The formation of inertinite-rich peats in the mid-Cretaceous Gates Formation: Implications for the interpretation of mid-Albian history of paleowildfire

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

Volumn 120, Issue 3-4, 1996, Pages 235-260

  Lamberson, M N ^a   Bustin, R M ^a   Kalkreuth, W D ^b   Pratt, K C ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA   (Canada)

^b GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA   (Canada)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ALBIA;

COAL SEAM; DECOMPOSITON; FIRE; GATES FORMATION; INERTINITE; PALAEOWILDFIRE; PEAT; WILDFIRE;

CANADA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, ROCKY MOUNTAINS;

EID: 0029729156     PISSN: 00310182     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/0031-0182(95)00043-7     Document Type: Article

References (98)

1. Barron, E.J., 1987. Cretaceous plate tectonic reconstructions. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., 59: 3-29.
2. Barron, E.J., 1989. Studies of Cretaceous climate. In: A. Berger et al. (Editors), Understanding Climate Change (Geophys. Monogr. Ser., 52, IUGG, 7). AGU/IUGG, Washington, DC, pp. 149-157.
3. Barron, E. J., and Washington, W.M., 1982. Cretaceous climate: A comparison of atmospheric simulations with the geologic record. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., 40: 103-133.
4. Barron, E.J. and Washington, W.M., 1984. The role of geographic variables in explaining paleoclimates: Results from Cretaceous model sensitivity studies. J. Geophys. Res., 89: 1267-1279.
5. Barron, E.J., Hay, W.W. and Thompson, S., 1989. The hydrologic cycle: a major variable during earth history. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. (Global Planet. Change), 75: 157-174.
6. Bell, W.A., 1956. Lower Cretaceous floras of western Canada. Geol. Surv. Can. Mem., 285, 331 pp.
7. Berner, R.A. and Canfield, D.E., 1989. A new model for atmospheric oxygen over geologic time. Am. J. Sci., 289: 333-361.
8. Bustin, R.M., 1991. Quantifying macerals: some statistical and practical considerations. Int. J. Coal. Geol., 17: 213-238.
9. Bustin, R.M. and Dunlop, R.L., 1992. Sedimentological factors affecting mining, quality, and geometry of coal seams of the Late-Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Mist Mountain Formation, southern Canadian Rocky Mountains. In: P.J. McCabe and J.T. Parrish (Editors), Controls on the Distribution and Quality of Cretaceous Coals. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap., 267: 117-138.
10. Bustin, R.M., Cameron, A.R., Grieve, D.A. and Kalkreuth, W.D., 1985. Coal Petrology. Its Principles, Methods and Applications, In: Geol. Assoc. Can. Short Course Notes, 3, 2nd ed., 230 pp.
11. Calder, J.H., 1994. The impact of climate change, tectonsim, and hydrology on the formation of Carboniferous tropical intermontane mires: the Springhill coalfield, Cumberland Basin, Nova Scotia. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., 106: 323-351.
12. Cant, D.J., 1989. Lower Zuni Sequence: Middle Jurassic to middle Cretaceous. In: B.D. Ricketts (Editor), Western Canada Sedimentary Basin: A Case History. Can. Soc. Pet. Geol., pp. 251-267.
13. Carmichael, S.M.M., 1983. Sedimentology of the Lower Cretaceous Gates and Moosebar Formations, Northeast Coalfields, British Columbia. Thesis. Univ. Br. Columbia, 285 pp. (unpublished).
14. Chaloner, W.G., 1989. Fossil charcoal as an indicator of palaeoatmospheric oxygen level. J. Geol. Soc. London, 146: 171-174.
15. Christensen, N.L., 1987. The biogeochemical consequences of fire and their effects on the vegetation of the coastal plain of the southeastern United States. In: L. Trabaud (Editor), The Role of Fire in Ecological Systems. SPB, The Hague, pp. 1-21.
16. Cohen, A.D., 1968. The petrology of some peats of southern Florida (with special reference to the origin of coal). Thesis. Pennsylvania State Univ., 352 pp.
