STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ORGANIC POLYMERS COMPRISING A LIGNITES MATRIX AND MEGAFOSSILS

The geochemical and petrographic character of the matrix of the Oligoc ene, angiospermous Brandon lipite, Vermont, is examined and compared t o samples of a common fossilized angiosperm wood and fruit endocarp co ntained within the lignite. The lignite matrix is composed primarily o f humodetrinite and liptodetrinite while the megafossils are overwhelm ingly humotelinitic (textinite and ulminite). Curie-point Py-MS, in-so urce Py-EI-MS, in-source Py-CI-MS, and CPMAS C-13 NMR reveal that the polymers comprising the matrix include a highly aliphatic polymer(s) a nd polymer(s) derived from the significantly modified remains of angio sperm lipin(s). Very few polysaccharides are preserved in the matrix. The polymer(s) in each megafossil contain(s) significant proportions o f polysaccharides and lipins which are, however, significantly altered from their Recent equivalents. The results suggest that anatomical pr eservation and physical integrity of discrete megafossils within peats and lipites are directly related to the degree to which the original ligno-cellulosic framework is preserved. This implies that the humotel initic macerals comprising the megafossils contain ligno-cellulose-der ived polymers that are less modified than those comprising the humodet rinite within the matrix. The liptodetrinite within the matrix is prob ably comprised of highly aliphatic polymers derived from cutans and/or alginans. Upon further coalification the vitrinite within the vitrain bands derived from the megafossils and vitrinite within the clarain b ands derived from the matrix would be distinct.