Coal Balls Research Articles

Structure and Classification of Certain Cycadofilicinean Roots from the McLeansboro Formation of Illinois

It is difficult to identify with certainty unattached Cycadofilicinean roots. Roots generally, because of a common plan of organization, may easily be confused. However, due to the careful researches of Scott (2), Williamson and Scott (3-4), Arbor (1) and others, we now possess such detailed accounts of the structure of some Cycadofilicinean roots as to make their identity known, even when unaccompanied by other structures of the plant. Sections of coal balls from the McLeansboro formation of Illinois, prepared from petrifactions collected by Dr. A. C. Noe, and very kindly turned over to the writer for investigation, show numbers of roots varying in size from approximately half a millimeter to over a centimeter in diameter, and in one instance show a very close developmental series. It is the purpose of this paper to describe the anatomical features of some of these roots and to discuss their classification.

Cordaitean Wood from the Pennsylvanian of Michigan and Ohio

(WITH TEN FIGURES) Among the petrified wood specimens in the Museum of Paleontology of the University of Michigan, two unstudied samples from Michigan and Ohio were recently found. The Michigan specimen was collected by a museum party from a quarry along the south bank of the Grand River, about one mile west of Grand Ledge, in I925.' In the same quarry is a vein of coal a foot or more thick, and a few feet above is a massive sandstone layer bearing Calamites and Artisia casts. Immediately below the coal is a layer of Stigmaria shale, and below this and also between the coal and the upper sandstone are shales bearing numerous impressions of foliage, stems, and seeds of common Paleozoic plants. The source of the Ohio specimen is unknown, except that the label reads Coshocton, The specimen appears to have been in the collection for many years, possibly having been obtained by CARL ROMINGER. But few American Paleozoic woods are known as compared with woods of similar age from other parts of the world. Among those described within recent years, probably the most outstanding are Calamopitys americana and Archeopitys eastmanii, from the base of the Waverley Shale of Boyle County, Kentucky (I3). HoSKINS (5) and REED (i i) have recently reported abundant petrified plant material in the Pennsylvanian coal balls of Illinois, which, when more fully investigated, are likely to make notable additions. Probably the most widespread and abundant American Paleozoic wood is Callixylon. C. newberryi has long been known from the black shales of Ohio. In I9I4, ELKINS and WIELAND (4) described C. oweni from the black shales of Indiana, and in I922 HYLANDER (6)

Contributions to the Coal Measure Flora of Illinois

Carboniferous petrifactions known as have long been known from Europe, and much of our knowledge of Carboniferous plants has been derived from a study of these petrifactions. Coal balls have been collected in America, however, but for a comparatively short time. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to our knowledge of this coal ball flora by adding certain new members to the growing list of American Carboniferous plants with structure preserved, with brief anatomical descriptions of the species listed. The plants included in this paper are described from sections of coal balls collected from various localities in Illinois, either by the writer, or by Dr. A. C. Noe, under the authority of the Illinois Geological Survey. All were found in the McLeansboro formation, the approximate time equivalent of the Conemaugh of Pennsylvania.

Low-Temperature Carbonization of Coal

.IU a-tlsn"t l This invention relates to the low temperature carbonization of coal and particularly to certain improvements in the manufacture of coal balls by the low temperature carbonization process. This process is the subject of Wisner Patents Nos. 1,490,357, 1,748,815 and 1,756,896 and...

A Method of Preparing Sections of Fossil Plants contained in Coal Balls or in other Types of Petrifaction

THE method described in this letter was devised in collaboration with Dr. R. G. Koopmans of Utrecht. A flat surface must first of all be cut or ground on the coal ball or other petrified mass parallel to the planes in which the sections are required: this surface is ground smooth, but a fine polish is not necessary. The surface is then immersed for a definite length of time in an etching solution of hydrochloric acid, the optimum concentration being found by trial. The acid dissolves away a film of the carbonate of which the mass is largely composed, and the plant substance contained in the film is left behind, standing in relief above the surface. The surface is washed carefully and dried. A solution or fluid, which on drying or hardening forms a tough film, is then poured over the surface and allowed to dry or harden. Several solutions have been used for this purpose; the best as regards consistency is the trade preparation ‘Durofix,’ but other solutions containing cellulose compounds may be used. When quite hard this film of cellulose-compound may be peeled off, as it has considerable tensile strength. The plant substance which was left in relief by the etching process is embedded in the film and is detached with it from the surface of the petrifaction. The film is then washed, first in the acid and then in water, dried, cleared, and finally mounted in Canada balsam between a slide and coverslip. The surface of the petrified mass is gently rubbed down on fine carborundum paper and is then ready for the removal of another section.

