2008 Joint Annual Meeting (5-9 Oct. 2008): Maastrichtian Coals from Nigeria: Implications for the Formation of the Inertinite Macerals, with Particular Attention to Macrinite

The inertinite group contains relatively abundant fusinite and semifusinite, with lesser amounts of inertodetrinite; but also has secretinite, micrinite, macrinite, and funginite. The fusinite + semifusinite and each of the other inertinite maceral varieties can possibly have distinct origins, rather than the commonly attributed origin from fire. In particular macrinite, often a rare maceral, is present in amounts up to 3.8% in this set of Cretaceous coals. Macrinite can be associated with funginite in these coals, as well as in other coals we have examined. A causal association between the two macerals is debatable, but other researchers have suggested that there could be a genetic connection. Fungal degradation of woody and other material is a plausible origin for the amorphous to (marginally) detrital structure found in the associated macrinite.