ROLE OF FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY IN THE ASSESSMENT OF INDIAN GONDWANA COALS

When a light of short wavelength excites organic matter, light of rela tively longer wavelength is emitted from it and this phenomenon is kno wn as autofluorescence, The coal maceral analysis under fluorescence m ode (blue light/UV light excitation), therefore, has been found to be best suited to properly identify, characterize and quantify hydrogen-r ich macerals. Utilizing this technique, macerals like bituminite, fluo rinite and exsudatinite were recognized for the first time, Certain ot her macerals-alginite and liptodetrinite, normally mistaken for minera l matter under routine petrographic analysis, were also identified, Fl uorescence microscopy, thus, not only added to the overall tally of li ptinite group of macerals in Indian Gondwana coals, but also to their quantity, In addition to this, recognition of fluorescing vitrinite (p erhydrous vitrinite) significantly contributed to the abundance of hyd rogen-rich microconstituents for these coals.