Occurrence and Significance 

of Marine Animal Remains 

in American Coal Balls

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 354-1
Occurrence and Significance 

of Marine Animal Remains 

in American Coal Balls

By SERGIUS H. MAMAY and ELLIS L. YOCHELSON

SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 354-1

A description of intermixtures of marine animals 

and land plants occurring in coal balls 

in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1962
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Thomas B. Nolan, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office 

Washington 25, D.C. - Price 50 cents (paper cover)
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract------------------------------------------- 193

Introduction _______________________________________ 193

Previous work______________________________________ 194

Acknowledgements- __ - ___--__----____--._______-__--_ 194

Definition of coal balls. _____________________________ 195

Occurrences of animal-containing coal balls____________ 196

McAlester, Okla-------------------------------- 196

Berryville, HI---------------------------------- 197

Southeastern Kansas-_-____--___-_______-___---_ 199

West Mineral-----------------.---.-------- 199

Stratigraphic relations of the coal balls- ___ 200

Franklin___ . _______________________________ 201

Monmouth- ________________________________ 201

Physical and biological features of coal balls___ -------- 202

Normal coal balls-______________________________ 202

Homogeneous-mixed coal balls-------------------- 203

Heterogeneous-mixed coal balls.__________________ 204

Faunal coal balls. -_________-___-___--__--__--.- 206

Chemical analyses-___-___-___-__________-_

Laboratory ir ethods_ ______________________

Preservation of the fossils-__________________

Interpretation of animal-containing-coal balls. - 

Heterogeneous-mixed coal balls._________

Homogeneous-mixed and faunal coal balls. 

Alternative interpretations--__-__-______

Conclusions-_-______-_-_--_--__--__-_-____

References cited---__--__-__-_-__-_______-_

Details of the samples and insoluble residues _ _ 

Oskaloosa, Iowa_--__--__-_-__-___-_-__ 

McAlester, Okla_______________________

Southeastern Kansas..____-____--______

West Mineral- _----__-_-__-_______

Monmouth- ____-__________-___---_

Franklin. ____-_-_--__--_-_________

Berryville, 111- ________________________

Index-__-_--_-___--__-----___-__-________

Page

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216

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218

218

219

220

220

223

ILLUSTRATIONS

[Plates follow the index]

PLATE 26. Views at the Berryville, 111., West Mineral, Kans., and Monmouth, Ivans., coal ball localities.

27. Normal and mixed coal balls from Illinois and Kansas.

28. Faunal, mixed, and normal coal balls from West Mineral and Monmouth, Kans.

29. Homogeneous-mixed coal balls from West Mineral, Kans.

30. Heterogeneous-mixed coal balls from Berryville, 111.

31. Mixed coal balls from Illinois and Iowa, and limestone from Illinois.

32. Faunal coal balls from Monmouth, Kans.

33. Representative spores and other plant remains recovered from insoluble residues.

34. Representative animal remains recovered from insoluble residues. 

FIGURE 42. Geographic occurrence of mixed coal balls _ _____-___-____-__-___-____--_--__---.---_---

43. Sketch of sawn surface of a normal coal ball_______-________._._______-_--__-_-_-------

44. Sketch of sawn surface of a homogeneous-mixed coal ball-___.-____. -____-_____--_-___---

45. Sketch of sawn surface of a heterogeneous-mixed coal ball- _______-_-_____-_-_-_-_--__---

Page

197

203

204

205

TABLES

TABLE 1. Semiquantitative spectroscopic analyses of coal ball and limestone samples2. Rapid rock analyses of coal ball and limestone samples_______________--.-

3. Distribution of animal groups and large spores in insoluble residues..-___---

Fage

206

207

208

in
SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE 

ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS

By SERGITJS H. MAMAY and ELLIS L. YocHELSOisr

ABSTRACT

Coal balls are mineralized nodular masses found within 

some coal seams. Although coal balls have been known for 

over 100 years, only botanical contents have been previously 

reported in detail. In this paper, occurrences of marine animal 

fossils associated with plant fossils in coal balls are described.

Three types of coal balls are here recognized: (a) normal 

coal balls, containing only plants; (b) mixed coal balls, containing both plants and marine animals; and (c) faunal coal 

balls, containing only animals. Mixed coal balls are homogeneous, if the plant and animal remains are mixed throughout 

the matrix, or heterogeneous, if the marine fraction is clearly 

segregated from the normal fraction.

Homogeneous-mixed coal balls were found near McAlester, 

Okla., near Oskaloosa, Iowa, and in parts of the southeastern 

Kansas coal fields. Heterogeneous-mixed coal balls were found 

near Berryville, 111., and faunal coal balls were found at two 

localities in Kansas.

Coal bails are particularly common near West Mineral, 

Kans. They are abundant in the Fleming coal, of Des Moines 

age, and also occur in the underlying Mineral coal. Observations of mining waste suggest that mixed coal balls constitute 

1 to 2 percent of the coal balls recovered, although none were 

found in place. There may be some positive correlation between abundance of coal balls and elevations or "highs" in the 

Fleming coal.

Semiquantitative spectroscopic analyses and rapid chemical 

analyses of selected coal balls are included in this report. 

These contain the most comprehensive data on the chemical 

composition of coal balls yet published.

Other samples were dissolved in formic acid; the residues are 

described. Uncompressed spores were recovered from many 

of the samples, along with diverse animal remains. Selected 

specimens of spores and animals are figured, and identifiable 

forms are tabulated.

The fossils are replaced by a variety of minerals, occasionally within the same coal ball. Spore fillings from a single 

coal ball may be pyritic or calcareous. Gastropods may be 

calcareous, pyritic, or baritic in the same sample. Pelecypods 

recovered are pyritic or baritic. Some echinoderm columnals, 

cephalopods, and brachiopods are pyritized, and others are 

calcareous.

The presence of marine animals within coal balls is evidence 

of transportation of material from a marine environment to a 

nonmarine environment. Though all coal balls have heretofore been considered concretionary in origin, mixed and faunal 

coal balls are, at least in part, of clastic origin. The swirled 

texture of some homogeneous-mixed coal balls is further evidence of transport.

It is suggested that heterogeneous-mixed coal balls were 

formed when mud rollers containing animal remains were 

brought into the coal swamp by temporary marine inundation 

and were secondarily surrounded by normal coal ball material. 

Some homogeneous-mixed coal balls may represent discrete 

lumps of transported fossiliferous mud. The animal content 

of still others may have been introduced into the coal swamp 

in a mud slurry. These temporary marine inundations may 

have provided a source of calcium carbonate for the formation 

of some normal coal balls.

INTRODUCTION

In a previous publication (Mamay and Yochelson, 

1953) we briefly reported the occurrence of marine 

fossils associated with land plants in coal balls of 

Pennsylvanian age. Subsequent field observations and 

accummulation of additional material have made 

possible a more detailed report.

Although the occurrence of coal balls has been known 

for more than a century and although they have been 

noted in the coal fields of various European countries 

and of the United States and Great Britain, we are 

not aware of any authenticated reports, earlier than 

1953, of faunal inclusions within coal balls.

Darrah (1939, p. 135) stated that "many of the 

Belgian and English coal balls contain fossil cephalopods," but he presented no further information. Coal 

ball deposits in England and Belgium are overlain by 

marine beds containing abundant fossiliferous nodules, 

in which goniatites are the predominating fossil; 

Stopes and Watson (1908) and Leclercq (1952) discussed in detail this relation of British and of Belgian coal ball deposits, respectively. Since extensive 

research has been done on both British and Belgian 

coal balls but no mention has been made of animals 

within the nodules, there is a possibility that Darrah

193
194 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

neglected to distinguish between roof-shale nodules and 

true coal balls.

Douville (1905), who discussed briefly the content 

of a few nodules from the coal fields of Yorkshire, 

England, recognized two types of coal balls, one containing only plant debris, the other containing sparse 

woody fragments among numerous marine shells. The 

second type were illustrated (Douville, 1905, pi. 6) 

as "Coal Balls du Yorkshire," but it is apparent that 

these specimens are actually roof nodules, distinct from 

the coal seam itself.

It may be that animal remains simply do not occur 

in coal balls of Europe or England. Alternative reasons may be the facts that the primary interests of most 

previous investigators were botanical and that most 

British studies were based on specimens obtained from 

professional collectors and were not seen in the field 

by the paleobotanists. The material on which the 

present report is based is unusual in that it contains 

not only the plant remains ordinarily associated with 

coal balls, but diverse assemblages of marine animal 

fossils as well. Because of its significance for the 

origin of coal balls, this material is described in detail.

PREVIOUS WORK

Although earlier workers, particularly W. C. Williamson, wrote many papers on the plant content of coal 

balls, it was not until 1908 that the geological aspects 

of coal balls were extensively discussed in the classical 

publication by Stopes and Watson (1908). Their 

paper reviewed all the pertinent information available 

at the time, and included several chemical analyses of 

coal balls. Stopes and Watson concluded that coal 

balls were formed in place, as a product of percolating 

marine waters.

Since the time of Stopes' and Watson's publication 

little has been written on the occurrence and formation 

of coal balls, However, many publications have dealt 

with the anatomy and morphology of plants preserved 

within coal balls, and a number of significant botanical 

facts have been reported. The years 1935-60 have seen 

a rapid expansion of this field of paleobotany in the 

United States, but a considerable waning of interest in 

England and Europe, where most of the early work 

was done.

Studies of coal balls in the United States were summarized in detail through 1950 by Andrews (1951). 

This summary includes a sketch of the history of coal 

ball research in Europe, as well as a brief discussion of 

the chemical composition and geological occurrences of 

coal balls.

The study reported here was started in 1952, when 

Mamay made a large collection of coal balls in southeastern Kansas and southern Illinois. Previously, 

Mamay's interests were centered on morphological aspects of the plant content of the coal balls, but his attention was drawn toward the geologic problems raised 

by the animal fossils found in a few of the coal balls. 

The presence of abundant gastropods among these 

faunas resulted in Yochelson's participation in the 

study, because of his interests in that group of animals. 

