Abstract
Samples of vitrified and unvitrified Eocene woody plant tissues collected from the Fossil Forest site, Geodetic Hills, Axel Heiberg Island, have been characterized by TMAH thermochemolysis. All samples are gymnosperm-derived, are of very low maturity and all share the same post-depositional geologic history. Differences in the distributions of products observed from vitrified and unvitrified samples suggest that vitrification of woody tissue is associated with modification of the lignin C3 side chain, following loss of all or most of the carbohydrate present in the precursor woody tissues. The key driver of vitrification appears to be physical compression of the tissue following biological removal of cellulosic materials.
Highlights
Vitrinite is the geologic product resulting from diagenetic alteration of lignocellulosic plant tissues
Numerous authors have investigated the structural characteristics of vitrinite, especially in relation to understanding the overall structural characteristics of coals, and to some extent much of the voluminous work that has been reported on coal maturation is relevant to the structural changes that occur in vitrinite as it progresses through the geologic column
The availability of samples of both vitrified and unvitrified materials from the same deposit ensures that all samples have the same post-burial geologic history and, given the very low thermal maturity of the samples, facilitates investigation of the structural changes that occur in lignocellulosic tissues during the earliest stages of vitrification
Summary
Vitrinite is the geologic product resulting from diagenetic alteration of lignocellulosic (woody) plant tissues It is a major component of most coals and accounts for a significant fraction of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) on a global scale, especially SOM derived from terrestrial biomass. Vitrification, used in this context to refer to the conversion of lignocellulosic tissues to vitrinite, is a key process affecting the long-term burial of woody plant tissues. This step is critical in that it converts relatively labile, bioavailable carbon into relatively resistant, largely bio-unavailable carbon, this process is a key step in the long-term burial and sequestration of terrestrial organic carbon
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
