Raman microspectroscopy of funginite from the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Poland)

•Raman spectral characteristics of funginite presented for the first time•Funginite microstructure is similar to that of fusinite and semifusinite.•High reflectance of funginite may result from charring during wildfires.

Raman spectral characteristics of funginite were compared with that of fusinite and semifusinite from the same coals. Inertinite concentrates prepared from four samples of coking coals from the Upper Silesian Coal Basin of Poland were examined.The examination reveals that funginite spectral characteristics have common features with that of fusinite or, to smaller extent, to semifusinite. This suggests that the high reflectance of funginite might result from charring during wildfire activity.