17. Cohen, A.D., 1973. Petrology of some Holocene peat sediments from the Okefenokee swamp-marsh complex of southern Georgia. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 84: 3867-3878.
18. Cohen, A.D., 1974. Petrography and paleoecology of Holocene peats from the Okefenokee swamp-marsh complex of Georgia. J. Sediment. Petrol., 44: 716-726.
19. Collinson, M.E. and Scott, A.C., 1987. Implications of vegetational change through the geological record on models for coal-forming environments. In: A.C. Scott (Editor), Coal and Coal-bearing Strata: Recent Advances. Geol. Soc. London Spec. Publ., 32: 67-85.
20. Cookenboo, H., 1993. Lithofacies, provenance and diagenesis of Jura-Cretaceous Strata of the Northern Bowser Basin. Thesis. Univ. Br. Columbia.
21. Cope, M.J., 1980. Physical and chemical properties of coalified and charcoalified phytoclasts from some British Mesozoic sediments: an organic geochemical approach to palaeobotany. In: A.G. Douglas and J.R. Maxwell (Editors), Advances in Organic Geochemistry 1974. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp. 663-667.
22. Cope, M.J. and Chaloner, W.G., 1985. Wildfire: an interaction of biological and physical processes. In: B.H. Tiffney (Editor), Geological Factors and the Evolution of Plants. Yale Univ. Press, Hartford, CT, pp. 257-277.
23. Cross, A.T. and Phillips, T.L., 1990. Coal forming plants through time in North America. Int. J. Coal Geol., 16: 1-46.
24. Cypert, E., 1961. The effects of fires in the Okefenokee swamp in 1954 and 1955. Am. Midl. Nat., 66: 485-503.
25. Cypert, E., 1972. Plant succession on burned areas in Okefenokee swamp following the fires of 1954 and 1955. Proc. Tall Timbers Fire Ecol. Conf., 12: 199-217.
26. Demchuk, T.D., 1993. Petrology of fibrous coal (fusain) and associated inertinites, from the early Paleocene of the central Alberta plains. Int. J. Coal Geol., 24: 211-232.
27. Demchuk, T.D. and Strobl, R.S., 1989. Coal facies and in-seam profiling, Highvale No. 2 seam, Highvale, Alberta. In: W. Langenberg (Compiler), Advances in Western Canadian Coal Geoscience. Alta. Res. Counc. Inf. Ser., 103: 202-211.
28. Demchuk, T., Cameron, A.R. and Hills, L.V., 1993. Organic petrology of an Early Paleocene coal zone, Wabamun, Alberta: palynology, petrography and geochemistry. Org. Geochem., 20: 135-148.
29. Diessel, C.F.K., 1965. Correlation of macro- and micropetrography of some New South Wales coals. In: J.T. Woodcock et al. (Editors), Proc. 8th Commonw. Min. Metall. Congr., Melbourne, 6, pp. 669-677.
30. Drozd, R., 1985. The Bullmoose mine project. In: T.H. Patching (Editor), Coal in Canada. Can. Inst. Min. Met., 31: 263-268.
31. Einsele, G., Ricken, W. and Seilacher, A., 1991. Cycles and events in stratigraphy - basic concepts and terms. In: G. Einsele et al. (Editors), Cycles and Events in Stratigraphy. Springer, Berlin, pp. 1-19.
32. Esterle, J.S., Ferm, J.C. and Tie, Y.-L., 1989. A test for the analogy of tropical domed peat deposits to "dulling-up" sequences in coal beds - Preliminary results. Org. Geochem., 14: 333-342.
33. Ewel, K.C., 1990. Swamps. In: R.C. Myers and J.J. Ewel (Editors), Ecosystems of Florida. Univ. Central Florida Press, Orlando, FL, pp. 281-323.
34. Fischer, A.G., 1986. Climatic rhythms recorded in strata. Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 14: 351-376.
35. Fischer, A.G., 1991. Orbital cyclicity in Mesozoic strata. In: G. Einsele et al. (Editors), Cycles and Events in Stratigraphy. Springer, Berlin, pp. 48-62.
36. Frakes, L.A. and Francis, J.E., 1990. Cretaceous paleoclimates. In: R.N. Ginsburg and B. Beaudoin (Editors), Cretaceous Resources, Events and Rhythms: Background and Plans for Research. NATO ASI Ser. C, Math. Phys. Sci., 304: 273-287.
37. Garver, J.I., 1992. Provenance of Albian - Cenomanian rocks of the Methow and Tyaughton basins, southern British Columbia; a mid-Cretaceous link between North America and the Insular Terrane. Can. J. Earth Sci., 29: 1274-1295.
