Petrological and geochemical composition of lignite from the D field, Kolubara basin (Serbia)

► Palaeoenvironment of lignite precursor material was determined. ► Differences in the palaeo-plant communities are caused by pronounced seasonality. ► Diagenetic changes of the organic matter were mainly governed by bacterial activity. ► Novel diagenetic pathway for transformation of abietane-type precursors proposed.