Notes on the origin of inertinite macerals in coal: Evidence for fungal and arthropod transformations of degraded macerals

International Journal of Coal Geology
By: , and 

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Abstract

The role of fungus in the formation of coal macerals, both as a primary contributor in the form of a fungus fossil/maceral funginite, and in their role in degrading wood, thus producing degraded maceral forms, has been established. Fungus, in the course of breaking down the lignin and cellulose in wood, make the wood more digestible for grazers, such as arthropods. In turn, the remnants of the digested wood and anything else eaten but not completely digested are excreted and can be preserved intact; eaten by other fauna with a repeat of the cycle; or colonized by bacteria and/or coprophilous fungi with or without subsequent preservation. Ultimately, the coprolites can be preserved as a form of macrinite.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Notes on the origin of inertinite macerals in coal: Evidence for fungal and arthropod transformations of degraded macerals
Series title International Journal of Coal Geology
DOI 10.1016/j.coal.2011.02.005
Volume 86
Issue 2-3
Year Published 2011
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 10 p.
First page 231
Last page 240
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