Jennifer M.K. O'Keefe

Gas emissions, minerals, and tars associated with three coal fires, Powder River Basin, USA.

Ground-based surveys of three coal fires and airborne surveys of two of the fires were conducted near Sheridan, Wyoming. The fires occur in natural outcrops and in abandoned mines, all containing Paleocene-age subbituminous coals. Diffuse (carbon dioxide (CO(2)) only) and vent (CO(2), carbon monoxide (CO), methane, hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), and elemental mercury) emission estimates were made for each of the fires. Additionally, gas samples were collected for volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis and showed a large range in variation between vents. The fires produce locally dangerous levels of CO, CO(2), H(2)S, and benzene, among other gases. At one fire in an abandoned coal mine, trends in gas and tar composition followed a change in topography. Total CO(2) fluxes for the fires from airborne, ground-based, and rate of fire advancement estimates ranged from 0.9 to 780mg/s/m(2) and are comparable to other coal fires worldwide. Samples of tar and coal-fire minerals collected from the mouth of vents provided insight into the behavior and formation of the coal fires.

An alternative to acetolysis: application of an enzyme-based method for the palynological preparation of fresh pollen, honey samples and bee capsules

Acetolysis has been widely used for the preparation of modern pollen samples since its introduction by Erdtman. It has several disadvantages in both safety and resultant changes to the size and, in some cases, structure of pollen grains. The enzymatic technique introduced by Schols and colleagues is tested on a fresh pollen sample, a honey sample and a bee pollen capsule. The technique increases processing time, but is completely non-toxic, easy to complete and comparable in cost to acetolysis. Even very fragile grains are not damaged by this technique.

Fungal palynomorphs from the Miocene Heath Formation, Tumbes Province, Perú

ABSTRACT Material from the lower Miocene Heath Formation in Perú was re-examined for fungal content. Ninety-four taxa were encountered during the preliminary survey of the slides. These taxa represent a vibrant community of parasites, saprophytes and mycorrhizae present in terrestrial regions adjacent to the Heath Formation depocentre. This paper provides an overview of the taxa encountered and resolves nomenclatural problems for seven taxa: Diporotheca doniana sp. nov., Diporotheca gorda sp. nov., Monoporisporites minionoides sp. nov., Parapotomyces maydiformis gen. et sp. nov., Pluricellaesporites woodianus sp. nov., Verrudisporonites elsikianus gen. et sp. nov. and Zopfiella neogenica sp. nov.