38. Gyllenhaal, E.D., Engberts, C.J., Markwick, P.J., Smith, L.H. and Patzkowsky, M.E., 1991. The Fujita-Ziegler model: a new semi-quantitative technique for estimating paleoclimate from paleogeographic maps. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., 86: 41-66.
39. Hare, F.K. and Thomas, M.K., 1974. Climate Canada. Wiley, New York, 256 pp.
40. Harris, T.M., 1958. Forest fire in the Mesozoic. J. Ecol., 46: 447-453.
41. Harris, T.M., 1981. Burnt ferns from the English Wealden. Proc. Geol. Assoc. London, 92: 47-58.
42. Hebda, R.J., 1977. The palaeoecology of a raised bog and associated deltaic sediments of the Fraser River Delta. Thesis. Univ. Br. Columbia, 202 pp. (unpublished).
43. Jackson, X., 1984 Paleogeography of the Lower Cretaceous Manville Group of western Canada. In: J.A. Masters (Editor), Elmworth - Case Study of a Deep Basin Gas Field. Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Mem., 38: 49-77.
44. Jerzykiewicz, T., 1992. Controls on the distribution of coal in Campanian - Paleocene post-Wapiabi strata of the Rocky Mountain Foothills. In: P.J. McCabe and J.T. Parrish (Editors), Controls on the Distribution and Quality of Cretaceous Coals. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap., 267: 139-150.
45. Jones, T.P. and Chaloner, W.G., 1991. Fossil charcoal, its recognition and palaeoatmospheric significance. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. (Global Planet. Change Sect.), 97: 39-50.
46. Jones, T.P., Scott, A.C. and Cope, M., 1991. Reflectance measurements and the temperature of formation of modern charcoals and implications for studies of fusain. Bull. Soc. Geol. Fr., 162: 193-200.
47. Kalkreuth, W. and Leckie, D.A., 1989. Sedimentological and petrographical characteristics of Cretaceous strandplain coals: a model for coal accumulation from the North American western interior seaway. In: P.C. Lyons and B. Alpern (Editors), Peat and Coal: Origin, Facies and Depositional Models. Int. J. Coal Geol., 12: 381-424.
48. Kimmins, J.P., 1987. Forest Ecology. MacMillan, New York, 531 pp.
49. Klukas, R.W., 1972. Control burn activities in Everglades National Park. Proc. Tall Timbers Fire Ecol. Conf., 12: 397-425.
50. Lamberson, M.N., 1993. Composition and facies variation in mid-Cretaceous Gates Formation coals, northeastern British Columbia, Canada: implications for the interpretation of paleowetland environments and assessment of coalbed methane characteristics. Thesis. Univ. Br. Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., 219 pp. (unpublished).
51. Lamberson, M.N., Bustin, R.M. and Kalkreuth, W.D., 1991. Lithotype (maceral) composition and variation as correlated with paleo-wetland environments, Gates Formation, northeastern British Columbia, Canada. Int. J. Coal Geol., 18: 87-124.
52. Leckie, D.A., 1983. Sedimentology of the Moosebar and Gates Formations (Lower Cretaceous). Thesis. McMaster Univ., 515 pp. (unpublished).
53. Leckie, D.A., 1986a. Rates, controls, and sand-body geometries of transgressive - regressive cycles: Cretaceous Moosebar and Gates Formations, British Columbia. Bull. Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., 70: 516-535.
54. Leckie, D.A., 1986b. Sedimentology of coal-bearing rocks, a core display. In: West. Canada Coal Geosci. Forum, 25 pp.
55. Lottes, A.L. and Ziegler, A.M., 1994. World peat occurrence and the seasonality of climate and vegetation. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., 106: 23-37.
56. Marchioni, D. and Kalkreuth, W.D., 1991. Coal facies interpretations based on lithotype and maceral variations in Lower Cretaceous (Gates Formation) coals of western Canada. Int. J. Coal Geol., 18: 125-162.
57. Mathews, W.H., 1991. Physiographic evolution of the Canadian Cordillera. In: H. Gabrielse and C.J. Yorath (Editors), Geology of the Cordilleran Orogen in Canada (Geol. Can., 4). Geol. Surv. Can., pp. 403-418.
58. McCabe, P.J., 1984. Depositional environments of coal and coal-bearing strata. In: R.A. Rahmani and R.M. Flores (Editors), Sedimentology of Coal and Coal-Bearing Sequences. Spec. Publ. Int. Assoc. Sedimentol., 7: 13-42.
