VARIATION IN CHEMISTRY OF VITRINITE AND SEMIFUSINITE AS A FUNCTION OFASSOCIATED INERTINITE CONTENT

Variation in the chemistry of vitrinite and semifusinite as a function of associated inertinite content was studied using electron microprob e, Fourier Transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-i.r.) and reflected lig ht microscopy. The study has shown that, in vitrinite, C content incre ases and O content decreases as the amount of inertinite macerals asso ciated with the vitrinite increases. FT-i.r. spectra document that vit rinite associated with inertinite is of a more aromatic character than vitrinite alone. Reflectance values of vitrinite are in agreement wit h the chemical data; the increase in C content and increase in aromati city from vitrinite in vitrite to vitrinite in inertinite-dominated vi trinertite corresponds to a slight increase in reflectance. There are no clear differences in chemistry between semifusinite in vitrinertite and semifusinite in inertite. Depositional environment (geochemical c haracter and oxidation), rather than vitrinite-inertinite interactions , seems to be responsible for variation in maceral chemistry.