1.4 South Perth Basin (Sue-1 bore)
7
in fluorescence mode give bright yellow glow at low maturity and become darker and
duller as the coal increases in maturation, namely from sub-bituminous to bituminous,
when the first distinct change in the lipid properties appears (Teichmuller 1974). This
change coincides with petroleum formation and its discharge from liptinite macerals
(Glikson and Fielding 1991), specifically from exines of pollen (Glikson and Owen
1987).
Usually migration of oil, which tends to be ‘heavy’ oil from coal, is limited and
it tends to solidify as bitumen in cavities within inertinite macerals and coal cleats,
as has been documented from the Permian coals of the Bowen Basin (Glikson et al.
1999, 2000).
The maturation indices used by LeBlanc Smith (1993) for the Collie Basin coals
are vitrinite reflectance; reporting Ro% of 0.4–0.6 over a depth of about 1000 m.
The higher values are reported from the base of the Permian coal in the Collie Basin.
Taylor et al. (1998) reported VRo values of 1.0% from 4653 m depth, at the base
of the Permian in the Perth Basin, the down-faulted block. The same authors note
the basin as ‘cool’, namely having a low thermal gradient. LeBlanc Smith (1993)
reported 21–31 °C geothermal gradient presently in the Perth Basin. Temperatures
of just over 100 °C at the base of the Permian are reported by Taylor et al. (1998),
which fits well with LeBlanc’s geothermal gradient. The Perth Basin was part of
the depositional basin that included Collie–Wilga; therefore, the same geothermal
gradient applies.
Vitrinite reflectance data indicate that significant sections of Permian sediments
are missing from the Collie Basin Coal Measures. Vitrinite Ro% with depth has been
used to reconstruct the burial and tectonic history of sedimentary basins (Glikson
and Golding 1998; Glikson et al. 2006). The jump in vitrinite Ro% from 0.4 to 0.6
(LeBlank Smith 1993) signifies missing sediments. It is therefore evident from the
VRo data that the Darling fault became active initially sometime during the Late
Artinskian–early Upper Permian. Hence the missing sediments in the uplifted block
of the Collie Basin.
Vitrinite reflectance data reported by LeBlanc Smith (1993) for the coals did
not display any significant different values between R min and R max , which indicates
absence of anisotropy, the result of stress through lateral tectonic or hydrothermal
pressure, which would have led to folding and distortion of the sediments (Glikson
et al. 2006; 2011).
1.5 Methods of Study
Preparation of coal samples for pollen/spore analysis followed techniques outlined
by C.A. Brown (1960) in ‘Palynological Techniques’.
Preparation of Slides
Slides were mounted in glycerine jelly and sealed with ‘Hemiglu’. Single mounts
were prepared following Erdtman’s (1934) method.
7
in fluorescence mode give bright yellow glow at low maturity and become darker and
duller as the coal increases in maturation, namely from sub-bituminous to bituminous,
when the first distinct change in the lipid properties appears (Teichmuller 1974). This
change coincides with petroleum formation and its discharge from liptinite macerals
(Glikson and Fielding 1991), specifically from exines of pollen (Glikson and Owen
1987).
Usually migration of oil, which tends to be ‘heavy’ oil from coal, is limited and
it tends to solidify as bitumen in cavities within inertinite macerals and coal cleats,
as has been documented from the Permian coals of the Bowen Basin (Glikson et al.
1999, 2000).
The maturation indices used by LeBlanc Smith (1993) for the Collie Basin coals
are vitrinite reflectance; reporting Ro% of 0.4–0.6 over a depth of about 1000 m.
The higher values are reported from the base of the Permian coal in the Collie Basin.
Taylor et al. (1998) reported VRo values of 1.0% from 4653 m depth, at the base
of the Permian in the Perth Basin, the down-faulted block. The same authors note
the basin as ‘cool’, namely having a low thermal gradient. LeBlanc Smith (1993)
reported 21–31 °C geothermal gradient presently in the Perth Basin. Temperatures
of just over 100 °C at the base of the Permian are reported by Taylor et al. (1998),
which fits well with LeBlanc’s geothermal gradient. The Perth Basin was part of
the depositional basin that included Collie–Wilga; therefore, the same geothermal
gradient applies.
Vitrinite reflectance data indicate that significant sections of Permian sediments
are missing from the Collie Basin Coal Measures. Vitrinite Ro% with depth has been
used to reconstruct the burial and tectonic history of sedimentary basins (Glikson
and Golding 1998; Glikson et al. 2006). The jump in vitrinite Ro% from 0.4 to 0.6
(LeBlank Smith 1993) signifies missing sediments. It is therefore evident from the
VRo data that the Darling fault became active initially sometime during the Late
Artinskian–early Upper Permian. Hence the missing sediments in the uplifted block
of the Collie Basin.
Vitrinite reflectance data reported by LeBlanc Smith (1993) for the coals did
not display any significant different values between R min and R max , which indicates
absence of anisotropy, the result of stress through lateral tectonic or hydrothermal
pressure, which would have led to folding and distortion of the sediments (Glikson
et al. 2006; 2011).
1.5 Methods of Study
Preparation of coal samples for pollen/spore analysis followed techniques outlined
by C.A. Brown (1960) in ‘Palynological Techniques’.
Preparation of Slides
Slides were mounted in glycerine jelly and sealed with ‘Hemiglu’. Single mounts
were prepared following Erdtman’s (1934) method.