Sporological study of the coals from Falkenberg (Faulouemont) colliery, Lothringen (Lorrain), France

Abstract

Fossil spores and pollen grains from the coals of Falkenberg colliery have been studied in detail. This study has been utilised to corroborate the correlalion of the coal seams in the two sections of the colliery which lies in the Lothringen area of Lothringen-Saar-Pfalz basin. The spores recovered from these coals have been assigned here to 52 spore genera and 157 spore species out of which 49 species, which have been newly proposed, are described in detail. In addition to this, 1 genus and 3 species have been emended and the emended diagnoses given. The distribution of the dispersed spores in the different scam, has been given and it has been concluded that miofloristically coal seams 1-4 of Southfield agree with coal seams 1-4 of Northfield, thus substantiating the correlation in vogue miofloristically. The spore assemblage of the succession but for coal seam 1, corresponds to division II of Bhardwaj 1955, correlated as Westphalian D in age. Seam 1 probably represents the initiation of Stephanian. The absence of Lycospora in this seam along with certain components is fairly suggestive. In the final part of the discussion the flora of the Falkenberg coals has been compared with the spore flora of the Saar basin.