Organic petrology as a tool for peat-forming environmental reconstructions: insights from Suhostrel and Bobov Dol coals, SW Bulgaria

Abstract

The petrographic composition of samples from Suhostrel and Bobov Dol coal deposits was studied using optical micro­scopy. The maceral contents were further used to calculate maceral ratios which were interpreted in terms of environmental condition during peat deposition. Petrographic data of Suhostrel coal is compatible with its organic geochemical characteristics and indicate peat formation under inundated topogenous, meso- to rheotropic, sparsely forested marsh- or fen-type environment. Coal facies diagrams for Bobov Dol coal, however, provide contradictory depositional settings and therefore cannot be used alone for environmental reconstruction.