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1.
T. A. Kovaleva V. S. Markevich E. V. Bugdaeva E. B. Volynets M. A. Afonin 《Russian Journal of Pacific Geology》2016,10(1):50-62
Palynological samples, plant megafossils, and fossil wood taken from the upper Lipovtsy Subformation (Porechye open-pit coal mine in the Il’ichevka coalfield, Razdol’naya River Basin, southern Primorye), as well as coal samples for determining coal-forming plants from dispersed cuticles are analyzed. The taxonomic composition of the identified palynomorphs from the coals and interstratal clastic sediments indicates the Aptian age of host deposits. The palynological spectra from the lower humic–rhabdopissite coal seam are dominated by Gleicheniaceae and Cyatheaceae accompanied by Dicksoniaceae and Ginkgocycadophytus. In the palynological spectra from the upper coal seam, the share of Gleicheniaceae substantially decreases, though they remain dominant; simultaneously, single angiosperm pollen grains appear in them. The spectra from the clastic rocks are dominated by Polypodiaceae and Cyatheaceae. The taxonomical composition of the gymnosperms is relatively diverse, although their abundance is low. The share of angiosperms increases with respect to both their diversity and abundance. The angiosperm pollen, found for the first time in the Aptian deposits of the Razdol’naya River Basin, provides grounds to assume that these pants appeared earlier than previously thought (early Albian). The coal-forming plants of the Il’ichevka coalfield are determined. 相似文献
2.
Previous investigations have not well defined the controls on the development of minable coals in fluvial environments. This study was undertaken to provide a clearer understanding of these controls, particularly in of the lower Tertiary coal-bearing deposits of the Raton and Powder River basins in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. In this region, large amounts of coals accumulated in swamps formed in the flow-through fluvial systems that infilled these intermontane basins. Extrabasinal and intrabasinal tectonism partly controlled the stratigraphic and facies distributions of minable coal deposits. The regional accumulation of coals was favored by the rapid basin subsidence coupled with minimal uplift of the source area. During these events, coals developed in swamps associated with anastomosed and meandering fluvial systems and alluvial fans. The extensive and high rate of sediment input from these fluvial systems promoted the formation of ombrotrophic, raised swamps, which produced low ash and anomalously thick coals. The petrology and palynology of these coals, and the paleobotany of the associated sediments, suggest that ombrotrophic, raised swamps were common in the Powder River Basin, where the climate during the early Tertiary was paratropical. The paleoecology of these swamps is identical to that of the modern ombrotrophic, raised swamps of the Baram and Mahakam Rivers of Borneo. 相似文献
3.
《Cretaceous Research》1986,7(3):227-252
Angiosperms appeared in the coastal plains of eastern North America during the latest Barremian or early Aptian, reaching California by the Albian, or perhaps as early as Aptian. In Alaska, however, they are found in sediments only as old as latest Albian. From their earliest Cretaceous appearance, and well into the Late Cretaceous, angiosperms were most abundant and diverse in coastal and fluvial depositional environments, conifers remaining dominant in well drained and inland soils. Extensive dispersal of pioneering, coastal angiosperms occurred at a time of extensive sea-level fluctuation and went hand in hand with their mid-Cretaceous diversification. The early successes of invading angiosperms can most easily be attributed to their ability to colonise disturbed sedimentary surfaces. It is unlikely that they were initially successful in high salinity or other unfavourable habitats, or that they could compete directly with pre-existing plants for nutrients, pollinators or other resources. 相似文献
4.
