Composition and grain size of an eocene coal

bed in southeastern Kalimantan, Indonesia

Author links open overlay panelT.A.MooreaJ.C.Fermb

https://doi.org/10.1016/0166-5162(92)90033-SGet rights and content

Abstract
A study of an Eocene coal in southeastern Kalimantan , Indonesia shows a relationship between
megascopically determined coal types and microscopically determined kinds and sizes of organic
components. Microscopic examination of small (3 × 3 × 3 cm), uncrushed, chemically eteched
block samples revealed that the coal was composed of plant parts and tissues set in a matrix of
both finegrained particulate and amorphous material. The material identified as plant parts
consists of stems and roots with secondary growth, leaves, and one unknown plant structure.
However, most components with cellular features cannot be identified as particular organs and
are designated only as woody tissue and categorized by cell wall preservation, that is, well,
moderately, or poorly preserved. The particulate matrix is composed of cell wall fragments, cell
fillings, resins, spores, algae and unidentifiable fluorescing fragments. Fungal remains are also
present within the matrix and are the only oxidized material represented within the coal. The
amorphous matrix consists of unstructured (at × 400) humic gels and bitumen.