Inertinite
Encyclopedia
Inertinite is oxidized organic material or fossil
ized charcoal
. It is found as tiny flakes within sedimentary rock
s. The presence of inertinite is significant in the geological record, as it signifies that wildfire
s occurred at the time that the host sediment
was deposited. It is also an indication of oxidation due to atomospheric exposure or fungal decomposition during deposition. Inertinite is a common maceral
in most types of coal
. The main inertinite submacerals are fusinite, semifusinite, micrinite, macrinite and funginite. The most common type of inertinite maceral is fusinite.
The optical properties of semifusinite are very similar to those of vitrinite
. They differ in that inertinite is black, whereas vitrinite is brown, and inertinite also has a higher reflectance than vitrinite.
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
ized charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen...
. It is found as tiny flakes within sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock are types of rock that are formed by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause mineral and/or organic particles to settle and accumulate or minerals to precipitate from a solution....
s. The presence of inertinite is significant in the geological record, as it signifies that wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
s occurred at the time that the host sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....
was deposited. It is also an indication of oxidation due to atomospheric exposure or fungal decomposition during deposition. Inertinite is a common maceral
Maceral
A maceral is a component of coal or oil shale. The term 'maceral' in reference to coal is analogous to the use of the term 'mineral' in reference to igneous or metamorphic rocks. Examples of macerals are inertinite, vitrinite and liptinite.- Inertinite :...
in most types of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
. The main inertinite submacerals are fusinite, semifusinite, micrinite, macrinite and funginite. The most common type of inertinite maceral is fusinite.
The optical properties of semifusinite are very similar to those of vitrinite
Vitrinite
Vitrinite is one of the primary components of coals and most sedimentary kerogens. Vitrinite is a type of maceral, where "macerals" are organic components of coal analogous to the "minerals" of rocks. Vitrinite has a shiny appearance resembling glass . It is derived from the cell-wall material or...
. They differ in that inertinite is black, whereas vitrinite is brown, and inertinite also has a higher reflectance than vitrinite.