The distribution of aromatic hydrocarbons and stable carbon isotope ratios of organic matter in a series of nine Miocene Embalut coal samples obtained from nine coal seams of Kutai Basin, East Kalimantan, Indonesia were studied. The rank of the Embalut coals ranged from lignites to low rank sub-bituminous coals (0.36–0.50% Rr), based on measurements of huminite reflectance. The aromatic hydrocarbon fractions of all coal samples were dominated by cadalene in the lower boiling point range and picene derivatives in the higher boiling point range of the gas chromatograms. Cadalene can be attributed to the contribution of Dipterocarpaceae and various hydrated picenes to the contribution of additional angiosperms to the coal forming vegetation. The picenes originate from alpha- and beta-amyrin. However, in some coal samples minor amounts of simonellite and retene were also detected which argues for an additional contribution of gymnosperms (conifers) to coal forming vegetation preferentially in the Middle Miocene and at the beginning of the Late Miocene. The results of stable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) in most of the coal samples are consistent with their origin from angiosperms (δ13C between ?27.0‰ and ?28.0‰). During the Miocene the climate of Mahakam Delta was not uniformly moist and cooler than the present day climate. This would have been favourable for the growth of conifers, especially in the montane forests. The contribution of conifers to the Embalut coals might be a result of the cool Middle/Late Miocene climate during peat accumulation in the Kutai Basin. 相似文献
5.
Plant fossils from the volcano-clastic marine deposits of the Coniacian Hidden Lake Formation of James Ross Island in Antarctica are described based on their macromorphology. Stratigraphic positions of fossiliferous horizons and details of the lithostratigraphic situation of the middle part of the Hidden Lake Formation are published for the first time. The flora consists primarily of leaf impressions and petrified wood. There are also small amounts of mesofossils, dispersed cuticles and charcoalified wood. The megafossils typically occur fragmented, underpinning their allochtonous origin. The plants are described in systematical order. This contribution in contrast to earlier observations reports a high diversity of pteridophytes (11 taxa) and conifers (6 taxa). Angiosperms representing families Nothofagaceae, Atherospermataceae, probably Lauraceae and Sterculiaceae are the most abundant and common plant groups of the flora (12 taxa). The presence of the tropical fern family Marattiaceae and rarity of the genus Nothofagus are of interest, arguing for the prevalence of a warm temperate to tropical humid climate during the Coniacian in this part of Antarctica. 相似文献
6.
The coal deposits of Meghalaya occur in the Lakadong Sandstone (25–250 m thick) of Eocene age. The coal-bearing formations are understood to have been deposited over platform areas in estuarine and lagoonal environments and subjected to recurrent marine transgressions and regressions during the Eocene period. There are three major groups of coalfields in Meghalaya, viz. Garo Hills (West Daranggiri and Siju Coalfields), Khasi Hills (Langrin and Mawlong–Shella Coalfields) and minor coalfields (Laitryngew, Cherrapunji and Bapung Coalfields). Pillar coal samples have been collected from 10 seams at 15 locations and have been subjected to a detailed petrographic examination for their characterization. An effort has been made to trace the path of their evolution based on coal petrography-based models. The quantitative petrographic analysis shows that these coals are vitrinite rich (45.0–92.9%, mean 73.4% mmf basis) with low concentration of inertinite (0.0–13.8%, mean 3.0% mmf basis), whereas the liptinite occurs in appreciable concentration (5.5–53.1%, mean 22.5% mmf basis). Further, these coals are rich in vitrite (51.6–100%, mean 78.3% mmf basis). The volatile matter (from 38.5% to 70.0%, d.a.f.) and vitrinite reflectance (Rom from 0.37% to 0.68%) characterize these coals, as per German (DIN) and North American classification, approximately as sub-bituminous ‘C' to high volatile ‘C' bituminous. The occurrence of teleutospore (single, double and triple celled) suggests that these coals have originated from a characteristic Tertiary flora. The maceral and microlithotype composition in the coal petrography-based depositional models suggest that the coals of Garo Hills were formed in reed to open water swamps in telmatic to limnic conditions. The coals of Khasi Hills were dominated by forest swamps and telmatic to limno-telmatic conditions. In addition, the occurrence of large-size resins suggests prolific growth of conifers in the swamps. 相似文献
7.
