Floral assemblage of the “D” coal seam (Cretaceous): Implications for banding characteristics in New Zealand coal seams

Ward, S. D.; Moore, Tim A.; Newman, J.

doi:10.1080/00288306.1995.9514657

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Gleichenia in New Zealand is a common inhabitant of acidic swamps and bogs, and is tolerant of fire, achieving temporary local dominance in burnt areas until competing species recover (Wardle 1991). It is a frequent component of Late Cretaceous miospore assemblages in New Zealand terrestrial sediments (Ward et al 1995). The succession of fern groups appears to represent a vegetation succession from ground ferns through larger ferns, finally to a more diverse vegetation seen in Assemblage C. Low abundances of gymnosperm pollen in Assemblage B could represent minor standing vegetation, but the podocarp-angiosperm vegetation of the Late Cretaceous was regionally replaced by fernlands.…”

Section: Paleovegetation and Paleoclimatementioning

confidence: 99%

Pollen and spores in marine Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary sediments at mid‐Waipara River, North Canterbury, New Zealand

Vajda

Raine

2003

New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Terrestrial pollen and spores in late Maastrichtian to early Paleocene marine strata at mid-Waipara, New Zealand, permit reconstruction of contemporary vegetation and paleoclimates. During the latest Cretaceous, spore-pollen assemblages reflect a temperate rainforest with a prominent podocarp and tree ferns component, angiosperm pollen being mainly represented by Nothofagus and Proteaceae. Disruption of the vegetation at the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary is recorded by an increase in fern spores, reduction in gymnosperm pollen, and temporary loss of angiosperm pollen both in mid Waipara and in the terrestrial sections of Moody Creek Mine and Compressor Creek. Following an interval of fern dominance, gymnosperms and later angiosperms return to the palynological record. The floral turnover at the K/T boundary is comparable to palynological records from North America and Japan, indicating that disruption of vegetation was global. Fern dominance is estimated to have lasted several thousands of years, based on foraminiferal biostratigraphy of immediate post-K/T boundary strata. This is orders of magnitude greater than seen in normal seral successions following deforestation. We suggest that the observed vegetation succession is due to a prolonged period of low ambient light levels, sufficient for photosynthesis but favouring plants already adapted to these levels (such as forest ground stratum), accompanied by a moderate temperature and moisture regime.

show abstract

Section: Paleovegetation and Paleoclimatementioning

confidence: 99%

Pollen and spores in marine Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary sediments at mid‐Waipara River, North Canterbury, New Zealand

Vajda

Raine

2003

New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Petrographic and chemical characterisation corroborated the expected changes in rank and the maceral composition of the vitrain bands, and confirmed which of the vitrain samples were likely from gymnosperm (Lagarostrobus franklinii according to Ward, 1995). SEM analysis also shows that most of the samples has simple cell structure that is similar with gymnosperm wood.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…In this study, vitrain bands from New Zealand Cretaceous coals are used together with Huon pine wood (Lagarostrobos franklinii) from Tasmania which is considered to be the plant precursor of the vitrinite in these New Zealand coals due to palynological similarity with the original coal precursor (Ward et al, 1995).…”

Section: Objective Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study attempts to address this gap by investigating the changes in pore structure from the precursory wood (Huon Pine, Lagarostrobos franklinii) through the coalification process using hand-picked vitrain bands from Cretaceous age New Zealand coals with abundant Phyllocladidites mawsonii (i.e. conifer) that has strong botanical affinities to Huon pine, Lagarostrobos franklinii (Ward et al, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Pore structure changes from wood to vitrain: a casy study from New Zealand coal

