|
|||||
|
|
Provenance of Coals Recovered from the Wreck of HMAV Bounty |
|
| Authors: | Nigel Erskine A. Harold V. Smith Peter J. Crosdale |
| Affiliation: | Curator: Exploration, Australian National Maritime Museum, GPO Box 5131, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia; 16 Silverdale Close, Sheffield S11 9JN, UK; Energy Resources Consulting Pty Ltd, PO Box 54, Coorparoo, Qld 4151, Australia |
| Abstract: | Coal samples from HMAV Bounty were analysed using standard techniques to shed light on their provenance. Petrographic analysis indicated they were Carboniferous, with high vitrinite and liptinite content and a mean random reflectance of vitrinite of 0.99%. Palynological analysis indicated the samples were derived from the Middle Coal Measures, Westphalian B. Combining coal rank (vitrinite reflectance), age, knowledge of seam distributions and coalfield history indicates the most like source to be the Durham Coalfield, possibly the Hutton or Low Main Seams. These coals were mined along the valley of the Weir in the latter part of the 18th century. © 2007 The Authors |
| Keywords: | Coal palynology petrography Durham coalfield |