New plant macrofossil localities are found in the middle-upper part of the Albian Upper Hatira Formation of Makhtesh Qatan, an erosion crater in the northern Negev. These are so far the only outcrop localities in the Negev containing plant compressions and well-preserved sporomorphs. Their age assignments are controlled by the ammonite Knemiceras records below and above the plant-bearing sequence in the adjacent Makhtesh Hatira. The macrofossil assemblages are strikingly different in the sandy fluvial and shaly lacustrine facies, the former being dominated by Araucaria, Athrotaxopsis, Brachyphyllum and pinnatifid Sapindopsis, comparable at the plant assemblage and leaf morphological levels to the early to early late Albian assemblage of the North American Potomac flora. The lacustrine shale macrofossil assemblages appear archaic on account of their diverse pteridophyte component and sparse angiosperm remains. A new supposedly gnetophytic genus and species Qataniaria noae Krassilov, gen. et sp. nov. is dominant in the shale horizon. The sporomorph assemblages are strongly dominated by psilate trilete spores (87-93%). In the absence of elaterate forms, the angiosperm pollen Afropollis jardinus, Pennipollis, Tricolpites spp. and Walkeripollis sp. is consistent with the early Albian age. The abundance and diversity of conifers and the prominence of the fern bog assemblage suggest a relatively humid phase of the regional Albian climates. 相似文献
8.
A palynological and sedimentological study has been carried out on the Cretaceous fluvial and deltaic Atane Formation of West Greenland. Two localities, Skansen and Igdlunguaq on the southern coast of Disko island, have been studied. The sediments are divided into two genetic facies associations interpreted as representing deposition in fluvial channels and on a floodplain. The facies indicate that most of the sediments on the floodplain accumulated in swamps or shallow lakes, whereas abundant spores and pollen indicate the presence of vegetated land nearby. The palynomorph assemblages recovered consist of 72 species of spores and pollen grains of bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms. The palynomorphs from Skansen and most of those from Igdlunguaq indicate a maximum age-range from late Albian to Cenomanian for the successions sampled, although a mid Cenomanian age seems most likely. The highest horizon examined at Igdlunguaq may, however, be late Cenomanian or Turonian in age. The assemblages compare well with palynofloras from North America and Northwest Europe. 相似文献
9.
Low rank coals from two disparate geological settings have been subjected to petrographic and palynological analysis. The stratigraphic units studied and their locations are the Amphitheatre Formation, St Elias Mountains, Yukon Territory, of Eocene to Oligocene age; and the base of the Ravenscrag Formation, south-central Saskatchewan, of latest Cretaceous to earliest Paleocene age.The depositional setting of the Amphitheatre Formation ranges from distal sand-dominated braided stream and lacustrine environments to proximal gravel-dominated fluvial environments. The coals are low in inertinite (< 6%) and mostly high in huminite (> 85%). In localities with a dominance of angiosperm pollen the relative abundance of eu-ulminite B and densinite is greatest whereas in the ones with a dominantly coniferous pollen assemblage eu-ulminite A is the most prominent maceral. These observations suggest as an immediate cause/effect relationship, an at least partial dependance of present maceral content on floral precursors. This in turn probably reflects a certain combination of depositional environment conditions (pH, Eh, temperature, etc.), that likely controlled the plant community and the preservation of vegetal matter.The depositional environment of coals from the basal part of the Ravenscrag Formation contrasts sharply with that of the Amphitheatre. The Ravenscrag coals formed within a low energy, stable, floodplain environment. Palynological and coal maceral profiles for the basal Ravenscrag Formation coal, which spans the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, indicates that the environment of deposition progressed from an open canopied swamp forest with areas of open water, through a phase of low-lying to open water swamps with herbaceous, pterophytic vegetation to, at least locally, raised bogs. The change in coal petrography across the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary is shown to be relatively minor in comparison to subsequent changes in coal petrography in the earliest Paleocene and to changes that occur in the palynological assemblages across the boundary interval. 相似文献
10.
