Introduction
Most palynological investigations start with the maceration of sediments for the removal of their inorganic content. Not only does this separate the palynomorphs but it often leaves a residue of other organic remains which can be studied microscopically as well as chemically. There is great variation in the terms applied to these non-palynomorph remains since most of the people studying them are geologists lacking knowledge of plant anatomy and morphology. Confusing, often misleading and even wrong terms have been given to some broken plant parts. It is the purpose of this chapter to help establish a standard terminology for the microscopist.
Three different approaches are given to the study of these fragments according to the nature of the problems to be investigated and according to the background of the authors:
(1) Coal petrologists (see Brooks, 1981; Durand, 1980) still use versions of Stopes' (1935) terminology for the organic components of macerals. Teichmüller and Teichmüller (1968) related these studies to a morphological approach.
(2) Geochemical studies of kerogen (Crum-Brown, 1912) have recently been summarized by Tissot et al., (1974) and Burgess (1974).
(3) Paleobotanical (including paleopalynological) studies of palynodebris are the central scope of this chapter, and the visual microscopical observations so derived form the basis of these comments on their classification. It attempts to encourage a standard terminology for types of visually observed palynodebris compatible with all facies, and as far as possible to relate these types to a functional sedimentological setting for microscopical use.