De Jersey, Noel Jack

University of Queensland eSpace

VOLUME III 
U n i  v e r s i  ty  of Quee n slan d  
DEPARTMENT O F  GEOLOGY 
194Q NUMBER 9 
PRINCIPAL MIC ROSPORE TYPES 
IN THE 
IPSWICH COALS 
By 
N. J. de JERSEY, PH.D., M.Sc., D.I .C. 
Price ; TWO SHILLINGS 
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND PRESS 
BRISBANE 
DATE OF PUBLICATION 
2ht OCTOBER, 1949 
· - . 
VOLUME III 
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY 
1949 
P RINCIPA L  MIC RO S PO RE TYPES 
OF THE 
IPSWICH COALS 
By 
N .. J .  de .JERSEY PH.D . , M ;Sc. , D . I.C . 
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND PRESS 
BRISBANE 
DATE OF PUBLICATION 
21st OCTOBER. 1 949 
NUMBER H 
Printed by WATSON, FERGUSON & Co 
Stanley Street, South Brisbane 
PRINCIPAL M ICROSPOR E  TYPES 
IN TH E IPSWICH COALS 
By 
N .  J .  de JERSEY, Ph .D.  M.Sc D . I .C .  
INT ROD U CTIO N 
The writer has previously (1946) described microspore types from Queensland 
Permian coals. This work is now extended to the Triassic by a description of 
microspore types from the Ipswich series of south-eastern Queensland. In this 
investigation the technique used for isolating the microspores has been the same 
as described in the previous paper and also the same method of classification has 
been used, the initial letter T of course being substituted for P to indicate the 
Triassic age of each spore type. 
Since publication of the writer's previous paper, Balme (1949) has described 
microspore types from the Permian coals of Western Australia. These types have 
also been classified in accordance with Dulhunty's classification, and although the 
work is as yet unpublished, it has been considered desirable to use letters other 
than the unpublished qnes of Balme for the Triassic types. For example, a Triassic 
type close to, but not identical with Balme's P3D, is classified as T3E even though 
P3D has not yet been described in print . 
D ES C RIPTIO N O F  MIC R O S PO R E  TYPES 
Type T1A (Plate 1 ,  Fig. 1A) : 
Angular tetrahedral ; sharply-defined apices ; fiat or slightly convex sides : 
triangular outline. Apices of tetrahedron to opposite sides 20-35,u. Trilete, well 
developed triradiate sutures extending to distal apices, and frequently opened 
towards proximal apex. Exine psilate. 
Type T2B (Plate 1, Fig. 2B) : 
Subangular tetrahedral ; rounded apices ; convex,- sides ; ill-defined triangular outline. Trilete ; prominent sutures, straight or only sliglftly curved, and extending 
to distal apices. Size 20-40 ,u from apices to opposite sides in proximal view. 
Exine psilate and thick-walled giving a dark rim round the body. 
Type T2C (Plate 1 ,  Fig. 2C) : 
Subangular tetrahedral ; rounded apices ; convex sides ; ill-defined triangular 
outline. Trilete ; straight sutures extending about half-way to distal apices, and 
frequently opened towards proximal apex. Size 20-30 ,u from apices to opposite 
sides in proximal view. Exine psilate. 
Type T2D (Plate 1, Fig. 2D) : 
Subangular tetrahedral ; rounded apices ; convex sides ; ill-defined triangular 
outline. Trilete ; straight sutures opened half-way to distal apices. Proximal 
thickened portion extending to limits of opened sutures. Size 20-40 ,u from apice5 
to opposite sides in proximal view. Exine psilate. 
2 PRINCIPAL MICROSPORE T YPES IN THE IPSWICH COALS 
Type T3C (Plate I ,  Fig. 3C) : 
Ellipsoidal. Monolete, longitudinal suture, at tirries opened with �ps t�rned 
outwards, runs full length of body. Length 20-35 11-· width I0-20 11-· Exme ps1late. 
Type T3E (Plate I ,  Fig. 3E) : 
Ellipsoidal. Monolete, longitudinal suture runs full length of ?ody. Length 
40-50 11- ; width 20-30 11-· Exine with two longitudinal folds extending nearly full 
length of body, otherwise psilate. 