北美内陆西部白垩纪脊椎动物生物年代学 总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0
北美西部内陆白垩纪的脊椎动物生物年代学的研究始于19世纪90年代。前人建议的期,即陆生脊椎动物"期"或陆生哺乳动物"期"名已过十二个,但其中具有精确的定义者甚少,仅有少量的建议受到广泛认可和使用。本文定义或重新定义了10个陆生脊椎动物"期",包括了西部内陆从最老至最新的全部白垩纪—Comobluffian期(～提塘期至欧特里沃期)、Buffalogapian期(～巴列姆期至早阿普特期)、Cashenranchian期(～早阿普特期至晚阿尔布期)、Mussentuchian期(～晚阿尔布期至塞诺曼期)、Fencelakean期(土伦期至晚塞农期)、Aquilan期(～晚塞农期至早坎潘期)、Judithian期(～中坎潘期)、Kirtlandian期(～晚坎潘期)、Edmontonian期(～坎潘期末期至早马斯特里赫特期)以及Lancian期(～早马斯特里赫特期晚期)。每一个"期"的开始由一种恐龙或哺乳动物种类的首现来定义,而其结束由后续的"期"的开始来定义。这样定义的脊椎动物生物年代代表了完整的白垩纪时间表。但有些时间段(尤其是Neocomian(尼欧克姆期)的大部分以及部分"中"白垩世的一部分)缺乏足够的脊椎动物化石特征。这些白垩纪陆生脊椎动物"期"构成了一个能使北美西部内陆的脊椎动物的演化历史得以序和解释年代表。 相似文献
11.
《International Geology Review》2012,54(10):1183-1190
We consider the evolution of Albian-Cenomanian floras of the Northeast USSR for both coal-bearing and "non-coal" deposits, taking the evolution of paleofloras in single-facies (coal-bearing) deposits as a base. In general, the taphofloras have been assigned to the sequence from which the plant remains were collected. During Albian-Cenomanian time the angiosperms migrated from higher to lower levels. The observed decrease in the role of angiosperms during Cenomanian (Arkagala) time after their "expansion" during Albian time (in the Toptan and Arman suites) is explained by their establishment at different topographic levels. We show parallel increase in the role of conifers and angiosperms in the floras from the coal-bearing deposits from the Albian to the Cenomanian. A temperature minimum occurred during Arkagala time. It is likely that old, pre-Albian angiosperms may be found in sediments of the intermontane basins. In analyzing the level of evolution of the floras on the Early - Late Cretaceous boundary, especially the angiosperms, one must take into account the facies in which they are present. —Authors. 相似文献
12.
The No. 1 and No. 2 coal seams from the Permian Vryheid Formation in the east Witbank Coalfield, South Africa are described with respect to their distribution, thickness and quality. These two coal seams accumulated in a postglacial climatic environment and peat accumulation was closely associated with and influenced by deposition in a braided river system. The fluvial channels that were syndepositional with peat accumulation have resulted in thinning of coal below and above channel axes and pinch-out of coal adjacent to channel margins. Low-ash coal originated from peat which accumulated in areas away from the influence of clastic sedimentation. In contrast, higher-ash coals are situated adjacent and parallel to channel margins where interbedded channel sand and silt contaminated the peat.The lower No. 1 seam peat originated under near-optimum conditions in a lacustrine swamp which blanketed an underlying platform of glaciofluvial braided river sediment. This peat swamp was not subjected to syndepositional clastic contamination and as a result is of superior quality (lower ash/higher calorific value and volatile matter) than the overlying No. 2 coal seam. The No. 2 seam is split by a clastic parting produced by a braided fluvial channel which transected the swamp midway through peat accumulation. This fluvial clastic parting deleteriously affected coal thickness and quality.A comparison of the Gondwanan Permian peat-forming conditions with those from Carboniferous northern hemisphere counterparts suggests that the differences in coal characteristics between these two regions are probably related to different palaeoclimatic conditions and basin tectonics. Cool-temperate climatic conditions which prevailed over the Permian peat swamps resulted in less species diversification of vegetation at these high-latitude settings than the diverse floral assemblages of the Carboniferous swamps. A stable intracronic basin platform caused lateral dispersion of sedimentary facies rather than the stacking of vertical facies which occurred in rapidly subsiding depositories. Partial exposure of the Permian peat swamps during peat accumulation may account for the relatively higher inertinite content of the coals. 相似文献
13.
