Abstract
Ultrastructural studies using SEM and TEM have been undertaken on several Carboniferous megaspores. Langenicula crassiaculeata Zerndt has been obtained from several facies at Lower Carboniferous localities in Scotland including limestones and shales. Both have had a similar thermal history. Tuberculatisporites spp. has been obtained from coals, shales and oolitic ironstones from the Westphalian B of Yorkshire, again having similar thermal histories. Ultrastructural preservation of the same species from different facies varies considerably. Excellent preservation has been observed in spores from facies which underwent early diagenetic cementation. It is concluded that compression rather than rank (temperature) is the main control of ultrastructural preservation of megaspore exines. The methods of scanning acoustic microscopy, for the study of ultrastructure in megaspores from sequences of high rank, and laser scanning microscopy for the study of megaspores in coal, sediment, polished blocks or thin sections are presented.
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