Rahmat¹

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Porosity in coal plays an important role in determining sorption capacity and diffusion behaviour of a given gas. Total porosity and pore size distribution are known to change with rank and composition. Total porosity declines whereas micropore volume increases with rank. On the other hand, the variability in composition among coals makes it difficult to track the changes due to the influence of various plant precursors. This study examines pore structure changes from the original plant structure represented by wood to vitrain across a range of ranks.Samples used in this study include a coal rank suite from brown coal to medium volatile bituminous of Cretaceous age from New Zealand. Porosity evolution during coalification was assessed using vitrain bands isolated from these coals which is derived from the genus Lagarostrobos. Previous palynological studies suggest that the precursor wood is related to the modern Huon pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii). Therefore, a wood sample of this species from Tasmania was also analysed. The methods used in this study were optical microscopy, low pressure gas adsorption using nitrogen and carbon dioxide at 77 K (-196.15 0 C) and 273 K (0 0 C) respectively, high pressure adsorption isotherms using carbon dioxide and methane at 32 0 C, and small/ultra-small angle neutron scattering (SANS/USANS).Petrographic analysis shows that the vitrain suite has a vitrinite content ranging from 79 % to 100 %, telinite in particular, ranging from 13.3% to 84.7% mmf, with random vitrinite reflectance ranging from 0.39 % to 1.49%. Qualitative comparison of wood microstructure and cell diameter in the Huon pine sample and that revealed in the vitrain samples by etching, shows a similar simple cell structure (bordered pits, unicellular rays). Based on an average cell diameter of 20 µm, compaction estimates ranged from 9:1 to 4:1, except for samples that did not appear woody (i.e. they were attrital and derived from herbaceous plants), or were heat affected, and tectonically deformed. This supports the assumption that most vitrain samples in this study have a Huon pine like precursor plant.Results from low pressure adsorption, using nitrogen, shows that the percentage of cumulative pore volume of micropores (those less than 20Å), from wood to vitrain increases with rank. The increase in micropore volume percentage rose significantly and peaked at sub-bituminous rank (Rr= 0.6%); thereafter it decreased exponentially with rank to medium volatile bituminous rank (Rr=0.9%). There is also an inverse correspondence between a ii decrease in percentage of cumulative macropores (pores larger than 500 Å) volume, at subbituminous rank (Rr=0.6%), that increases with increasing rank. Mesopores show a similar trend to micropores with a peak exception at 0.90% Rr. The total cumulative pore volume of micro-, meso-and macropore sizes show a good relationship with telinite maceral content.The result suggests that the changes in pore structure of the vitrain suite of samples, is more affected by vitrain compos...

show abstract

“…In the northwest, coarse conglomerates are dominated by clasts of the Greenland Group with a minor granitic component (Newman 1985). The depositional age is Haumurian (late Campanian-Maastrichtian) to Teurian (Paleocene) encompassing the KT boundary (Ward et al 1995). Goldlight Member is an extensive lacustrine unit consisting of dark grey-brown, silty mudstone with sandy horizons (Nathan 1978 mainly of fine to coarse, lenticular sandstones interbedded with tabular siltstones, mudstones, and carbonaceous shale.…”

Section: The Paparoa Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Provenance analysis of the Paparoa and Brunner Coal Measures using integrated SEM‐cathodoluminescence and optical microscopy

Bassett¹,

Ettmuller

Bernet

2006

New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An integrated approach using grain-by-grain comparison of SEM-cathodoluminescence (CL) andpetrographic characteristics was applied to investigate the provenance of fluvial/lacustrine quartz-rich lithic arenites deposited in the Late Cretaceous transtensional Paparoa Basin in New Zealand. Results show most quartz in the Paparoa Basin was derived from a relatively low grade metamorphic source, most likely the underlying metasedimentary Greenland Group. This interpretation is supported by the presence of sedimentary lithics and Greenland Group conglomerate clasts in the Paparoa members. The eastern part of the basin is characterised by the addition of detrital chlorite and muscovite, some clearly replacing potassium feldspar in retrograde metamorphic lithoclasts, the lack of plutonic quartz, and an increase in polycrystalline metamorphic quartz. All this indicates an increase in metamorphic grade of the source area to the east upward through the stratigraphic section followed by a decrease. Such a change in grain type most likely reflects the migration of the basin past the exposed metamorphic rocks of the Paparoa Metamorphic Core Complex to the northeast of the strike-slip Paparoa Tectonic Zone. On the west side of the basin, c. 15% of quartz grains are also derived from a plutonic source, probably the Barrytown Granite pluton or similar intrusions. Our provenance information provides the first concrete evidence for sinistral strike-slip fault movement as predicted by tectonic reconstructions.

show abstract

Floral assemblage of the “D” coal seam (Cretaceous): Implications for banding characteristics in New Zealand coal seams

Cited by 14 publications

References 33 publications

Pollen and spores in marine Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary sediments at mid‐Waipara River, North Canterbury, New Zealand

Pollen and spores in marine Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary sediments at mid‐Waipara River, North Canterbury, New Zealand

Pore structure changes from wood to vitrain: a casy study from New Zealand coal

Provenance analysis of the Paparoa and Brunner Coal Measures using integrated SEM‐cathodoluminescence and optical microscopy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About