The Kholokhovchan Flora comes from tuffaceous – terrigenous deposits of the Vetvinskaya Member (Chalbugchan Group) in the Penzhina and Oklan rivers interfluve, Northeastern Russia. The depositional environment of the plant-bearing deposits is interpreted to have been a freshwater lake. The Kholokhovchan Flora hosts 42 fossil plant species belonging to Marchantiopsida, Polypodiopsida, Ginkgoales, Leptostrobales, Bennettitales, Pinales and Magnoliopsida. It is characterised by diverse angiosperms, less diverse conifers and ferns, by the presence of relatively ancient Sphenobaiera, Phoenicopsis and Pterophyllum together with advanced Late Cretaceous Taxodium, Glyptostrobus and angiosperms, among which platanoids are quite diverse. The Kholokhovchan Flora is most similar to Penzhina and Kaivayam floras of the Anadyr-Koryak Subregion and Arman Flora of the Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanogenic belt (Northeastern Russia) and should be dated as Turonian–Coniacian. The Kholokhovchan Flora, that populated volcanic plateaus and intermontane valleys, are characterised by a mixture of ancient “Mesophytic” plants with typical Late Cretaceous “Cenophytic” taxa. This peculiar composition probably reflects a gradual penetration of new angiosperm-dominated plant assemblages into older floras: during the Late Cretaceous, “Cenophytic” assemblages migrated along river valleys and other disturbed habitats into the interior of Asia, eventually occupying volcanogenic uplands, and in places replacing the “Mesophytic” fern-gymnospermous communities that existed there. Two new angiosperm species, as well as four the most characteristic conifers of the Kholokhovchan Flora, are described: Cupressaceae gen. et sp. indet. cf. Widdringtonites sp., Taxodium cf. olrikii, Taxodium sp., Glyptostrobus sp., Ettingshausenia vetviensis sp. nov. and Parvileguminophyllum penzhinense sp. nov. 相似文献
14.
通过对蔚县煤田下花园组煤中植物残体——分散角质层、半丝炭化木材等研究,结合非煤层中植物化石和孢粉组合特征分析,认为泥炭沼泽植物群落主要由松柏类、银杏类、苏铁类和蕨类组成,它们都是本区成煤的重要物质来源。这种森林体系代表了一种温暖潮湿、雨量充沛的古气候条件。煤中丝炭及半丝炭化组分含量丰富是泥炭堆积速度快于盆地基底沉降速度,并最终导致泥炭沼泽覆水浅,泥炭层多处于相对干燥、氧化环境的表现。不同煤层中丝炭及半丝炭化组分含量的差异,为煤层对比提供了新的依据。 相似文献
15.
E. V. Bugdaeva V. S. Markevich E. B. Volynets 《Stratigraphy and Geological Correlation》2014,22(3):256-268
The plant remains and palynological assemblages are studied in detail in the section of the coal-bearing upper part of the Aptian Starosuchan Formation near the village of Molchanovka (Partizansk Basin, South Primorye region). On the basis of the light and electron microscopic study of the disperse cuticles, it was established that the coals are mostly composed of remains of taxodialean Elatides asiatica (Yok.) Krassil., subordinate Miroviaceae, rare ginkgoalean Pseudotorellia sp., and bennettite Nilssoniopteris rithidorachis (Krysht.) Krassil. The spores Gleicheniidites and pollen Taxodiaceaepollenites are dominant in the palynospectrum of the coal interlayer. It was found that dominant taxodialeans and gleicheniaceous ferns with less abundant Miroviaceae, ginkgoaleans, and rare bennettites occurred in the Aptian swamp communities of the Partizansk basin. Shoots and leaves of Elatides asiatica, fronds of Birisia onychioides (Vassil. et K.-M.) Samyl., are dominant in the burials of plants from the clastic rocks. The fragments of leaves of Nilssoniopteris, scale-leaved conifers, and Ginkgo ex gr. adiantoides are rare. The disperse cuticle of these layers mostly includes Pseudotorellia sp.; however, its remains in burials were not found. The spores Laevigatosporites are dominant in the palynospectra from the clastic interlayers. Ginkgocycadophytus and taxa close to Pinaceae are plentiful among the pollen of gymnosperms. 相似文献
16.
