Maceral alginite in Indian coals and lignites: Its significance and influence

Abstract

The lamellar algae (lamalginite) have been recognised in the Indian Permian Gondwana coal seams of Son, Rajmahal, Mahanadi and Godavari basins. Botryococcus occurs in the coals of above Gondwana basins as well as in the Tertiary coals of north-east India and in the Tertiary lignites of Cauvery and Kutch basins. Another alga, Pleurocapsa is known from the lignites of Kutch Basin, whereas, Tasmanites is present in the Tertiary coals from Meghalaya. The presence of alginite in the coals and lignites is helpful in resolving certain discrepancies of their interpreted behaviour on the basis of petrological and chemical data, especially the carbonization behaviour and bye-product yield. The abundance, type, developmental stages, and association of alginite with other macerals provide much information about the depositional environment of vegetal matter accumulation for coal and lignite formation than was previously possible to deduce.