A preliminary account of this discovery was published 

(Mamay and Yochelson, 1953) because of the great 

rarity of known occurrences of marine animal remains 

within Paleozoic coal seams.

In May 1955, we studied field relations and collected 

more coal balls from previously known and from new 

localities. Interested paleobotanists contributed additional coal balls. Excellent examples of animal-containing coal balls were also found in previously unstudied coal balls collected near McAlester, Okla., by 

Charles B. Read. Laboratory studies were carried out 

during 1955 and 1956, and Mamay revisited some of 

the localities in 1957.

Two other short publications resulted from this study. 

Associated with the McAlester, Okla., coal balls were 

a number of calcareous fossiliferous nodules that presumably originated from the overburden of the Secor 

coal. The nodules contain a number of species of Foraminifera, some of which were epiphytic on a problematical alga, Litostroma. The Foraminifera were 

described and their clepositional environment was discussed by Henbest (1958) ; Mamay (1959) described 

Litostro-ma in detail.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Our colleagues Charles B. Read and James M. Schopf 

provided locality information and on several occasions 

helped us by their discussions of the coal balls. Emil 

Sandeen and Kenneth Moore of the Pittsburg and 

Midway Coal Co. and H. W. Compton of the ApexCompton Coal Co. not only allowed access to their 

mining properties but provided valuable information 

regarding the occurrence of coal balls. Robert W. 

Baxter, University of Kansas, and Henry N. Andrews, 

Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., allowed us to 

examine their collections of coal balls and gave select 

specimens for study. Baxter also supplied geologic 

information and additional specimens from Monmouth, 

Kans., having visited that locality at our request in July 

1957. We appreciate also the cooperation by other 

U.S. Geological Survey colleagues: Mona Frank and 

P. L. D. Elmore made the spectroscopic examinations 

and Paul W. Scott made the chemical analyses. 

Charles Milton identified several minerals, and S. O. 

Schlanger aided in interpretation of sedimentary
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 195

phenomena. Systematic identifications are to be 

credited as follows: Protozoa, Lloyd G. Henbest; 

Coelenterata and Bryozoa, Helen Duncan; Cephalopoda, Mackenzie Gordon, Jr.; Ostracoda, I. G. Sohn; 

Trilobita, A. E. Palmer; and conodonts, the late Wilbert H. Hass. David H. Dunkle of the U.S. National 

Museum examined the fish remains, and David Nicol, 

formerly of the U.S. National Museum, checked identification of the pelecypods. Eobert M. Finks, Brooklyn 

College, identified sponge material, and E. M. Kosanke, 

Illinois State Geological Survey, checked spore 

identifications.

DEFINITION OF COAL BALLS

The results of this study show that coal balls are 

considerably more varied, texturally and biologically, 

than is ordinarily supposed. It is thus evident that 

some expansion of longstanding concepts is necessary, 

as well as some refinement and revision of definitions. 

Our emended definitions are presented here, before 

descriptions in detail of the various kinds of coal balls.

In classical usage (Stopes and Watson, 1908, p. 168) 

the term "coal balls" has been applied to nodular 

mineralized masses of petrified plant material that 

occur within coal seams. The balls are largely restricted to coals of Pennsylvaniaii or equivalent age,1 

and generally have been considered to be concretionary 

in origin. There are no known occurrences in anthracitic coals.

Coal balls are of various physical and chemical features. They may be calcareous, pyritic, dolomitic, 

sideritic, or even siliceous in composition. Within 

limits, coal balls with high proportions of calcium carbonate have the best preservation of cellular detail; 

as a general rule, high pyrite content results in poor 

preservation of the plant fossils. The balls may occur 

as small individuals no larger than a plum, or they 

may weigh as much as several hundred pounds and 

may form huge iiitergrowii masses that displace the 

coal for areas of several square yards. The individual 

nodules may be spheroidal, approximately lenticular, 

or irregular in shape. At a few localities, particularly 

in England and Europe, spheroidal specimens are 

very abundant, but at others, flattened, roughly lenticular coal balls seem to predominate. Coal balls may 

occur anywhere between the upper and lower limits of 

a coal seam, but they are more common in the upper 

half. In many places they cause humps in the upper 

surface of the coal, where they are separated from the 

overlying rocks by only a thin veneer of coal. Their

1 Gothan (1911) reported masses of petrified plant material in German Tertiary brown coals, which he considered to be analogous to coal 

balls. The plants are preserved in siderite, however, and are not as 

well preserved as those in Carboniferous coal balls. Little more is 

known of this Tertiary occurrence.

occurrence in a given coal seam may be either extremely 

sporadic or regular; many seams contain none at all.

Despite these varying factors, two primary features 

have been necessary for identification of a sedimentary 

rock as a coal ball, as heretofore understood: (a) that 

it contain histologically investigable fossil plant material, impregnated with and surrounded by a mineral 

matrix of noiivegetable origin, and (b) that it be 

indigenous to a coal seam.

Schopf (Whitehead and others, 1952, p. 290) reported 

an occurrence of coal ball limestone in a marine coquina 

above a coal seam. According to Schopf, this obviously 

formed within the precoal peat bed and was reworked 

into its present position; it thus is not in conflict with 

this definition.

This study shows that coal balls may vary as much 

in their enclosed organic remains as they do in any 

other measurable feature. Thus a realistic definition 

of coal balls should be expanded so that "inclusion of 

histologically investigable plant material" is replaced 

by "inclusion of fossil animal material, histologically 

investigable fossil plant material, or both, in varying 

proportions" as one of the two primary requisites for 

identification of a rock as a coal ball, its inclusion 

within the limits of a coal seam remaining the other. 

The definition is further emended to include in its scope 

objects of either clastic or concretionary origin, their 

inclusion within the coal seam rather than source of 

component fossils being the important factor.

Carrying this concept to an extreme, it might be 

argued that any fossiliferous lens in coal is a coal ball, 

but this is fallacious logic. Coal balls are relatively 

small, discrete masses of nodular aspect, usually but 

not always wholly concretionary. They generally 

show a vertical distribution throughout the coal, rather 

than a lateral continuity such as characterizes a split, 

parting, or lens within a coal. The essential feature 

of the primarily clastic coal balls is the exotic nature 

of some of their fossil content, which is foreign to the 

immediate environment of coal deposition. In no 

sense are the clastic coal balls a normal part of the 

sedimentary cyclothem characteristic of Pennsylvaniaii 

sedimentation. We believe that their presence within 

a coal seam along with the more usual, concretionary 

type of plant-containing coal balls is attributable to 

unusual, probably catastrophic and transitory means 

of landward redeposition, such as might be effected by 

violent storm wave or tidal wave action.

It is emphasized that this broadened definition of 

coal balls is made only 011 the basis of specimens that 

can be shown, by virture of coal remnants on all or 

nearly all unfractured surfaces, to have originated 

within a coal seam. The various types of f ossiliferous 

nodules that occur in the shaly or limy overburdens of

56266.1 O 62-
196 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

some coal seams are not regarded as coal balls because 

of their formation outside the coal seam. (See Stopes 

and Watson, 1908, p. 204-210, for discussion of goniatite-bearing nodules that occur in roof shales of some 

seams and occasionally contain well-preserved plant 

remains.)

The objects defined here as coal balls fall into three 

primary types, on the basis of biological content, and 

two subsidiary types, on the basis of textural features. 

The term "coal balls," unqualified, is used here for all 

these types. Although there is some intergradation in 

the relative proportions of plants to animals, for the 

sake of convenience coal balls may be classified as 

follows:

1. Normal coal balls: contain only plant fossils (pi. 27, 

fig. 1; pi. 28, fig. 2).

2. Mixed coal balls: contain both plant and animal 

fossils.

(a) Homogeneous type: shows no distinguishable 

segregation of plant and animal fossils 

(pi. 27, figs. 2-4; pi. 28, fig. 3; pi. 29, figs. 

1-3).

(b) Heterogeneous type: shows distinct segregation of plant and animal fossils (pi. 30, 

figs. 1-3; pi. 31, fig. 1).

3. Faunal coal balls: contain exclusively zoological fossils (pi. 28, fig. 1; pi. 32, figs. 1-3).

Type 3 is very rare, and insofar as we know, has been 

found in significant quantities at only one locality. 

Type 2 (a) (homogeneous-mixed) is by far the commonest type of animal-containing coal balls, while type 

2(b) (heterogeneous-mixed) is, again, known to us 

from only one locality.

The following evidence supports this expanded concept of coal balls: In one coal ball (sample E-13, from 

Patik Mine, Iowa, pi. 31, fig. 4) animal remains are so 

rare as to be hardly noticeable on sawn surfaces, but 

acid solution produced a large number of small animal 

fossils, some of them unquestionably of marine origin. 

However, the plant debris is extremely well-preserved, 

and it is probable that casual inspection would lead to 

identification of the specimen as a normal coal ball.

It is possible to demonstrate a gradational series in 

which the proportion of animals to plants increases 

from the above-mentioned extreme in which animal 

remains are rare but present, to the point where plant 

remains are rare or even absent, as in some of the f aunal 

coal balls. The faunal coal balls appear in the same 

seam with poorly preserved normal coal balls. There 

is no sharp line of demarcation between them and more 

intermediate specimens with higher proportions of 

plant fragments.

Comparison of normal coal balls from the Berryville, 

111., locality with the normal coal ball matrix surrounding the marine fraction of heterogeneous-mixed coal 

balls from the same locality indicates that the two are 

identical in physical composition, in texture, and in 

botanical content, as shown by study of peels and insoluble residues.

OCCURRENCES OF ANIMAL-CONTAINING COAL BALLS

Mixed coal balls were collected from localities in 

four States in the eastern interior and midcontinent 

coal basins: Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Iowa. The 

Oklahoma deposit is no longer accessible. The Illinois 

specimens were found at a spot locality. The Kansas 

material, however, originates from an economically 

important mining area in the southeastern part of that 

State. This area has produced abundant coal balls 

from three different coal seams and has been the geographic source of much of the geologic information on 

the occurrence of mixed coal balls. The Iowa material 

consists of one coal ball from the Patik mine near 

Oskaloosa, presented to us by R. W. Baxter, University 

of Kansas.