Flora of an Illinois Coal Ball

In the coal ball described were portions of plants that have hitherto been known from the Carboniferous of America only as impressions; they are Calamites, Sphenophyllum, Bothrodendron, and Lyginopteris. Only transverse sections of the steles of Calamites, Sphenophyllum, and Lyginopteris were found. Belonging to Bothrodendron are transverse sections of a stem tip, a megasporangium and microsporangium both attached to sporophylls and containing spores, and isolated megaspores. In the microsporangium the spores are in the tetrad stage, while in the megasporangium four megaspores were observed. The most striking feature in the comparison of Bothrodendron and Selaginella is the similarity of the two, which indeed compels the conclusion that Bothrodendron is the progenitor of the living species of Selaginella.

The Relation of Concretions to Coal Seams

Coal balls and roof-nodules are the most important concretions occurring with coal seams. Coal balls have been known for a long time in Europe, but have been only recently discovered in the United States and in Australia. They are formed in situ and contain plant remains which, because of their excellent preservation, yield much valuable paleobotanical information. The shale beds above the coal carry another type of concretion called roof-nodules which are generally formed in situ by the actipn of ground water. The latter also frequently contain plant remains. This article embodies the major conclusions of a more extensive report to be published elsewhere.

A Paleozoic Angiosperm from an American Coal Ball

1. American coal balls showing preserved plant structure have been sectioned. 2. From an Illinois coal ball from the Carbondale formation were obtained sections of a monocotyledonous stem, with collateral closed bundles scattered throughout the solid cross-section. 3. The vessels were of the spiral type exclusively, with transverse end walls. The phloem consisted of sieve tubes and what appeared to be companion cells. 4. Around the periphery of the stem, arranged in four or five irregular concentric rows, were groups of hexagonal, small, heavy-walled sclerenchyma cells. 5. This is the first angiosperm described from the Paleozoic, and the name Angiospermophyton americanum is proposed. 6. No attempt is made as yet to correlate this with any living group. 7. This announcement throws no light on the phylogenetic origin of the angiosperms, but does remove the problem from the Mesozoic to the Carboniferous or pre-Carboniferous.

Coal-balls

Coal-balls

On the Anatomy of Lepidophloios laricinus, Sternb

A Specimen of Lepidophloios laricinus , found in one of the coal balls of Lancashire, shows the internal structure. The species is new, and is of the ordinary lepidodendroid type, but is remarkable for the great size aad strength of the corona and the leaf-traces. Lepidophloios acadianus , Dawson, which is identical with L . laricinus , appears to differ iu its internal structure, in having still stronger protoxyleul-points and leaf-traces. Lematophloios crassicaule , Corda, which is L . acerosus , L. & H., appears to resemble greatly tile Lancashire specimen of L . laricinus in its structure, and is quite distinct from the specimen of the same form described by Cash & Lomax. Lepidodendron fuliginosuem , Will., a structural species, appears to include a specimen the external structure of which corresponds with Lepidophloios acerosus , Lepidodendron obovatum , L . aculeatum , and Sigillaria discophora . Under these circumstances, it, is proposed to take no account of the impression-species in considering the synonymy of the structural specimens, and vice versa . When the exterior of a structural specimeu is actually known, it may be referred to by the name of the structural species, with that of the impression-species added in brackets.

V. On the present distribution and orgin of the calcareous concretions in coal seams, known as "coal balls"

To botanists and geologists alike coal and the beds associated with it afford a rich field for investigation. Geologists have long been particularly fascinated by the theories which attempt to account for the mode of origin of the coal, and as a result a vast literature has been built up in support of the various views of the authors who have dealt with the problem. Nevertheless, for our purpose, it is enough merely to name the two main theories which now hold the field, as the “growth in situ ” and the “drifted” origin for the plants which compose the coal. It will, perhaps, be well to express clearly at the beginning of this paper that we do not propose to enter into a critical discussion of the views of other writers on the subject, except where they have a very direct bearing on our own investigation. It will be found that the results of our work have a certain bearing on the wider subject of the origin of coal in general, but in this paper we wish to confine ourselves to the consideration of questions suggested by the “coal balls” in particular. The conclusions drawn from the special aspect of the case are not applicable to all seams of coal, though they illustrate fully the history of certain seams. The calcareous masses which occur actually embedded in the coal of some districts have proved of vital importance to students of botanical anatomy and phylogeny, because they contain plant tissues so perfectly petrified that the complete structure of the plants can be discovered by microscopic investigation. Yet although these calcareous masses or “coal balls” have been the source of so much valuable information, little is to be found in the literature, and one gathers also that but little is actually known to scientists about their mode of occurrence and the many interesting phenomena presented by their relation to the beds in which they are found. We have endeavoured to collect and preserve information about these structures, which are being daily destroyed, information which may prove of service to both botanists and geologists.