59. McCabe, P.J., 1987. Facies studies of coal and coal-bearing strata. In: A.C. Scott (Editor), Coal and Coal Bearing Strata, Recent Advances. Geol. Soc. London Spec. Publ., 32: 51-66.
60. McCabe, P.J., 1991. Tectonic controls on coal accumulation. Bull. Soc. Geol. Fr., 162: 277-282.
61. McCabe, P.J. and Parrish, J.T., 1992. Tectonic and climatic controls on the distribution and quality of Cretaceous coals. In: P.J. McCabe and J.T. Parrish (Editors), Controls on the Distribution and Quality of Cretaceous Coals. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap., 267: 1-15.
62. McLean, J.R., 1977. The Cadomin Formation: stratigraphy, Sedimentology, and tectonic implications. Bull. Can. Pet. Geol., 25: 792-827.
63. McMechan, M.E. and Thompson, R.I., 1989. Structural style and history of the Rocky Mountain fold and thrust belt. In: B.D. Ricketts (Editor), Western Canada Sedimentary Basin: A Case History. Can. Soc. Pet. Geol., Calgary, Alta., pp. 47-71.
64. Parrish, J.T. and Spicer, R.A., 1988. Middle Cretaceous wood from the Nanushuk Group, central North Slope, Alaska. Palaeontology, 31: 19-34.
65. Parrish, J.T., Ziegler, A.M. and Scotese, C.R., 1982. Rainfall pattern and the distribution of coals and evaporites in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., 40: 67-101.
66. Patzkowsky, M.E., Smith, L.H., Markwick, P.J., Engberts, C.J., and Gyllenhaal, E.D., 1991. Application of the Fujita - Ziegler paleoclimate model: Early Permian and Late Cretaceous examples. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., 86: 67-85.
67. Phillips, S., 1995. Holocene evolution of the Changinola peat deposit, Panama: sedimentology of a marine-influenced tropical peat deposit on a tectonically active coast. Thesis. Univ. Br. Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., 244 pp. (unpublished).
68. Pratt, K.C., 1988. Geographic variations in relationships between random and maximum vitrinite reflectance, western Canadian coals. Geol. Surv. Can. Pap., 1988-1D, pp. 27-32.
69. Pratt, K.C., 1989. The use of automated image analysis to determine conventional petrographic parameters. Geol. Surv. Can. Pap., 89-8: 137-145.
70. Pratt, K.C., 1993. The use of composite and mosaic imaging of polished surfaces to enhance petrographic analysis of coal by image analysis. Org. Geochem., 20: 759-768.
71. 2 variation, fire and terrestrial ecology. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. (Global Planet. Change Sect.), 75: 223-240.
72. Robinson, J.M., 1991. Phanerozoic atmospheric reconstructions: a terrestrial perspective. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. (Global Planet. Change Sect.), 97: 51-62.
73. Rykiel Jr., E.J., 1984. Okefenokee Swamp watershed: water balance and nutrient budget. In: K.C. Ewel and H.T. Odum (Editors), Cypress Swamps. Univ. Florida Press, Gainesville, pp. 374-385.
74. Sander, P.M. and Gee, C.T., 1990. Fossil charcoal: techniques and applications. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 63: 269-279.
75. Saward, S.A., 1992. A global view of Cretaceous vegetation patterns. In: P.J. McCabe et al. (Editors), Controls on the Distribution and Quality of Cretaceous Coals. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap., 267: 17-35.
76. 2: Natural Variations Archean to Present. Am. Geophys. Union, Washington, DC, pp. 554-560.
77. Scott, A.C., 1989. Observations on the nature and origin of fusain. In: P.C. Lyons and B. Alpern (Editors), Peat and Coal: Origin, Facies and Depositional Models. Int. J. Coal Geol., 12: 443-475.
78. Scott, A.C. and Jones, T.P., 1994. The nature and influence of fire in Carboniferous ecosystems. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., 106: 91-112.
79. Shroeder, M.J. and Buck, C.C., 1970. Fire weather: A guide for application of meteorological information to forest fire control operations. In: U.S. Dep. Agric. Forest Serv. Agric. Handbook, 360, 229 pp.