Schopf (1941) published a chart showing important 

coal-ball stratigraphic levels in the United States and 

their correlation with European occurrences. Since 

this chart was prepared, only slight modifications in 

the correlations have been made (Moore and others, 

1944; Wanless, 1956), so the chart is not repeated here. 

Geographic distribution of the mixed coal balls is 

shown in figure 42.

McALESTER, OKLA.

A small collection of coal balls from the Secor coal 

near McAlester, Okla., was made by C. B. Read in 

1939. Only a few of the specimens were sectioned before 1953, and all those were of the normal type. Sectioning of the remainder showed that some were of the 

mixed type.

The collection was made at a small abandoned slope 

mine on the property of Mr. Joseph Lemont near the 

abandoned railroad station of Chambers, about 4 miles 

south-southeast of McAlester. The mine site is approximately at the common corners of sees. 26, 27, 

34, and 35, T. 5 K, R. 14 E., Pittsburg County. This 

locality (USGrS paleobotanical loc. 8764) was revisited by us in 1955, but only a few badly weathered 

loose coal balls were found. These all were of the 

normal type and no information was available regarding their original placement in the coal seam. The 

slag heap contained fragments of an impure bioclastic 

limestone. Similar limestone that was collected by 

Read corroborates a statement by Mr. Lemont that at 

the mining site the coal seam was overlain by a thin 

f ossilif erous limestone.
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 197

FIGURE 42. Geographic occurrences of mixed coal balls in the United States: 1, McAlester, Okla. ; 2, southeastern Kansas ; 3, Oskaloosa,

Iowa ; 4, Berryville, 111.

Waste heaps of two other small abandoned mines 

in the nearby vicinity of the Lemont property (SW^i 

SW^SWi/4 sec. 26 and NE^NE^NEi/i sec. 34) were 

also searched for coal balls but none were found; only 

a few large scaphopods and poorly preserved peleypods 

were found.

Along the highway between Hartshorn and McAlester, we examined several large abandoned strip pits 

in the McAlester coal in the McAlester shale, 1,200- 

2,500 feet below the base of the Boggy formation. A 

large abandoned strip pit where the Secor coal had been 

rained in the southern half of sec. 33, T. 5 N., E. 15 E., 

was also searched. None of these pits yielded coal balls.

The Secor coal is the oldest seam known by us to 

have produced mixed coal balls. According to Hendricks (1937), the Secor coal seam varies from 1 to 3 

feet in thickness. It lies about 350 feet above the base 

of the Boggy formation in the Krebs group, of Des 

Moines age (Miser, 1954). Hendricks mentioned no 

fossiliferous limestone above the Secor coal; perhaps 

he did not observe it either because of its localized 

occurrence or because it is covered over large parts of 

the area.

BERRYVILLE, ILL.

The locality known in the literature as Berryville, 

111., was discovered by J. Marvin Weller in August 1936 

(Schopf, 1956, written communication). It is on the 

farm of Ralph Brian, 6 miles south and 2 miles west of 

Simmer, 111. (approximately SW^NE^NW^ sec. 7, 

T. 2 N., K. 13 W., Lawrence County; USGS paleobotanical loc. 9190). Since its discovery, this deposit has 

become well known to students of coal ball floras of the 

United States and has provided them with an unusual 

quantity of excellently preserved plant fossils, many of 

which have been described. The deposit is of further 

interest as a source of heterogeneous-mixed coal balls.

The coal balls occur in a thin seam of coal, considered 

by Schopf (1941) and others to be the Calhoun coal, in 

the upper part of the McLeansboro group of Middle 

and Late Pennsylvaniaii age. The outcrop is limited, 

being exposed for a distance of less than 60 feet along 

the south bank and bed of a small intermittent stream. 

The streambank cuts into the side of a steep hill, and a 

thick alluvial overburden hampers efforts to excavate 

the coal balls. Intermittent flooding of the stream
198 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

erodes coal balls from the outcrop, so that collections 

may be made from float in the nearly dry streambed.

Several dozen fresh coal balls were collected at Berry - 

ville. Many of these were taken from the outcrop and 

broken in the field but none proved to be of the mixed 

type. A few heterogeneous-mixed specimens were 

found in float along the streambed, but these give no 

indication of their original position within the coal 

seam. The locality was revisited in 1957 by Mamay, 

who excavated heterogeneous-mixed coal balls in place 

and found that they extend throughout the thickness of 

the coal seam.

The outcrop area is shown on plate 26, figure 3. Because this exposure represents one of the few localities 

known to us where coal balls may be observed in place, 

the hillside adjacent to the outcrop was trenched and a 

section measured. The trench is seen along the right 

side of the photograph. The section consists of the following lithologic units:

Measured, section at Berryville, III.

Alluvium. Feet

Sandstone, light-gray, fine-grained; weathers dark gray; 

bedded in %-in. laminae near base; becomes more 

massive upward____ _________________ 1. 5

Shale, dark-brown, micaceous, with abundant fragmentary plant compressions; locally subfissile; poorly exposed __ _ _________... 6.1

Limestone, dark-gray; highly crinoidal in a single massive 

bed; weathers very dark gray below and yellow iron 

stained above__________________________ 1. o

Coal, moderately hard, banded, with blocky fracture; 

coal balls rare in lower 3 in., but become more numerous 

upward; some cause bulges in the upper surface of the 

seam. Average thickness of unit_____________ 2.0

Underclay, light-gray, slickensided with blocky structure; 

slightly arenaceous with scattered plant compressions; 

upper surface slightly irregular. Base not exposed, but 

thickness of unit at least__________________ 2. 0

Total thickness measured________________ 12. 6

Examination of the coal seam face revealed the following distribution of the coal balls:

1. The relative abundance of the coal balls varies considerably within short horizontal distances; one 

spot may contain many, another a few feet away 

may have none.

2. Coal balls occur throughout the thickness of the seam.

3. Coal balls may occur at the base of the seam with 

only a thin film of coal below, and may even indent 

the subjacent underclay. Commonly, however, 

they seem to increase in abundance toward the top 

of the seam.

4. The coal balls that occur at the top of the seam may 

produce a bulge .that protrudes into the overlying 

limestone. In all places observed, however, they

were separated from the limestone by at least a 

thin film of coal.

5. The coal balls may be discrete lumps separated from 

each other by several inches or more of coal, or 

they may occur in large irregular intergrown 

masses that largely displace the coal seam for 

several square feet and contain only thin, irregularly oriented coal partings. One such mass is 

shown in plate 26, figure 2. This block of coal 

ball material, weighing perhaps a ton, stands isolated in the streambed. It consists of many closely 

associated, irregularly shaped but discrete masses 

of coal ball material separated from each other by 

thin streaks of coal. Although the overburden is 

completely eroded away, the intact condition of 

the underlying coal suggests that this mass is 

in its original position. It consists almost exclusively of the roots and other debris of the marattiaceous fern genus Psaronius, a dominant form 

in the Berryville flora.

Although nothing unusual was noted in the measured 

section, a somewhat involved sequence occurs a few 

yards downstream from the trench exposure (to the 

left of the trench in pi. 26, fig. 3). There the limestone 

overburden of the coal seam thickens abruptly to form 

a conspicuous mass approximately 5 feet thick. The 

coal beneath this limestone mass is reduced to approximately half its maximum thickness (see pi. 26, fig. 1), 

presumably by channeling, and the depression is filled 

with a mixture of detrital coal and limestone chunks, 

which grade into solid limestone above. A sample of 

the limestone blocks within the channel filling, when 

dissolved in acid, proved to contain almost the same 

type of plant and animal remains as the mixed coal 

balls. The coal immediately below the channel filling 

contains abundant limestone blocks; a representative 

sample included:

1. A typical, well-preserved normal coal ball containing 

a large undistorted fragment of the fructification 

of Botryopteris.

2. Several chunks, approximately 1 inch thick, composed of numerous particles of coal ball-like material in a coal groundmass and interbedded locally 

with stringers of coal. The brown coal ball particles are subangular to subrounded; they are 

closely packed and some are even molded into one 

another. The latter characteristic indicates that 

the particles were plastic when the rock was 

formed. The particles contain mostly wellpreserved, uncompressed spores (see analysis of 

residue of sample E-15) and bits of cuticle, but 

no animal remains. They may represent an agglomeration of detrital coal ball material that was
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 199

finely divided at the time of channeling of the coal 

seam. Illustrations are given on plate 31. 

3. Two pieces of gray crinoidal limestone, surrounded 

by coal and locally intermixed with or separated 

from the surrounding coal by brown petrified plant 

debris.

SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS

The southeastern Kansas coal field contains some 

of the richest known occurrences of coal balls in the 

United States (Andrews and Mamay, 1952), and consequently has been the geographic source of much of 

the information presented here. Several coal ball localities were visited by us in Cherokee and Crawford 

Counties; most of these were found by a systematic 

investigation of the strip-mining operations mapped 

by Abernathy (1946, pi. 1). A more up-to-date map 

of stripping operations in the area, published privately 

in 1952 by the Apex-Compton Coal Co., Inc., was also 

helpful in this search.

WEST MINERAL, KANS.

Investigations of this area were concentrated at the 

site of stripping operations of the Pittsburg and Midway Coal Co., at their Mine No. 19, in W1/^ sec. 5, T. 

33 S., E. 22 E., Cherokee County. This site was selected 

because of the extensive scope of mining operations, 

the abundance of coal balls, and the relative freshness 

of the material.

In spite of the many coal balls found at the Pittsburgh and Midway mine, observations of their field 

relations were restricted by the sporadic occurrences 

of the coal balls and by the nature of the mining 

methods. Large-scale stripping operations are used 

because of the thickness of the overburden (as much 

as 50 feet); consequently, the relations of the coal to 

the overburden are usually concealed by slump from 

the steep walls of the pits.