Type T3F (Plate I ,  Fig. 3F) : 
Ellipsoidal with long narrow body. Monolete ; longitudinal suture, often 
open to a width of 10 jl-, runs full length of body. Length 65-85 11- ;  width 20-30 11-· 
Exine psilate. 
Type T6B (Plate I ,  Fig. 6B) : 
Angular tetrahedral ; well-defined apices ; flat or slightly convex sides ; 
triangular outline. Trilete with long, frequently opened sutures extending to distal 
apices. Size 20-30 11- from apices of tetrahedron to opposite sides. Exine granulate, 
of medium to coarse granular texture, and very thick walled giving a dark rim 
round the body. 
Type T7C (Plate I ,  Fig. 7C) : 
Subangular tetrahedral ; rounded apices ; convex sides ; ill-defined triangular 
outline. Trilete ; short ill-defined sutures extending towards distal apices give 
rise to a sub-triangular opening about 5 11- in diameter with thickened edges about 
5 11- in width. Size 25-50 11- from apices of tetrahedron to opposite sides. Exine 
granulate, of medium to coarse granular texture. 
Type T7D (Plate I ,  Fig. 7D) : 
Subangular tetrahedral ; rounded apices ; convex sides ; ill-defined triangular 
outline. Trilete ; sutures usually closed and often not reaching distal apices. 
Size 20-40 11- from apices of tetrahedron to opposite sides. Exine granulate, Of 
coarse granular texture and very thick-walled giving a dark rim round the body 
Type T7E (Plate I ,  Fig. 7E) : 
Subangular tetrahedral ; rounded apices ; conwx sides ; ill-defined triangular 
outline. Trilete with short sutures not reaching distal apices and usually opened 
near proximal apex. Size 50-70 11- from apices of tetrahedron to opposite sides. 
Exine granulate, of coarse granular texture. 
Type T8A (Plate I ,  Fig. 8A) : 
Ellipsoidal. Monolete dehiscence, extending full length of body, produces 
longitudinal marginal opening often expanded towards its extremities. Length 
35-60/1-, width in lateral view 20-30 11-· Exine granulate, of fine to medium granular 
texture. 
Type T9D (Plate I, Fig. 9D) : 
Spheroidal ; distinctly flattened ; circular outline. Trilete with widely­
opened sutures which occupy a large part of the area in proximal view. Diameter 
I5-30 11-· Walls relatively thin ; exine granulate, of medium granular texture. 
PRINCIPA L MICROSPORE TYPES IN THE IPSWICH COA LS 3 
Type T16A (Plate 1 ,  Fig. 16A) : 
Tetrahedral ; well-defined apices ; flat to slightly convex sides ; triangular 
outline. Trilete with sutures extending to distal apices, and frequently opened. 
Size 30-50 fL from apices to opposite bases of the tetrahedron. Exine echinate 
with small spines 2-4 fi- long, and 1-2 fL wide at base, set 2-3 fL apart . 
Type T16B (Plate l ,  Fig. l6B) : 
Tetrahedral ; well-defined apices ; flat to slightly convex sides ; triangular 
outline. Trilete with open sutures extending to distal apices, and giving rise to a 
large, well-defined triangular opening at centre. Size 20-40 fL from apices of 
tetrahedron to opposite sides. Exine echinate with small spines l to 1 .5 fL in 
length,  0.5 fL wide at base, set 1 fL apart. 
Type Tl7D (Plate 1, Fig. l7D) : 
Subangular tetrahedral ; rounded apices ; convex sides ; ill-defined triangular 
outline. Trilete with sutures extending towards distal apices, usually open near 
proximal apex. Size 50-70 fL from apices of tetrahedron to opposite sides. Exine 
echinate with small spines up to 2 fL in length, 0.5-l fL wide at base, set l -2 fL apart . 
Three thickened ridges, 5-7 fL at greatest width, and one to each of proxim3.l faces, 
run parallel to distal interfaces. 