80. Smith, D.G., Sneider, R.M. and Zorn, C.E., 1984. The paleogeography of the Lower Cretaceous of western Alberta and northeastern British Columbia in and adjacent to the Deep Basin of the Elmworth area. In: J.A. Masters (Editor), Elmworth - Case Study of a Deep Basin Gas Field. Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Mem., 38: 79-114.
81. Spackman, W., Cohen, A.D., Given, P.H. and Casagrande, D.J., 1976. The comparative study of the Okefenokee swamp and the Everglades - mangrove swamp-marsh complex of southern Florida. A short course presentation. Pennsylvania State Univ., 403 pp.
82. Spicer, R.A., 1987. The significance of the Cretaceous flora of northern Alaska for the reconstruction of the climate of the Cretaceous. Geol. Jahrb. A, 96: 265-291.
83. Spicer, R.A. and Corfield, R.M., 1992. A review of terrestrial and marine climates in the Cretaceous with implications for modeling "Greenhouse Earth". Geol. Mag., 129: 169-180.
84. Spicer, R.A. and Parrish, J.T., 1986. Paleobotanical evidence for cool north polar climates in the middle Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) time. Geology, 14: 703-706.
85. Spicer, R.A. and Parrish, J.T., 1990. Late Cretaceous - early Tertiary palaeoclimates of northern high latitudes: a quantitative view. J. Geol. Soc. London, 147: 329-341.
86. Staub, J.R. and Esterle, J.S., 1992. Evidence for a tidally influenced Upper Carboniferous ombrogenous mire system: Upper Bench, Beckley Bed (Westphalian A), southern West Virginia. J. Sediment. Petrol., 62: 411-441.
87. Stott, D.F., 1982. Lower Cretaceous Fort St. John Group and Upper Cretaceous Dunvegan Formation of the Foothills and Plains of Alberta, British Columbia, District of MacKenzie and Yukon Territory. Geol. Surv. Can. Bull., 328, 124 pp.
88. Stout, S.A., 1985. A microscopical investigation of the fate of secondary xylem during peatiflcation and the early stages of coal formation. Thesis. Pennsylvania State Univ., 309 pp. (unpublished).
89. Styan, W.B. and Bustin, R.M., 1983a. Petrography of some Fraser River delta peat deposits: coal maceral and microlitho-type precursors in temperate climate-peats. Int. J. Coal Geol., 2: 321-370.
90. Styan, W.B. and Bustin, R.M., 1983b. Sedimentology of some Fraser River delta peat deposits: a modern analogue for some deltaic coals. Int. J. Coal Geol., 3: 101-143.
91. Tolonen, K., 1983. The post-glacial fire record. In: R.W. Wein and D.A. MacLean (Editors), The Role of Fire in Northern Circumpolar Ecosystems. SCOPE, 18: 21-44.
92. Wein, R., 1983. Fire behaviour and ecological effects in organic terrain. In: R.W. Wein and D.A. MacLean (Editors), The Role of Fire in Northern Circumpolar Ecosystems. SCOPE, 18: 81-95.
93. Wein, R.W. and MacLean, D.A., 1983. An overview of fire in northern ecosystems. In: R.W. Wein and D.A. MacLean (Editors), The Role of Fire in Northern Circumpolar Ecosystems. Wiley, New York, pp. 1-18.
94. Williams, G.D. and Stelck, C.R., 1975. Speculations on the Cretaceous paleogeography of North America. In: W.G.E. Caldwell (Editor), The Cretaceous System in the Western Interior of North America. Geol. Assoc. Can. Spec. Pap., 13: 1-20.
95. Winston, R.B., 1993. Reassessment of the evidence for primary fusinite and degradofusinite. Org. Geochem., 20: 209-221.
96. Wolfe, J.A., 1979. Temperature parameters of humid to mesic forests of eastern Asia and relation to forests of other regions of the northern hemisphere and Australasia. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap., 1106, 37 pp.
97. Yorath, C.J., 1991. Upper Jurassic to Paleogene assemblages. In: H. Gabrielse and C.J. Yorath (Editors), Geology of the Cordilleran Orogen in Canada (Geol. Can., 4). Geol. Surv. Can., pp. 329-371.
98. Ziegler, A.M., Raymond, A.L., Gierlowski, T.C., Horrell, M.A., Rowley, D.B. and Lottes, A.L., 1987. Coal, climate and terrestrial productivity: The present and Early Cretaceous compared. In: A.C. Scott (Editor), Coal and Coal Bearing Strata, Recent Advances. Geol. Soc. London Spec. Publ., 32: 25-49.