The overburden is removed in long swaths of several 

thousands of square yards by either a dragline or an 

electric shovel. The upper surface of the coal is thoroughly cleaned. Once exposed, the coal is broken by 

a pinning machine, loaded, and taken to the tipple for 

washing and sizing.2

The mining procedure, while highly efficient, does 

not result in a clean working face, so that position of 

the coal balls within the coal is usually badly disturbed. 

The procedure also limits observations of the relation 

of the coal to the underlying sedimentary rocks, for 

little of the latter are removed. Furthermore, loading 

usually takes place shortly after breaking of the coal,

2 Mine operations at the Pittsburg and Midway Mine are more completely described in Coal Age (1954).

so that one would have to be present- at about the time 

the coal balls are uncovered to observe them in place.

In addition to the limitations imposed by the mining 

methods, three other factors restricted our observations. 

First, at the time of our visit, even though a large area 

of coal was exposed, few coal balls were being uncovered. Second, in 1955, mining was limited to a 

single pit, and it was not possible to make comparative 

observations at fresh exposures over a broader area. 

Third, as usual in large strip-mining operations, abandoned pits that might have contained good exposures of 

the coal and overlying strata in their walls were either 

refilled with overburden or flooded to levels above the 

coal.

Our observations, however, have been supplemented 

by those of the miners and pit operators. Particularly 

valuable information was derived from discussions with 

Emil Sandeen, mine superintendent of the Pittsburg 

and Midway Coal Co., and with Kenneth Moore, mining 

engineer, Mine No. 19, and from mining records of that 

company, to which we were given access.

The mining method necessarily results in contamination of the coal by coal ball material and minor amounts 

of underclay. Where the balls occur abundantly, they 

are a major nuisance since they are imbedded in the 

coal and must be loaded and transported to the washing 

plant for removal. The waste removed from the coal 

in the washing process varies from day to day, partly 

because of the sporadic occurrence of coal balls, and 

sometimes may constitute more than 30 percent of the 

gross tonnage mined. Coal balls form a large part of 

this impurity.

Despite the inconvenience of commercially worthless 

coal balls, their occurrence is not a total loss to the mine 

operators. The coal balls, being of much higher specific gravity than the coal, are easily removed in the 

washing plant. The coal balls are hauled from the 

tipple and piled in a nearby vacant area until they are 

needed for road construction. Their hardness and 

durability make them an excellent ballast for access 

mine roads, a fact that has been fully exploited at the 

Pittsburg and Midway mines, where this supply of ballast is seemingly endless ! Part of one such pile, which 

was perhaps 6 feet high over an area of half an acre, 

is shown in plate 26, figure 4 a heap of possibly several 

thousand tons of almost pure, structurally preserved 

fossil material. Another indication of the abundance 

of coal balls at the Pittsburg and Midway mines was 

observed in a newly constructed roadbed, some 1,800 

feet long, 50 feet wide, and 2 to 3 feet deep. It was 

estimated that between one-quarter and one-half of the 

volume consists of coal balls.
200 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

STRATIGRAPHIC RELATIONS OF THE COAL BALLS

Two closely associated coal seams are mined by the 

Pittsburg and Midway Coal Co. These are the Fleming and the Mineral seams, both of which occur near the 

bottom of the upper one-third of the Cherokee shale 

of Des Moines age. The Fleming is the uppermost 

coal. It ranges from 12 to 18 inches in thickness and 

lies from 8 to 20 feet above the Mineral coal, the thickness of which ranges from 18 to 24 inches. Both seams 

locally contain coal balls, but the balls are far more 

abundant and widespread geographically in the 

Fleming coal.

The Mineral coal, although of more sporadic occurrence than the Fleming, apparently more consistently 

maintains a single stratigraphic level. It may be present directly beneath the Fleming coal, or present in an 

area where the Fleming coal is absent. On the other 

hand, the Mineral coal may be absent from an area that 

does contain the Fleming coal.

In contrast to the flat-lying Mineral coal, the Fleming coal undulates, varying in vertical distance from the 

underlying seam. It may be flat and almost parallel 

to the Mineral coal for a large area, but locally it rises 

to form structural "highs" that extend as much as 12 

feet above its general level. The "highs'5 may form 

domes as much as 100 feet across or ridges extending 

along the seam for 500 to 1,500 feet (K. E. Moore, 1957, 

oral communication). They are usually accompanied 

by a thinning of the coal at their crests. In areas 

where the Mineral coal is generally absent, an isolated 

patch of it may be present directly below a "high" in 

the Fleming coal.

The overburden of the Mineral seam also differs 

from that of the Fleming seam. The Fleming coal 

is overlain by a dark-gray to black fine-grained marine 

shale, rich in productoid brachiopods (Williams, 1938, 

p. 105). According to Mr. Moore, a limestone is not 

known to overlie this seam at the Mine No. 19 area. 

On the other hand, over broad areas, the Mineral coal 

is overlain by a hard massive impure fossiliferous limestone as much as 20 inches thick, which may change 

laterally in a short distance to a black shale similar to 

that above the Fleming coal. At one exposure at Mine 

No. 19, we observed a limestone 20 inches thick directly 

above the Mineral coal; 50 feet away, the coal was 

overlain by the fossiliferous shale. No coal balls were 

observed in the coal beneath the limestone.

The coal balls show the following relations to the 

two coal seams:

1. Relative abundance of coal balls, in general, shows 

considerable local variation. At Mine No. 19, the 

dragline pit (sec. 6, T. 33 S., R. 22 E.) had produced few coal balls, while the shovel pit, less

than two miles away (SWy± sec. 32, T. 32 S., R. 

22 E.), had produced many.

2. Of the two seams, the Fleming coal produces by 

far the most coal balls.

3. A previous statement by us (1953) that coal balls 

occur only beneath a marine limestone caprock is 

erroneous, as is strikingly illustrated by the abundance of coal balls in the Fleming coal, where a 

marine limestone cap is absent. Furthermore, 

there seems to be no correlation between limestone 

and coal balls in the Mineral coal, where both are 

known to occur. Thus it appears that the one condition found consistently in occurrences of coal 

balls is that the productive seam is directly overlain by a marine bed, regardless of its lithology. 

Feliciano (1924, p. 233) cast some doubt on this 

but did not present detailed evidence.

4. The coal balls are generally more abundant in the 

upper half of the seam, but are known to occur 

throughout the thickness of the coal. In some 

places they replace almost the entire coal seam 

over areas of many square yards.

5. In the Fleming coal the abundance of coal balls seems 

to be related to the elevation of the coal seam. It 

was brought to our attention by Messrs. Sandeen 

and Moore, as well as by several of the Pittsburg 

and Midway Coal Co.'s shovel operators, that coal 

balls in the Fleming seam are usually concentrated 

at the "highs." Mr. Moore stated that tipple 

waste from "high" areas of the Fleming coal usually is greater than that from "low" areas in the 

seam, and may reach as much as 37 percent of the 

total volume, a large part of this waste consisting 

of coal balls. Sporadic occurrence of coal balls 

within a given coal seam has been reported previously (Cady, 1936, p. 158; Andrews, 1951, p. 433) 

and probably is characteristic of all deposits containing coal balls. Whether these other sporadic 

occurrences are also associated with "highs" in the 

coal remains to be determined.

These facts may have some bearing on the overall 

problem of coal ball formation, but they shed no light 

on the outcrop relations of mixed coal balls to normal 

ones. However, it is known that the two types do 

occur very close to each other. Along one of the mine 

access roads at the West Mineral, Kans., locality, there 

had been dumped, intact, a nest of coal balls approximately 3 feet square and 1 foot thick. The lower 

surface of the nest bore a 2- to 3-inch layer of coal; its 

upper surface bore a thin film of coal, superposed by an 

inch or so of black fossiliferous shale whose surface 

undulations marked the positions of the individual coal 

balls. Several of these were broken from the upper
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 201

surface of the nest, and two proved to contain animal 

remains as well as moderately well preserved plant 

fragments; the rest of the collection consisted of normal 

coal balls with well-preserved plant structures. Thus 

it is at least known that mixed and normal coal balls 

may occur within 2 or 3 feet, horizontally, and a few 

inches, vertically, of each other.

Most of the mixed Kansas coal balls were collected 

from the roadbeds and ballast heaps of the Pittsburg 

and Midway Coal Co. Although it was not possible to 

observe the relation of mixed coal balls to normal coal 

3alls or to arrive at any understanding of their real 

distribution, it was possible to gain some idea at least 

of their relative abundance. Mixed coal balls are no 

rarity at this particular locality, but, on the basis of 

examination of perhaps 4 or 5 miles of roadbed expoures and of the several large waste heaps in the area, 

we estimate that mixed coal balls constitute no more 

:han 1 to 2 percent of all the coal balls spread about 

he Pittsburgh and Midway Coal Co.'s grounds.

The mixed coal balls show about the same range in 

size and shape as those of the normal specimens; several 

were more than 2 feet in greatest dimension and several 

hundred pounds in weight. Mixed coal balls were not 

concentrated at any one place, but were fairly evenly 

distributed among the normal coal balls and were found 

among the waste heaps and roadbeds of the abandoned 

Mine No. 15 as well as those of the then active Mine 

No. 19. This suggests an areal distribution approximating that of normal coal balls in the Fleming coal.

FRANKLIN, KANS.

Large heaps of coal balls were examined at the 

dumps of the Mackie-Cleniens Mine No. 22 (SE^ 

sec. 24, T. 28 S., R. 25 E., Crawford County) and 

Mine No. 23 (NWi/4 sec, 21, T. 29 S., R. 25 E., Crawford County), east of Franklin, Kans. A few mixed 

specimens were found at the latter locality, an airline 

distance of nearly 30 miles from the Pittsburg and 

Midway Coal Co. pits.

