New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics abstracts

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Floral assemblage of the "D" coal seam (Cretaceous): implications for banding characteristics in New Zealand coal seams

S. D. WARD

Department of Geology
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand

T. A. MOORE

Coal Research Limited
P.O. Box 31 244
Lower Hutt, New Zealand

J. NEWMAN

Coal Research Limited
c/- Department of Geology
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract  Two complete vertical sections were studied from the uppermost Cretaceous "D" coal seam near Greymouth, New Zealand. The thickest and most concentrated vitrain bands occur in the paleomire centre and bands are thinner and less abundant at the paleomire margin. Botanical analysis of the vitrain bands indicates they formed entirely from the secondary xylem (wood) of gymnosperms. Palynomorphs indicate that there is no consistent correlation between conifer pollen abundance and the degree of vitrain banding. However, maximum preservation of vitrain bands coincides with an inferred transition from a rheotrophic mire (as indicated by Phyllocladidites mawsonii pollen) to an acidic and possibly ombrotrophic system (as indicated by the abundance of Gleicheniaceae spores). This suggests that the presence/absence of gymnosperm secondary xylem as vitrain bands is controlled at least in part by mire chemistry.

Keywords  coal; Late Cretaceous; palynology; vitrain bands; gymnosperm secondary xylem; Phyllocladidites mawsonii; Gleicheniaceae; paleomire; rheotrophic; ombrotrophic; petrology

New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 1995, Vol. 38: 283-297

0028-8306/95/3803-0283 $2.50/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1995

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (2610K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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