyrite, and quartz. Elemental affinity with organic and inorganic phases of coals calculated by an indirect statistical approach indicated a positive association of ash content with Ag, Al, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Mn, P, Rb, Pb, Th, U, and V, suggesting the presence of inorganic components in studied coals. However, As, Fe, Sr, and Zn exhibit negative correlations that imply their association with the organic fraction. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N isotopic range and average −24.94‰ to −25.86‰ (−25.41‰) and −2.77‰ to 3.22‰ (0.96‰), respectively, reflecting 3C type modern terrestrial vegetation were common in the palaeomires of studied coal seams. In addition, the trivial variations of 0.92‰ and 0.45‰ among ¹³C and ¹⁵N values can be attributed to water level fluctuations and plant assemblies.

巴基斯坦旁遮普省盐岭的古新世煤具有巨大的经济潜力；然而，除了少数零星样品外，它们的微量元素和稳定同位素特征尚未得到详细研究。在这项研究中，共对 59 个煤样进行了元素组成和 δ ¹³ C-δ ^{15的研究，其中 14 个来自露天矿。}N 同位素特征。Co、Cr、Cu、Pb、Sr、Th、U、V、Zn等微量元素的平均含量分别为7.4、41.7、11.2、12.5、90.2、4.0、1.9、128、31.1 mg/kg。与世界煤炭克拉克值相比，这些值在低阶煤中相对高于褐煤的克拉克值。同样，As (20.4 mg/kg)、Co (6.6 mg/kg)、Cr (22.4 mg/kg)、Cu (13.3 mg/kg)、Pb (19.2 mg/kg)、Sr (154.7 mg/kg)、在盐范围的次烟煤到烟煤中，钍（2.5 毫克/千克）、钒（47.8 毫克/千克）和锌（75.1 毫克/千克）显着较高。基于 X 射线衍射和能量色散 X 射线光谱的矿物学分析表明，所研究的样品含有伊利石、高岭石方解石、石膏、黄铁矿和石英。通过间接统计方法计算的与煤的有机相和无机相的元素亲和力表明灰分含量与 Ag、Al、Co、Cr、Cs、Cu、Mn、P、Rb、Pb、Th、U 和 V 呈正相关，表明研究的煤中存在无机成分。然而，As、Fe、Sr 和 Zn 表现出负相关，这意味着它们与有机部分相关。δ¹³ C和δ ¹⁵ N同位素范围和平均值分别为-24.94‰至-25.86‰（-25.41‰）和-2.77‰至3.22‰（0.96‰），反映3C型现代陆地植被在研究煤的古陆中普遍存在接缝。此外，¹³ C和¹⁵ N值之间的0.92‰和0.45‰的微小变化可归因于水位波动和植物组装。