Type T17 E (Plate l ,  Fig. l 7E) : • 
Subangular tetrahedral ; rounded apices ; convex sides ; rounded triangular 
outline. Trilete with well-defined, frequently opened sutures extending to distal ' 
apices. Size 20-35 fL from apices to opposite bases of the tetrahedron. Exine 
echinate with small spines up to 2 fL in length, lfL in width, set l-2 fL apar t .  
Type T18D (Plate l ,  Fig. 18D) : 
Ellipsoidal, with pointed ends. Monolete with longitudinal suture extending 
for greater part of length or occasionally with longitudinal collapsed area. Length .. 
40-55 fL, width 20-40 fL· Exine echinate with small spines 2-3 fL long, 1-2 fL wipe 1 
at base, set 1-2 fL apart. · 
Type T20B (Plate 1 ,  Fig. 20B) : 
Spheroidal ; distinctly flattened ; circular outline. Broad monolete suture 
usually extending full width of spore in proximal view. Diameter 20-50 fL· Exine 
echinate with spines up to 3 fL in length and 1 -2 fL in width at base, set about 
2 fL apart. 
Type T25A (Plate 1 ,  Fig. 25A) : 
Spheroidal ; distinctly flattened ; circular outline. Monolete with ill-defined 
suture not seen in many examples. Diameter 15-25 fL· Exine thin, ornamented 
with 2-5 concentric striae, l -2 fL wide and about 3 fL apart . 
Type T27C (Plate 1 ,  Fig. 27C) : 
Subangular tetrahedral ; rounded apices ; convex sides ; ill-defined triangular 
outline. Trilete with triradiate sutures extending to distal apices. Size 20-40 fL 
from apices of tetrahedron to opposite sides. Exine verrucate with sm3.ll, clo3elv-
packed rounded elevations about l 11. in diameter and l-3 fL apart. 
·· 
4 
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PRINCIPAL MICROSPORE T YPES IN THE IPSWICH COA LS 
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PRINCIPA L lv!ICROSPORE TYPES IN THE IPSWICH COALS 5 
Type T28C (Plate I ,  Fig. 28C) : 
Ellipsoidal ; length about twice width in lateral view ; pointed ends. Monolete 
with well-defined suture running full length of body. Length 40-80 IL· width 
20-45 11- in lateral view. Exine verrucate with small, closely-packed, rounded 
elevations, I-2 11- in diameter and I-3 11- apart . 
Type T29A (Plate I ,  Fig. 29A) : 
Approximately spheroidal ; slightly flattened ; rounded to slightly oval out­
line. Diameter 20-60 IL· Trilete with well-marked triradiate sutures extending to 
margin in full proximal optical section. Exine verrucate with small, closely-packed, 
rounded elevations I -2 11- in diameter and I-3 11- apart. 
Type T30B (Plate I ,  Fig. 30B) : 
Spheroidal to suboblate ; slightly flattened ; circular to suboval outline. 
Weak monolete suture not seen in many examples. Diameter I5-35 IL· Exine 
verrucate with small, closely-packed, rounded elevations about 2 11- in diameter 
and I -2 11- apart. 
Type T32C (Plate I ,  Fig. 32C) : 
Monowinged with subangular tetrahedral body exhibiting rounded apices ; 
·convex sides ; rounded triangular outline. Trilete with well-defined triradiate 
sutures. Body thick-walled, marked with coarsely reticulate venation, 20-30 11-
from apices of tetrahedron to opposite sides. Wing psilate, situated in one plane 
round body and attached to distal interfaces of the tetrahedron, has an approxi­
mately circular outline and width 5-8 IL· 
Type T33D (Plate I ,  Fig. 33D) : 
Monowinged with ellipsoidal body, suboval outline. Monolete, ill-defined 
longitudinal suture usually not extending full length of body. Body psilate,  
thickened, 25-60 11- long, I0-25 11- wide. Single wing with oval outline, in lateral 
plane round body and I0-25 11- wide at greatest width of spore, decreasing to 5 P­
at apices and often not continuous round one apex of body. Exine of wing thinner 
than that of body, coarsely reticulate .  
Type T38A (Plate I ,  Fig. 38A) : 
Biwinged with ellipsoidal body. Monolete exhibiting narrow, longitudinal 
germinal area extending full length of body. Body psilate, 30-80 11- long and 
20-60 11- wide. Two wings, marked with radiating venation and normally equal to 
or slightly larger than body but of variable size and shape, are situated symmetri­
cally on either side of germinal area towards which zones of attachment extend. 