Abernathy (1946) indicated the coal mined there 

to be the Mineral coal, but local inquiry indicated 

that the seam is considered by some miners to be the 

Fleming coal. On the basis of plant content and physical appearance, the coal balls examined there seem to be 

identical with those at West Mineral, where the Fleming coal yields most of the coal balls. Several other 

pits and dumps in this general area were examined 

without finding coal balls.

MONMOUTH, KANS.

The Bevier coal is exposed in an open-pit mine of 

the Apex-Compton Coal Co., in NW1^ sec. 12, T. 31 

S., R. 22 E., Crawford County, near Monmouth, Kans.

5626610 62 3

According to Abernathy (1946, p. 139) the Bevier 

coal lies above the Fleming and Mineral coals, about 

100 feet below the top of the Cherokee shale. The 

roadbeds at the Monmouth pit, like those at the Pittsburg and Midway Coal Company, are composed 

largely of coal ball material, indicating regular and 

abundant occurrences of coal balls. But curiously 

enough, the coal balls themselves are predominately 

pyritized f aunal coal balls or specimens containing negligible plant material. Only a few specimens of plantbearing coal balls were found, and these are composed 

almost exclusively of fusinized wood fragments instead of the heterogeneous, calcified, and more or less 

well-preserved plant debris that occurs in normal coal 

balls. Thus it appears that the ratio of normal to 

animal-containing specimens at other deposits is almost 

reversed at the Apex-Compton mine, for the normal 

coal balls there constitute the smaller percentage, perhaps even a smaller percentage of the total than do 

the mixed coal balls at the Pittsburg and Midway 

pits.

The active pit was flooded at the time of our 1955 

visit, and it was not possible to see the coal balls in 

place, but the following information regarding this 

curious occurrence was provided by H. W. Compton, 

owner of the mine:

1. A limestone has not been noted immediately above 

the coal in the Apex-Compton pits. The immediate 

overburden of the coal seam is a dark-gray slightly 

fissile shale containing productid brachipods, pectenoid pelecypods, and poorly preserved plant impressions near its contact with the coal. This shale 

ranges from 3 to 6 feet in thickness and is overlain 

by a 3- to 6-inch layer of medium dark-gray 

argilaceous unfossiliferous limestone; above the 

limestone is a light-gray nonfissile unfossiliferous 

shale. The overburden apparently lacks concretions and is generally very poor in fossils.

2. Coal balls are abundant and occur throughout the 

thickness of the seam. In some places they are so 

highly concentrated as to form sizable humps in the 

surface of the coal. As an exceptional example of 

the high proportion of the coal seam sometimes 

represented by coal ball material, Mr. Compton 

cited one particular pit, 80 feet wide and approximately one-half mile long, in which the coal was 

so heavily contaminated with coal balls that the pit 

was abandoned.

3. Although the surface of the coal seam shows some 

undulation, no correlation has been observed between the "highs" and coal ball occurrences, except 

where the elevations are actually caused by unusual 

concentrations of coal balls.
202 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

In July 1957, Robert W. Baxter, University of Kansas, visited the Apex-Compton mine at our request, 

in order to study the field relation of the faunal coal 

balls under better conditions than those we found in 

1955. Baxter's observations substantiate the above 

descriptions. He succeeded in observing, photographing, and collecting faunal coal balls in place at the 

working face of the coal seam, and forwarded us 

specimens and photographs for inclusion in this report. 

Part of the coal seam with two faunal coal balls in 

place is shown in plate 26, figure 5; sawn surfaces 

of these two specimens are shown in plate 32.

Baxter wrote us:

The seam exposed at the time of my visit averaged 16-18 

inches thick. The swath of coal exposed while I was there was 

not over 60 yards long. In this area of mining, the Bevier 

seam is only 12-15 feet below the surface and the old pits are 

covered just about as fast as the coal is removed. Unfortunately, the area exposed was exceptionally clean of coal balls. 

The descriptions of Mr. Compton and three men who were working on the stripping shovel all tallied and agree that the coal 

balls tend to occur in pockets with a center of greatest density 

or abundance with gradually diminishing numbers towards the 

borders of the area. In the 16-18 inch seam they tend to 

occupy the entire seam from top to bottom in the pocket areas, 

the coal present being reduced to an embedding matrix. Just 

before we had arrived, the stripping shovel hit a small pocket 

occupying the entire thickness of the seam and had put the 

whole shovelful up on the far side of the pit. Samples of coal 

balls from this are being sent you. It was quite evident to 

me, from an examination of the almost intact shoveful, that 

the coal balls had filled the whole seam in that spot. There 

was a veneer of coal on all the coal ball material, but 90 percent 

of the shovelful was "rock."

Shortly after looking over the above, the stripping shovel 

exposed a large flat coal ball in place in the face of the seam 

with at least an inch of coal above it. A rounded, almost pure 

pyrite coal ball occurred slightly below it, deeper in the coal. 

Several pictures of the above exposure are enclosed and the 

two coal balls are being sent you.

Accordingly one can definitely say that these "coal balls" are 

abundant in the Bevier coal, usually in localized areas where 

they almost fill the seam, or in more isolated cases where they 

tend to occur in the upper part of the seam.

Regarding the underlying bed, Baxter wrote:

The coal seam lies on what I would consider a typical stigmarian underclay. Mr. Compton had the stripping shovel dig 

down into it for several feet. * * * Mr. Compton said the clay 

varied in thickness from up to 12 feet down to less than a foot 

thick, overlying a limestone layer. The depth of clay at the 

region of the picture was certainly over 3 feet.

Baxter observed that "none of the coal balls I saw, 

either in the pit or on the older dumps showed anything I could identify as plant material." He further 

stated:

While as indicated below, there is no doubt about the rather 

highly pyritized rock from this mine being coal ball material, 

in that it definitely occurs in the coal itself, it still seems quite

different from most coal balls I am familiar with. For one 

thing, most of the rocks tend to occur as flat sheets, 2 to 3 

inches thick. This makes it look suspiciously like similar 

fossiliferous rock from the overlying shale. However, there 

is no doubt that this occurs within the coal.3 There is a 

smaller percentage of slightly rounded coal balls which almost 

always seem to be nearly pure pyrite.

In September 1957, Mamay revisited the ApexCompton mine but made no significant additional 

observations, except that the overburden then exposed 

contained no fossiliferous rock with which the faunal 

coal balls could be compared.

Faunal coal balls were found at only one other locality, this being a small strip pit in the Bevier coal, owned 

by the Garrett Coal Co. and located in SE1/^ sec. 34, 

T. 26 S., R. 25 E., Bourbon County, Kans. At this 

pit a few highly pyritized faunal coal balls were found 

in the uppermost 3 inches of the coal, which was about 

18 inches thick. None were seen elsewhere in the seam, 

nor were any normal coal balls found.

PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF COAL BALLS 

NORMAL COAL BALLS

The characteristics of normal coal balls were discussed thoroughly by Stopes and Watson (1908). A few 

comments are added here for the sake of completeness.

Normal coal balls show considerable range in the 

variety and preservation of their content, the quality of 

preservation being dependent on high percentages of 

calcium carbonate. Some contain little but roots or 

lycopodineaii periderm, while others are rich in leaves 

and reproductive organs. A large number of samples 

from a given locality may give the investigator a reasonably sound basis for analysis of the local flora in 

terms of dominant and subdominant species.

Occasionally one finds a coal ball that consists of a 

single plant fragment. At the West Mineral locality, 

Mamay has found several well-preserved calcareous 

lycopod, medullosan, or psaronean stem fragments a 

foot or more long, surrounded by a film of coal and 

unaccompanied by other plant debris. The same locality yields large numbers of tiny "nucellar coal balls" 

(Roth, 1956), each of which consist of the internal 

parts of a single cordaitean seed.

Normal coal balls vary considerably in shape, some 

being nearly spherical. Specimens of this type seem 

to be most common in the English deposits but are rare 

in American deposits.

The contents of spheroidal coal balls usually show 

no layering or other textural peculiarities. Most com3 Stopes and Watson reported apparently similarly shaped sheets of 

stone in the English coals ; however, they considered the stone sheets, 

which they discussed only briefly and which contain only plant material, to be a "parallel formation to that of the normal coal balls" 

(Stopes and Watson, 1908, p. 176).
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 203

monly the plant fragments are uncompressed and otherwise undistorted.

Lenticular coal balls are common in American 

deposits. All degrees of lenticularity may be found, 

the most extreme having perhaps a ratio of less than 

one-quarter thickness to width. Some specimens are 

nearly circular in outline, relatively smooth-surfaced, 

and often slickensided. Coal balls of this type are 

common at the West Mineral, Kans., locality, some 

being nearly 2 feet in diameter. A West Mineral normal coal ball, irregular in shape but typical in composition, is shown diagrammatically in figure 43, and a 

lenticular specimen is illustrated on plate 28, figure 2.

Lenticularity is assumed to be the result of prelithification compaction, for lenticular specimens in place lie 

parallel to the bedding of the coal, with the laminae 

of the coal following the contours of the coal ball. This 

type of coal ball also presents the greatest consistency 

of relation of external shape to internal texture, for 

lenticular coal balls generally show distinct layering 

of the enclosed plant parts, the layering being almost 

parallel to the bedding of the coal. Stems with large 

or hollow pith cavities, such as the calamarians, are 

commonly flattened in lenticular coal balls. Furthermore, coal balls of this type commonly have a thin 

equatorial flange of well-preserved plant material that 

feathers out and disappears between laminae of the coal.

Aside from the spheroidal and the lenticular types 

of coal balls, there are no other regular or definable 

shapes that characterize these nodules. Coal balls 

have a variety of irregular shapes; angular external 

contours are, however, extremely rare. Specimens of

irregular shape may show bedding or layering of their 

contents, but, on the other hand, commonly there is no 

definite arrangement of plant debris in the matrix.

Calcite-filled cracks, often penetrating nearly the 

entire width of a specimen, and concretionary mineralization patterns are common to all types of coal balls 

discussed thus far. Cracks may be abundant in a single 

specimen, and sometimes they fall into a roughly radial 

pattern that extends inward a variable distance from 

the periphery of the nodule. That such cracks often 

create a clean break in an otherwise undistorted and 

well-preserved plant axis suggests that they are probably compaction cracks, formed after initial mineralization had been completed.