The North American fossil record of dinosaur eggshells for the Cretaceous is primarily restricted to formations of the middle (Albian–Cenomanian) and uppermost (Campanian–Maastrichtian) stages, with a large gap in the record for intermediate stages. Here we describe a dinosaur eggshell assemblage from a formation that represents an intermediate and poorly fossiliferous stage of the Upper Cretaceous, the Santonian Milk River Formation of southern Alberta, Canada. The Milk River eggshell assemblage contains five eggshell taxa: Continuoolithus, Porituberoolithus, Prismatoolithus, Spheroolithus, and Triprismatoolithus. These ootaxa are most similar to those reported from younger Campanian–Maastrichtian formations of the northern Western Interior than they are to ootaxa reported from older middle Cretaceous formations (i.e., predominantly Macroelongatoolithus). Characteristics of the Milk River ootaxa indicate that they are ascribable to at least one ornithopod and four small theropod species. The taxonomic affinity of the eggshell assemblage is consistent with the dinosaur fauna known based on isolated teeth and fragmentary skeletal remains from the formation, although most ornithischians and large theropods are not represented by eggshell. Relative to the Milk River Formation eggshell, similar oospecies occurring in younger Cretaceous deposits tend to be somewhat thicker, which may reflect an increase in body size of various dinosaur lineages during the Late Cretaceous. 相似文献
17.
Angiosperms began to colonise riparian habitats very soon in their evolutionary history, probably already in the Aptian, but it is still poorly known when flowering plants finally dominated entirely these kind of communities as they do in the present. A new fossil plant locality (Molí del Baró-1) from the upper Maastrichtian of the Southern Pyrenees is described in which meandering river facies represent one of the first riparian communities formed only by angiosperms. The fossil assemblage consists of abundant leaves, seeds, logs and sporomorphs. Angiosperms remains dominate in all these cases and the leaf sample is mostly composed of a new eudicot willow-like species, Saliciphyllum gaetei sp. nov., the palm Sabalites longirhachis and an helophytic monocot. Pollen remains suggest that the later belonged to Typhaceae. Most of these plant remains were parautochthonous and deposited in a pond formed in the accretional part of a meander loop. The locality of Molí del Baró-1 represents an unique plant fossil assemblage in the uppermost Cretaceous of southern Europe. It clearly differs from those reported in other Maastrichtian localities of the Pyrenees (Fumanya and South Isona) and from the Campanian-Maastrichtian of Austria and Romania. In addition, it reflects a surprisingly modern physiognomy for a Late Cretaceous riverine plant assemblage that was built up with willow-like plants, palms and reeds. 相似文献
18.
A palynological investigation of sedimentary rocks enclosing an exceptionally well-preserved fossil dinosaur (Hadrosauridae) discovered in the upper part of the Hell Creek Formation in south western North Dakota was conducted in order to document the immediate paleoenvironment of this dinosaur. The specimen, an Edmontosaurus annectens is remarkable in having exceptional three-dimensional preservation of soft tissue around the skeleton, indicating rapid burial. A well-preserved palynological assemblage dominated by fern and bryophyte spores, with lesser gymnosperm and angiosperm pollen was recovered. Sparse fresh-water algae and marine dinoflagellate cysts were also recorded. The palynofacies is dominated by wood fragments, including charcoal, with little amorphous organic matter. The presence of some typical pollen taxa of the Wodehouseia spinata Assemblage Zone including Striatellipollis striatellus, Tricolpites microreticulatus, Leptopecopites pocockii as well as a diverse suite of Aquilapollenites, is fully consistent with a Late Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian) age. The palynoflora indicates a local vegetation composed of a canopy of conifers dominated by Pinaceae and a minor sub-canopy of Taxodium and cycads, as well as an understory of hydrophilous ferns, mosses and herbaceous angiosperms, indicative of a warm and humid climate – an environment where this specific hadrosaur roamed over 66 million years ago. 相似文献
19.