Type T40A (Plate I ,  .Fig. 40A) : 
Biwinged with flattened spheroidal body. Monolete, exhibiting narrow 
germinal area extending across body between roots of wings. Body, 25-35 11- in 
diameter, frequently exhibits coarse shiae transverse to germinal area. Two 
relatively small, somewhat elongated wings marked with radiating venation and 
normally slightly wider and considerably longer than diameter of body, but of 
variable shape and size, are situated symmetrically on either side of germinal area 
with large zones of attachment. 
6 PRINCIPA L J\JICROSPORE TYPES IN THE IPSWICH COALS 
Type T40C (Plate I ,  Fig. 40C) : 
Biwinged with flattened spheroidal body. Monolete exhibiting narrow 
germinal area extending across body between roots of wings. Body psilate, 40-80 1-L 
in diameter. Two wings with reticulate venation, normally rounded or slightly 
elongated and about same size as body but of variable size and shape, are situated 
symmetrically on either side of germinal area with large zones of attachment. 
Type T40H (Plate I ,  Fig. 40H) : 
Biwinged with flattened spheroidal body. Monolete exhibiting narrow 
germinal area (often ill-defined) extending across body between roots of wings. 
Body coarsely reticulate, 20-40 1-L in diameter. Two small rounded wings marked 
with reticulate venation, and about half diameter of body in length, are situated 
symmetrically on either side of germinal area with narrow zones of attachment. 
Type T4IB (Plate I ,  Fig. 4IB) : 
This microspore has the same general appearance as the Permian type P4IA. 
It has therefore been tentatively placed under the same number in the classifica­
tion, although the morphology of both types is still not clear. However, the 
general features are typical, and the type has been recognised in -coals from a 
number of different seams. The spore appears to consist of a flat disc-shaped ' 
portion (25-35 1-L in diameter) to one side of which is attached a large, elevated 
structure projecting considerably beyond the margin of the disc. The exine is 
granulate, of fine to medium granular texture and no opening or dehiscence has 
been observed. 
CLASSIFICATION OF MICROSPORE TYPES 
The accompanying table (Table I) indicates the classification of the microspore 
types described above and also that of the Permian microspore types known at 
present from Queensland. 
CONCLUSIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
The microspore types distinguished should be of value in future palaeo­
botanical and stratigraphical investigations . With regard to the latter aspect, of 
the 3I types, I I ,  or approximately 35 per cent . ,  also occur in the Queensland 
Permian coals. Although the remaining new types enable the Ipswich coals to be 
easily distinguished from the Permian coals, the relatively large percentage of 
Permian types occurring in the Ipswich series suggests that the Permian and Ipswich 
floras have more in common than was previously believed. It also suggests that 
the Ipswich series may be even older than Middle Triassic, the age suggested by 
a recent study of the flora (Jones and de Jersey, I947, p. 82) . 
The writer wishes to thank I\lr .  A .  K .  Denmead, of the Queensland Geological 
Survey, for assistance in securing coal samples for study. He is also indebt ed to 
Mr. B .  E .  Balme for supplying data on microspore types in the Collie coals, and 
to Dr. 0. A. Jones, of the Geology Department, University of Queensland, for 
assistance in preparing the paper for publication. 
PRINCIPAL MICROSPORE TYPES IN THE IPSWICH COALS 7 
REFERENCES 
BALME, B. E. ( 1 949) . Unpublished Thesis. Geology Department, University of Western  
Australia. 
de JERSEY, N. J .  ( 1946) . Microspore Types in some Queensland Permian Coals. Universit y  
of Queensland Papers, Geology Department, Vol. III . ,  No. 5. 
JONES, 0. A. and de JERSEY, N. J. ( 1 947 ) .  The Flora of the Ipswich Coal MeasureE� 
Morphology and Floral Succession. University of Queensland Papers, Department ol 
Geology, Vol. I II . ,  �o. 3 .  
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Principal microspore types of the Ipswich coals

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Principal microspore types of the Ipswich coals

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