HOMOGENEOUS-MIXED COAL BALLS

Homogeneous-mixed coal balls are mostly irregular 

in shape, although lenticular specimens have also been 

seen. Some homogeneous-mixed balls are slightly 

flattened, with layered alinement of the enclosed fossils, 

and in the lenticular specimens layering of fossils may 

be as clear as that often shown by plant debris in the 

lenticular normal coal balls. Calcite-filled cracks are 

common in homogeneous-mixed coal balls. A homogeneous-mixed coal ball is shown diagrammatically in 

figure 44 and others are illustrated on plates 27-29.

Animal and plant fossils may be randomly scattered 

through the entire coal ball, but in some the animals 

seem to be concentrated in poorly defined pockets. In 

samples of this sort the animal-containing pockets may 

be distinguished from the remainder of the coal ball 

by a slight difference in the color of the matrix, which

FIGURE 43. Sketch of sawn surface of a normal coal ball from West Mineral, Kans., 

drawn from a peel preparation of specimen 9189-61E. Calcite-filled cracks are 

unstippled. Approximately %o natural size.
204 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

FIGURE 44.^Sketch of sawed surface ofl a homogeneous-mixed coal ball from West Mineral, Kans., drawn from a peel 

preparation of specimen 9189-120A. Unstippled areas represent animal remains. Natural size.

is not, however, sharply delineated from the surrounding matrix. Mixed coal balls with pockets of this type 

may also contain faunal and floral mixtures in other 

parts of the specimen.

Some homogeneous-mixed coal balls show a peculiar 

textural feature that is like the mixing together of two 

colors of cake batter and that we refer to as "swirled." 

This "swirling" consists of oriented lines of animal 

fossils. The lines nearly parallel each other, but are 

very irregular and bear no definite relation to the 

bedding plane of the coal where that feature can be 

inferred from the shape of the coal ball or adherent 

remnants of the surrounding coal. The swirl markings 

may also assume roughly concentric orientation, and 

may intergrade imperceptibly into coal ball matrix that 

shows no structure.

HETEROGENEOUS-MIXED COAL BALLS

Heterogeneous-mixed coal balls, which have been 

found only at Berryville, 111., differ from all other types 

by showing a segregation of marine from nonmarine 

parts of the matrix; this segregation is illustrated in 

figure 45. Actually, this is not a simple segregation of 

plant from animals remains, for a certain amount of 

small resistant plant fragments (mostly well-preserved 

spores) is incorporated in the animal-containing matrix. 

However, this animal-containing matrix is surrounded 

by an area that contains only plant material and that 

in all aspects is typical of the matrix of a normal coal 

ball.

The marine masses, to which for want of a better term ' 

we refer as "cores," are of much interest, both structurally and biologically. They vary in form from elon- j 

gate, more or less cylindrical rods that extend through 

the entire length of the coal ball, to irregularly shaped 

cores. The cylindroid type of marine core is illustrated 

in figure 45; others are shown on plates 30 and 31.

In the example shown in figure 45, as well as in 

several other examples, the coal ball is an elongate, 

slightly flattened specimen. The plant material shows 

perceptible flattening parallel to the long axis of the 

specimen. The marine core, which is slightly eccentric 

in position, extends through the whole length of the 

coal ball (approximately 16 inches) and is exposed at 

either end. It varies little in either its diameter (approximately 2% inches) or its position relative to the 

center of the coal ball, and for the most part displays a 

sharp line of contact with the surrounding normal matrix. Here and there, however, a root or stem fragment 

or stringer of unrecognizable plant debris crosses the 

contact and extends a short distance into the core. In 

other specimens, though the contact between the core 

and the normal part of the coal ball is relatively clear, it 

is irregular and subangular in places.

The figured core is unusual in its deep embedment 

within the normal matrix and its nearly perfect cylindroid shape. Other cores are less regularly shaped 

and may constitute most of the coal ball. All cores, however, are surrounded by a layer of normal matrix with-
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 205

FIGURE 45.- -Sketch of sawn surface of a heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, drawn from a peel preparation of specimen 9190 2 J. 

The marine core Is indicated by dark stippling ; calcite-filled cracks are unstippled. Natural size.

in a film of coal that indicates their original position 

below the upper limit of the coal seam.

Marine cores may extend nearly to the bottom of the 

seam. A large mass of coal balls, 2 feet long and 1 foot 

thick, was found in place by Mamay in 1957, and dug out 

of the coal. The bottom of this mass lay within an inch 

of the bottom of the coal seam, and it contains irregularly shaped but distinct cores through its whole thickness. One core reaches the lower surface of the thickest part of the coal ball mass, and thus was originally 

separated from the underclay by only an inch of coal.

Distinct bedding of the detrital fragments, both plant 

and animal, was observed within the marine core in 

several specimens. In one core (pi. 30, fig. 1) the fossil 

debris is arranged in easily discernible layers. The 

bedding may be flat and parallel to the less distinct bedding of the plant material in the surrounding normal 

matrix. However, for about 1 cm from the contact 

between the core and normal matrix, the bedding of the 

core is slightly warped. This warping suggests that the 

original lump of marine mud was still fairly plastic 

when deposited in the coal swamp. After deposition its 

inner bulk sagged slightly and produced the warped 

bedding planes.

Our interest in the specimen shown on plate 30 was 

increased by two facts: (a) The core itself is a roughly 

flattened body that stands "on edge" with its bedding 

planes extending across its smallest dimension. Thus 

the core presumably dropped into a deep but relatively 

narrow indentation in the surface of the peat, in such 

a way that its own bedding planes paralleled the surface 

of the bog. (b) The layer of coal surrounding this 

specimen also contains a second small normal coal ball 

with distinctly layered plant debris. This layering, 

however, is nearly perpendicular to that of the mixed 

specimen and indicates a precoalification disturbance of 

the peat, which distorted the bedding plane relations 

between these two adjacent coal balls.

The Berryville material is also distinctive because of 

its faunal content. As far as determinable, the faunas 

of the cores contain several elements identical with animals found in the limestone overlying the coal seam. 

The cores also contain many spores, cuticular fragments, and other plant remains. Although several samples of normal matrix surrounding the cores were carefully trimmed away from the latter and dissolved in 

acid, these samples produced no animal remains. It is 

therefore evident that the cores and surrounding nor-
206 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

mal matrices could not have been formed under identical depositional conditions. Further support for this 

line of reasoning may be seen in the results of chemical 

analyses of the two matrices (p. 207; table 2). These 

show that the Berryville core material contains A12O3 , 

which does not occur in the normal matrix or in any of 

the coal balls analyzed.

FAUNAL COAL BALLS

Specimens of faunal coal balls were noted in significant numbers only at the Monmouth, Kans., locality. 

They conform with the essential features of normal coal 

balls except that the contained fossils are of exclusively 

zoological origin. In shape they vary almost as much 

as normal coal balls, but have perhaps a higher proportion of lenticular or flattened specimens. Baxter (1957, 

written communication) noted that many of them are of 

sheetlike aspect. Their faunal contents may be roughly 

layered or scattered at random through the matrix, 

which may also contain stringers of coal. The animal 

remains are mostly small pyritized brachiopod fragments. As shown in tables 1 and 2, coal balls from this 

locality usually contain more pyrite than those from 

any other locality investigated.

CHEMICAL ANALYSES

In order to determine what chemical differences exist 

between normal and mixed coal balls, eight typical 

samples were selected for Semiquantitative spectroscopic analysis and rapid rock analysis as described 

by Shapiro and Brannock (1956). The rock analyses 

were performed on samples as received, without preliminary drying. Samples of both normal and mixed 

coal balls were taken from West Mineral, Kans., 

McAlester, Okla., and Berryville, 111.; a faunal coal

ball from Monmouth, Kans., was analyzed. The Berryville material also included one sample from a heterogeneous-mixed coal ball and a piece of the limestone 

over the channel in the coal seam.

The rapid rock analyses (table 2) show some 

apparently consistent but small differences between 

normal and mixed coal balls in concentrations of SiO2, 

FeS2, K2O, P2O5 , A12O3 , CaCOs (CaO + CO2 ) and 

MgO. These could reflect chemical makeup of animal 

fragments or other uncontrollable factors, and cannot 

safely be considered significant. The complete results 

are, however, presented as tables 1 and 2, for they 

represent the most detailed coal ball analyses known 

to us.

In reviewing the published record we found several 

chemical analyses of coal balls in papers treating primarily of the fossil floras. Eeferences to these are 

given to aid those who may wish to pursue the problem 

of the formation and chemical composition of coal 

balls. Analyses published prior to 1908 were summarized by S topes and Watson (1908). An analysis of 

a single coal ball from Bohemia was presented by 

Kubart (1911, p. 1038). Leclercq (1925, p. 21) published one analysis of a coal ball from Belgium and 

subsequently analyses of three others (Leclercq 1952, 

p. 398). Zalessky and Tchirkova (1931, p. 590) published an analysis of a coal ball from the Kousnetzk 

basin of Eussia. Teichmuller, Teicliniuller, and Werner (1953, p. 145) published a summary of their work 

and that of others; they listed a dozen analyses for 

iron oxide, calcium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate 

in coal balls or "Torfdolomit" from the Ruhr area of 

Germany. So far as is known, Darrah (1939, p. 132) 

has presented the only published analysis of a coal ball 

from the United States.

TABLE 1. Semiquantitative spectroscopic analyses of coal tall and limestone samples

[Analysts: Mona Frank and P. L. D. Elmore. Phosphorus may be present in these samples, but further work is necessary to assure positive identification. Sensitivity for

phosphorus is 0.1]

Percentage

>10.._ - ........_

5-10 .. ___ .--.-..

1-5- _ . ............

.5-1... __ ... _ . ___ .

.1-.5.. ........... _ ...

.05-.!... __ ...........

01-.05.- ._ .

.005-.01 .

