Fossil charcoal

Macerals. Coal parts derived from different plant parts, are referred to as macerals (13). The maceral names end in "-inite" as do the mineral forms of rocks. The most abundant (about 85%) maceral in U.S. coal is vitrinite, derived from the woody tissues of plants. Another maceral, called liptinite, is derived from the waxy parts of spores and poUen, or algal remains. The liptinite macerals fluoresce under blue light permitting a subdivision based on fluorescence. A third maceral, inertinite, is thought to be derived from oxidized material or fossilized charcoal remnants of early forest fires. 

Cohen-Ofri, I., L. Weiner, E. Boaretto, G. Mintz, and S. Weiner (2006), Modem and fossil charcoal Aspects of structure and diagenesis, /. Archaeol. Sci. 33, 428M39. 

Liptinites were made up of hydrogen-rich hydrocarbons derived from spores, pollens, cuticles, and resins in the original plant material. Vitrinites were made up of wood, bark, and roots and contained less hydrogen than the liptinites. Inertinites are mainly oxidation products of the other macerals and are consequently richer in carbon. The inertinite group includes fusinite, most of which is fossil charcoal, derived from ancient peat fires. 

Gouveia, S. E. M., Pessenda, L. C. R., and Aravena, R. (1999). Dating of the humin fraction of soil organic matter and its comparison with 14C ages of fossil charcoal, QJIM Nova 22, 810-814. 

Jones,T. P., and Chaloner, W. G. (1991). Fossil charcoal, its recognition and palaeoatmospheric significance. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 97,39-50. 

Chaloner W.G. (1989) Fossil charcoal as an indicator of palaeoatmospheric oxygen level. J. Geol. Soc. Land. 146, 171—4. 

Kruge M.A., Stankiewicz B.A., Crelling J.C., Montanari A., Bensley D.F. (1994) Fossil charcoal in Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary strata evidence for catastrophic firestorm and megawave. Geochim. Cosmochim.Acta 58, 1393-7. 

Re-examining the fossil charcoal record from the perspective of variable oxygen throws new light on the conundrum. Coals that formed during periods of hypothetically high oxygen, such as the Carboniferous... 

Kruge, M. A., Stankiewicz, A. B., Crelling, J. C., Montanari, A., and Bens ley, D. E (1994). Fossil charcoal in Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary-strata Evidence for catastrophic firestorm and megavvave. Geodiitti. Cosmodiiin. Acta 58, 1393-1397. 

Some of the cell structure of the wood may appear to be well preserved and, as is to be expected, transitions can exist between inertinite and vitrinite. Typically, the plant material in the inertinite macerals has been strongly altered and degraded in the peat stage of coal formation. For example, fossil charcoal is the inertinite maceral, fusinite. 

Two predominantly inertinite macerals are fusinite and semifusinite (Figure 4.3) fusinite is commonly referred to as fossil charcoal and usually shows well-defined cellular structures. Fusinite is seen in most coals and has a charcoal-like structure. Fusinite is always the highest reflecting maceral present and is distinguished by cell texture. It is commonly broken into small shards and fragments. 

Fusain is fossil charcoal, a coal lithotype sometimes called mother-of-coal . Fusain is dominated by the inertinite maceral group (see coal) and composed of carbon rich, partially oxidised plant remains. The material has no fuel value but produces a velvety black pigment, similar to charcoal. However, this can also refer to a charcoal crayon made of the wood of the spindle tree (Euonymus europaeus L.), called in French fusain, and drawings made thereof (OED, 2002, citing nineteenth century examples). 

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