Combining palynofacies and petrography in the study of sub-bituminous tropical coals: A case history from Lower Tertiary coals in Colombia

This methodology provides a fully detailed inventory of coal properties with respect to hydrocarbon generation potential. The use of palynofacies is an additional tool to apprehend the floral composition and paleoenvironment of coals, thereby increasing the geological and geochemical database needed to evaluate their potential. Such a methodology may prove very important to assess the petroleum potential of thicker coal deposits in prospective petroleum provinces, such as the Cerrejon coals in Northern Colombia.