中国非海相白垩纪腹足类组合序列和分布 总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0
中国白垩纪非海相腹足类可划分为4个组合:1)早白垩世凡兰吟期巴列姆期Probaicalia vitimensis-Ptychostylus-口盖化石Reesidella robusta组合;2)早白垩世阿普特期阿尔必期Bellamya clavilithiformis-Mesocoshliopa cretacea-Zaptychius costatus-Brotiopsis组合,由于环境的不同,这一组合可分为2个亚组合:Brotiopsis亚组合和Bellamya clavilithiformis-Mesocoshliopacretacea-Zaptychius costatus亚组合;3)晚白垩世科尼亚克期中马斯特里赫特晚期Mesolanistes nanxiongensis组合,由于产出的层位不同,这一组合又可分为2个亚组合,Mesolanistes ziziformis亚组合和Mesolanistes-nanxiongensis亚组合;4)晚白垩世马斯特里赫特期最晚期Palaeoancylusna nxiongensi组合。 相似文献
20.
Jane C. Shearer Timothy A. Moore Thomas D. Demchuk 《International Journal of Coal Geology》1995,28(2-4)
Floral character in mires has changed progressively through time. In the Carboniferous, pteridophytes, sphenophytes and lycophytes were dominant but by the Permian gymnosperms were an important component of mire flora. During the early Mesozoic gymnosperms remained the characteristic mire vegetation, together with pteridophytes, and conifers became dominant during the Jurassic. Cretaceous and Paleocene vegetation are similar, with taxodiaceous flora being important in mire vegetation. From the Eocene onwards, however, angiosperms were increasingly dominant in mire communities and in the Miocene herbaceous vegetation began to play a significant role. Together with these changes in floral character at least three aspects of coal character also appear to vary sequentially with time and are distinctive in the Tertiary: (1) proportions and thickness of vitrain banding, (2) coal bed thickness and (3) proportions of carbonised material. A compilation has been made of data from the coal literature comparing older coals with those of the Tertiary, in order to give a perspective in which to examine Tertiary coals. It was found that only Tertiary coals contain significant proportions of coal devoid of vitrain bands. In addition, Tertiary coals are the thickest recorded coal beds and generally contain low percentages of carbonised material (many less than 5%) as compared to older coals. It is interesting to note that Paleocene coal beds are similar to Cretaceous coals in that they tend to be thinner and contain higher proportions of carbonised material than do younger Tertiary coals.The absence of vitrain bands in some Tertiary coal beds is thought to result from the floras dominated by angiosperms, which are relatively easily degraded as compared to gymnosperms. The thickness of Tertiary coals may be related to an increase in biomass production from the Carboniferous through to the Tertiary, as plants made less investment in producing lignin, an energy-intensive process. In addition, with less lignin in plants, easier degradation of biomass may have facilitated nutrient recycling which, in turn, led to greater biomass production. Increased biomass production may have also ‘diluted’ the carbonised material present in some Tertiary peats, leading to lower proportions in the coal. Another possible cause of decreased carbonised components in Tertiary coal is that decreasing lignin content resulted in decreased charring during fires, as lignin is particularly prone to charring. A third possibility is that the carbonised component of peat may be concentrated during coalification so that Tertiary coals, generally of lower rank than Mesozoic or Paleozoic coals, contain a smaller fraction of carbonised plant material. It is not at present clear which of these mechanisms may have affected carbonised material in peat and coal but it is clear that lignin type and content has had an important role in determining peat and coal character since the Paleozoic. 相似文献