.001-.005.... _ _ ..

.0005-.001... ..........

.0001-.0005.... _ . ...

West Mineral, Kans., 

Fleming coal

Sample 145717, 

normal 

coal ball

Ca

Fe, Mg

Si, Mn 

Al 

V, Sr, Na, B, Ti

Ni, Pb 

Ba, Mo 

Cr, Cu

Sample 145718, 

mixed 

coal ball

Ca

Fe

Mg 

Si 

Al, Mn 

Sr, V, Na, Ti

B, Ni 

Pb, Cu, Ba 

Cr, Mo

Berryville, 111., Calhoun coal

Sample 145719, 

normal 

coal ball

Ca

Fe, Mg

Si 

Mn 

Na, Sr, Al

Ti, B, Ni 

V, Ba 

Mo, Cr, Cu

Sample 145720, 

marine core from 

mixed coal ball

Ca

Fe, Mg 

Si, Al 

Sr, Na, Mn 

Ba, Ti, V, B

Ni 

Pb, Cr, Cu, Mo

Sample 145721, 

marine limestone 

above coal

Ca

Mg 

Al, Fe 

Si, Mn 

Sr, Na 

Ba, Ti, V

B, Ni 

Cr

Cu, Mo

Ag

McAlester, Okla., Secor coal

Sample 145722, 

normal 

coal ball

Ca

Fe, Mg

Si

Sr, Al, Mn, Na, 

V 

B 

Ba, Ti 

Cr, Mo, Cu

Sample 145723, 

mixed 

coal ball

Ca

Fe

Mg 

Si, Al 

Mn 

Ba, Sr, Na, V

B, Ti

Cr, Mo, Cu

Monmouth, 

Kans., 

Bevier coal

Sample 145724, 

faunal 

coal ball

Fe 

Ca

Si, Mg 

Al 

Mn, Na, Sr, Ba, 

Pb 

Cu, Y, V 

Mo, Sn, Ti, Zr 

Yb, Cr
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 207

TABLE 2. Rapid rock analyses of coal tall and limestone 

[Analyst: Paul W. Scott]

Constituent

SiOi... ................................

AlaOs -- -

i FeO...- _.. - 

MgO..-......-..-. . . .--

CaO .... .... -............ ......

NaaO.. ..... ..................

KiO. ..................................

TiOi.... -........-..-.-...-..-.-...

P2 06 -

MnO_. -.--.._ . .

H2 0. ..................................

COi.. .................................

Total *..... ......................

West Mineral, Kans., 

Fleming coal

Sample 145717, 

normal coal 

ball

0.21

1.3 

2.8 

47.5 

.09 

.01 

.01 

.10 

.34 

.73 

40.5 

4.5

98

Sample 145718, 

mixed coal 

ball

0.80

.6 

1.0 

45.9 

.08 

.03 

.02 

.15 

.18 

.50 

37.1 

11.2

97

Berryville, 111., Calhoun coal

Sample 145719, 

normal coal 

ball

0.35

1.0 

1.8 

51.6 

.08 

.03 

.02 

.08 

.27 

.59 

42.4 

.60

99

Sample 145720, 

marine core 

from mixed 

coal ball

1.8 

.68 

.9 

1.4 

50.2 

.09 

.09 

.03 

.23 

.18 

.36 

40.4 

3.0

99

Sample 145721, 

marine 

limestone 

above coal

2.9 

1.1 

2.7 

2.8 

46.6 

.14 

.15 

.04 

.17 

.47 

.76 

40.2 

1.0

99

McAlester, Okla., Secor coal

Sample 145722, 

normal coal 

ball

0.31

.3 

3.4

48.4 

.10 

.02 

.02 

.16 

.08 

1.2 

40.8 

1.8

97

Sample 145723, 

mixed coal 

ball

1.3 

.46 

2.2 

2.3 

45.6 

.08 

.06 

.02 

.19 

.18 

.52 

39.7 

4.7

97

Monmouth, 

Kans., 

Bevier coal

Sample 145724, 

faunal coal 

ball

1.1

.0 

.40 

18.6 

.13 

.06 

.01 

.51 

.05 

.86 

14.5 

60.9

97

1 Iron, exclusive of that required for calculation of FeS2, calculated as FeO.

! Organic matter contained in all samples may account for differences between totals and 100 percent.

LABORATORY METHODS

Mixed coal balls from each of the various localities 

possess more or less distinctive physical and biological 

characteristics. To demonstrate these differences, a 

number of coal balls, as well as samples of associated 

rocks are described on pages 217-222. Faunal contents 

of the samples and spore identifications are summarized 

in table 3. Although small isospores or microspores 

were observed and are apparently abundant in some of 

the residues, these were not identified, because the larger 

spores were sufficient demonstration of the intermixture 

of land plants with marine animals.

Though animal remains in coal balls may easily be 

seen on cut or broken surfaces, such examination gives 

a generally incomplete picture of the biological composition of the assemblage. For this reason acid solution was used as the chief technique for releasing fossils 

from the coal-ball matrix.

When animal remains were first noted in the collection briefly described in 1953, commercial grade hydrochloric acid was used to isolate pyritized remains from 

the matrix. However, the diversity of animal groups 

represented in these residues suggested the presence of 

phosphatic fossils such as vertebrate bones, teeth and 

scales, and conodonts. Formic acid therefore was 

substituted for hydrochloric in our later studies, with 

the result that phosphatic fossils were recovered from 

many of the mixed coal balls.

Coal balls selected for acid solution were sawed into 

1-inch thick slices; part of each coal ball was held in 

reserve for additional preparations if later desired. 

Because most of the fossils seen on the smoothed surfaces were relatively small, the slabs selected for acid 

solution were broken into small pieces to speed the reaction. Where it was evident that larger fossils were

contained in the matrix, entire slabs were dissolved. 

Before the cores of marine sediment in the Berryville, 

111., coal balls were dissolved, surrounding normal parts 

were trimmed from the core so that the insoluble residue would not be contaminated with plant material 

from the normal coal ball matrix.

The samples were then weighed and placed in formic 

acid in covered containers. Strength of the acid was 

adjusted to prevent effervescence from damaging fragile 

specimens, and was maintained by daily recharging of 

the solution. Most samples required 7 to 10 days for 

complete solution of their soluble components. Samples high in calcium carbonate were generally reduced to 

fine- or medium-textured granular residues, but some 

with large amounts of pyrite were deeply corroded 

but not entirely disaggregated. The latter contributed 

little to faunal analyses because of generally poor preservation of the fossils.

The residues were washed in water, allowed to dry, 

and weighed to determine the proportions of soluble 

and insoluble components of the original sample. The 

residues were then sized through standard-size sieves 

down to 200-mesh size; this was done under water to 

keep breakage at a minimum. The graded residues 

were then dried and picked. In addition to the mixed 

coal balls, samples of limestone caprock, of normal coal 

balls, and of the normal matrix surrounding cores in the 

Berryville, 111., specimens were also dissolved.

Samples from Berryville, 111., were the most soluble: 

their residues ranged only from 0.2 to 5.4 percent of 

original sample weight. At the other extreme, residues 

of samples from Monmouth, Kans., ranged from 22.6 

to 37.9 percent of sample weight. Because the solubility of the different samples showed meaningless variation, further details are omitted.

562661 O 62, 4
208 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

TABLE 3. Distribution of animal groups and large spores in insoluble residues

Samples 9189-119 and 9190-1 were not etched in order to preserve calcareous coral

specimens. 

Locality of samples: E-], 2,17, Franklin, Kans.; 9189-119, E-9,10,12,18, 23, 24, West

Mineral, Kans.; E-7, 8, 20, 21, Monmouth, Kans.; E-ll, 22, 30, 31, McAlester,

Okla.; E-13, Oskaloosa, Iowa; E-3, 4, 19, 25-29, 9190-1, Berryville, 111.; E-14, limestone overburden, West Mineral, Kans.; E-16, limestone overburden, McAlester, 

Okla.; E-5, limestone in channel, Berryville, 111.; E-6, limestone overburden, 

Berryville, 111.; E-15, limestone below channel, Berryville, 111.

Fossil

Protozoa:

Ammovertellal sp ..

or Glomospira sp._ . .

Cornuspirat sp

sp.... ........................................

Glomospira sp _ _ .

Serpulopsis aff . S1 . insita (White) .

Serpulopsis"? sp

Tetrataxis pauperata? (Worthing. _ .......

Fusulinids indet.. ___ ... . ..

Porifera:

Coelenterata: 

Lophophyllid coral... _________ . _ ....

Echinodermata:

Annelida:

Bryozoa:

Trepostomatous bryozoans indet ______ _

Polypora sp 1.. _ _. __ _____ . ______ .

sp 2.... _ ... ___ . ____ __ .. ....

sp 3 _ _--_-__ _-_._____. . ...........

sp 2 __ ________ . ___ _ __ . .

Rhombopora sp -.-. -

Brachiopoda:

Mesolobus sp.. -... .-.. ...

Chonetid indet _ - _ . .. _

Mollusca:

Schizodus sp ... . . .

Pectinoid indet-- _________________

Glabrocingulum sp.._- ....... . .. _..

Shansiella sp._ -.... . . .. ......

Steinkern cf. Shansiella... _____ . .-.

Pleurotomarian indet--.. ___ ___ _ ........

Eiicochlis sp. __ _ .. _ .

Type of deposit and sample number

Homogeneous-mixed coal balls

W

v

X

v

X

7w

X

X

9189-119

C5 

W

o 

W

X

<N

i I 

1 w

X

X

X

7W

X

X

X

v

X 

X

X

X

V

 ^

7w

X

X

X

X

X 

X

X

V

o

3

v

X

X

w

X

V

X

X 

X

X 

X

X

v"

X

cs7w

X

X

X

X

X

X 

X 

X

X 

X

X

X

X

X

7w

X

X

X

X

X 

X

X

X

X

X

X

05

£

X

X

X

Heterogeneous-mixed 

coal balls

s

X

X

X

X

X

--

-

--

t

w

X

X

X

v

X

-

X

X

--

107w

X

X

X

X

v

v

X

X 

X

X

X 

X

X

X

X

X

X

X 

X

CO

1 w

X

v

X 

X 

X

X

X 

X

v

X

X

X

X

7w

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X 

X

X

X 

X

X

X

GO

7w

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X 

X

X

X

X

X

7w

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X 

X

X 

X

X

X 

v

X

X

Normal coal balls

CR

t^

w

-

oo 

W

--

7

H

--

CR

w

--

o

w

...