IV. On the structure of Sigillaria scutellata, Brongn., and other Eusigillarian stems, in comparison with those of other palæozoic lycopods

Among the fragments of plant remains, the structure of which is preserved, for us in the coal halls of the Lower Coal Measures of Lancashire and Yorkshire, Sigillarian stems have hitherto proved to be extremely infrequent. This fact has not escaped notice. Williamson, in 1872, remarked that “considering the abundance of Sigillariæ in the Coal-measures, it is marvellous that indisputable specimens displaying their internal organisation should he so rare; but such is the case.” Dr. Scott, in 1900, suggested that the rarity of such stems in the petrified state may be due to the infrequent occurrence of branching, “for, of course, it is in the case of small branches, rather than of great trunks, that petrifaction, such as to preserve the tissues, is most likely to have occurred. The recent reopening of a coal working at Shore-Littleborough, in Lancashire, rich in calcareous nodules containing plant petrifactions, a mine which is now, thanks to the liberality of Mr. W. H. Sutcliffe, F. G. S., being worked solely for the coal balls, has, however, resulted in the discovery of several well-preserved stems of ribbed Sigillarias of the Rhytidolepis type, which are described here. These specimens have been obtained by Mr. Lomax, one by one, as the result of a special search for this material, extending from July 1904 until the beginning of the present year (1907). Our thanks are due to him for the trouble he has taken to obtain the petrifactions, and for the skill with which he has prepared the sections.

On the Composition of the Coal Balls and Baum Pots in the Lower Coal Measures

In the Halifax Hard Bed Coal seam it is well-known that nodules occur in abundance; these nodules are locally known as “ coal balls.” Just above the coal is a bed of shale in which nodules called “ baura pots “ are found; the latter is divided from the coal by a thin shale containing Aviculopectens in abundance; under the coal is a hard fire-clay called ganister. “Coal balls” are generally spherical, of a brown or greyish-brown colour internally, they are very hard and contain the remains of plants, in some instances being largely composed of wood fossilized by carbonate of lime; they have generally a coating of iron pyrites, which occasionally replaces the carbonate of lime and becomes the chief constituent of the ball. “ Baum pots” may be divided into two kinds—first, those consisting of successive coatings of mineral matter surrounding a central portion; second, those showing stratification like the shale in which they occur. “Baum pots” are generally oval, of a grey colour, hard and compact and often contain fossil shells. They have frequently an outer coating of iron pyrites. I am not aware that the composition of these nodules has been examined in detail, it being generally stated that they are composed of limestone coated with, iron pyrites. With a view to learn something more as to their composition I have made analyses of two “coal balls” and one “baum pot” from the Halifax district. On examination of the “coal balls” qualitatively I found the ...

On Astromyelon and its Affinities

This new genus of fossil plants was first described and introduced to the scientific world so recently as the year 1878, by Professor W. C. Williamson, F.R.S., in his ninth memoir “On the Organization of the Fossil Plants of the Coal Measures.” Fragments of Astromyelon, however had been previously found and described as Calamitean, on account of their close resemblance to similar structures in Calamites, both by Mr. Binney and Professor Williamson. Since the publication of the above memoir, our knowledge of this interesting genus has been largely increased by the discovery of a large series of additional specimens by myself and other workers in this branch of science. I purpose in this paper to give a short sketch of what is known about Astromyelon and also of its nearest relations. The Astromyelons have been named and described solely from the microscopical examination of specimens obtained from the coal-balls found in the Halifax Hard Bed Coal, and in a similar coal in the neighbourhood of Oldham. Very little is known respecting the external appearance, but they appear to have been for the most part small herbaceous plants, like Asterophyllites and the smaller kinds of Calamites. I have recently found specimens of Astromyelon both as casts in sandstone and as impressions on shale. In the flagstone quarries at Ringby, near Halifax, I saw the impression of a longitudinal section of the stem of Astromyelon on the face of a flagstone, which shewed the structure almost as perfectly as a coal ball ...

III. An account of coal-balls made at Liege

In pursuance of the Orders of the Society, I shall endeavour to give an Account of the factitious Coal made at Liege .