Characterization of huminite macerals

Abstract The first results of an electron microscopy study of soft brown coals include observations of various cell structures not normally resolved with light microscopes. There is widespread evidence of gelification having occurred to produce spherical aggregates of huminitic material. Some macerals, especially attrinite, are revealed as highly heterogeneous in both component materials and in texture. Differential uptake of heavy metal ‘stains’ confirms that the huminitic macerals vary considerably in fine physical structure.