Faun 

al 

coal 

balls

r-~

K

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

V

X

X 

X 

X

X

Tw

X

X

X 

X

Miscellaneous 

associated 

sedimentary 

deposits

 *

W

X

X

X

-

X

CO

w

X

X

X

X

--

__

1

X

X

X

...

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

--

__

Tw

X

X

X

X

X

X

-

..

10

w

...

...

-

-.
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 209 

TABLE 3. Distribution of animal groups and large spores in insoluble residues Continued

Fossil

Mollusca Continued

Arthropoda:

cf. B. pompilioides Harlton. ... .....

sp . -_ .

Knightina sp~._ . . . . ...... . .

Sp - -. -_._____________

Hollinellasp __ .. . .. ... _ ..

Genus indet B. ....... ____ _______ _ __

Chordata: 

Acanthodii _ _ ___ _ _____ _

Cladoidachii__ ... ...

Solachii... _ ... _ _ _ _

Pleurocanthoidii ....... _...__ .

Bradvdonti.- _____

Actinoptervgii--..

Fish remains indet. _

Conodonts: 

Ilindeodellasp .....

OzarkodMa _p .__

Neoprioiodus sp_

Spathognathodus minutus"! (Ellison).

Gnathodus roundyi Qunnell

bassleri (Harris and Hollingsviorth)... ...

Idiognathodus magnificus Stauffer and Plummer. 

cf. /. magnificus Stauffer and Plummer____

Streptognathodus elegantulus Stauffer and 

Plummer ...

Barlike conodont indet

Platelike conodont indet __ ...

Bladelike conodont indet -. ....

Large spores: 

Cyslosporites varius (Wicher) Dijkstra

Spencerisporites sp . _ _

Triletes auritus Zerndt __ __

auritus var. grandis Zerndt . _ .

glabratus Zerndt _ .

cf. T. rugosus (Loose) Schopf. ._.

cf. T. superbus Bartlett

triangulatus Zerndt . --.__

Type of deposit and sample number

Homogeneous-mixed coal balls

i

W

X

v

X 

X

X

X

v

<?w

X

v

v

X

X

X

-

9189-119 
 

W

X

X

X

o

Vw

X

X

X

X

CM

w

X

X

X

X

X 

v

X 

X

«

&

X

v

v

X

X

X

X 

X

"I

w

X

--

X 

X

oC-)

w

v

v

\/

v

X

X

v

X

r-f

w

^

X

X

v

X

v

X

v

X

--

v

X

^w

X 

X 

X 

X

v

X

v

X

X 

v

v

X

v

X

V

X

v

V

v

V

X

--

CO^

v

v

X

"x

v

X

X

X

X

X

X

--

X

X

CO

1 w

"x

X

v

v

X

X

X

v

X

X

X

X

X

I

T

"x

v

X

X

X

X 

X

X

X 

X

X

Iet£

Tw

"x

--

v

X

X

X

X

X 

X

X

rogeneous-mixed 

coal balls

W

X

X 

v

"x

X

X

v

V

X

x

V

x

X

x

X

?,

K

X

X

X

X

X

v

X

v

v

--

x

X

l-~

"l

w

X

X

-

X

X 

X

9IB

X

v

X

...

v

v

X

X

X

X

X

O

w

X

X

X

v

v

v

v

Y

x

x

V

v

x

x

x

x

v

v

Normal coal balls

cc

s

r~

w

X

X

X

Vw

X

X

X

?w

--

CO

Tw

X

X

?

K

X

rfi"

X

Faun 

al 

coal 

balls

Tw

X

V

V

X 

X 

X

X

V

X

v

X

X

X

v

X

X

°pw

X 

X 

X 

V

V

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

-

Miscellaneous 

associated 

sedimentary 

deposits

 * 

W

...

V

V

X

v

V

X

V

--

X

X

CD

V 

K

X

X

--

--

1 w

V

X

X

v

V

-

-

X

X

X 

X

X

?w

X

V

X

--

w

...

...

--

--

--

-

--

X 

X

X 

X

--

Specimens probably conspeciflc, but not complete enough for positive identification.
210 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

The technique described allows recovery of all but 

calcareous specimens. In order that important faunal 

elements should not be overlooked, nonpyritic specimens exposed on fractured surfaces were prepared 

for identification by mechanical methods. Most of 

the animal remains recovered by this method are pyritized; the calcareous ones constitute a minor element 

and consist largely of brachiopods and crinoid columnals.

It is probable that some specimens were destroyed 

or escaped observation during preparation. Nevertheless a sufficiently wide variety of animal groups are 

repeated in several coal balls from the same locality to 

favor the probability that most of the faunal elements 

are known.

PRESERVATION OF THE FOSSILS

Preservation of the plant fossils needs little discussion because, as is usual in coal ball petrification, 

there is little if any replacement of the original substance of cell walls. Woody tissues owe their excellent 

preservation to an impregnation and filling of the cell 

interiors, the dominant impregrating material usually 

being calcite. Waxy spore coats and cuticles, among 

the most resistant substances in the plant kingdom, are 

ordinarily preserved practically unchanged.

Most of the megaspores recovered from the acid 

residues are so little distorted by compression that their 

original shapes and external morphological features 

may be satisfactorily studied (pi. 33). Those from 

Berryville, 111. (pi. 33, fig. 17), McAlester, Okla., and 

Oskaloosa, Iowa, are seen to be hollow when their coats 

are broken, a condition that wT e ascribe to dissolution of 

the original calcareous fillings of the spore cavities during treatment with acid. Megaspores from. West 

Mineral, Kans., however, may be recovered in a hollow 

condition or their interiors may contain mineral 

fillings, usually calcitic, rarely pyritic (pi. 33, figs. 8, 

9). The fact that some of the calcitic fillings remained 

intact after several days' treatment with acid can only 

be due to exclusion of the acid from contact with the 

surfaces of the filling, by the intact and impervious 

endosporal membrane or exospore, or by both. Specimens of Triletes cf. T. superbm recovered from the 

same coal ball were either hollow or were filled with 

pyrite or calcite.

Some of the megaspores are so well preserved that 

their endosporal membranes can be dissected out. 

Membranes removed from specimens of Triletes cf. T. 

super~b'U8 are thin and delicate, and almost invariably 

show a pattern of regularly distributed and shaped dark 

spots (pi. 33, fig. 10). The spots, which may represent 

vestiges of cellular organization, are always restricted

to the proximal part of the membrane, and more concisely, to the circular area that is delimited by the 

arcuate ridges connecting termini of the triradiate 

sutures of the exospore. On the basis of their proximal 

positions these spots, despite their abundance in any 

one spore, were first interpreted as the remains of 

archegonia, but perhaps they are equivalent to the 

papillae in similar membranes of Duosporites described 

by H0eg, Bose, and Manum (1955).

Animal remains from most localities are generally 

replaced by pyrite, but preservation may also be calcareous, phosphatic, or baritic. Only in conodonts, 

scolecodonts, and fish is evidence of replacement lacking. 

Both conodonts and fish parts are phosphatic. The 

few scolecodonts found are black, highly lustrous, and 

resistant to all the common acids. They are apparently 

the original chitinlike substance.

Five other groups the bryozoans, ostracodes, trilobites, worm tubes, and sponges are consistently preserved in pyrite, almost invariably by replacement, but 

the few corals found remain calcareous. In the pyritic 

specimens, replacement ranges from fine to coarse 

grained.

Preservation of foraminifers is siliceous or pyritic. 

The thuramminids and tolypamminids had hard agglutinate shells, and in the acid residue the silica sand 

of many shells remains coherent because of silica cement 

which may be of secondary origin. The globivalulinids, originally calcareous, were not noted in other 

than pyritic preservation or chamber fillings. The 

f usulinid shells are mostly unaltered but their chamber 

fillings are pyritized or partly silicified.

Aside from the linguloids and orbiculoids, which are 

phosphatic and do not appear to be replaced, brachiopods from the West Mineral, Kans., samples are unaltered and require mechanical preparation; a few are, 

however, preserved in pyrite. All those from Monmouth, on the other hand, are pyritized.

Mollusks are present in all the faunas investigated. 

Pelecypods and gastropods are conspicuous faunal 

elements. The pelecypods, with two exceptions, are 

preserved only in pyrite. Cephalopods are calcareous 

except for the figured specimen (pi. 34, fig. 29). Mineralogic composition of this one was not determined 

because to do so would necessitate destroying part of the 

specimen. The specimen is insoluble in hydrochloric 

acid.

Preservation of the gastropods is perplexing. Although specific identifications are difficult because of 

the quality of the preservation, there is no apparent correlation between biological identity and mode of preservation of the gastropods. They may be preserved as 

actual shell replacements or as steinkerns; steinkern
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 211

preservation of some pelecypods and foraminifers has 

been seen but not of the other animals observed. Steinkerns may be phosphatic or pyritic and may fill calcareous shells, as shown by hollow casts surrounding the 

steinkerns on etched surfaces. Shell replacements are 

pyritic and filled with calcareous material, as shown by 

the hollow interiors of shell replacements recovered 

from the residues. Pyritic replacements are most common, but in one sample (Monmouth, Kans., E-20) replacements are composed of barite. A single coal ball 

may yield different individuals certainly of generic and 

probably of specific identity in all the types of preservation noted.

One further point with regard to the animal remains 

deserves mention here the size of fragments or whole 

specimens, exclusive o>f those of ostracocles and conodonts. With the occasional exception of Derbyia and 

productoid brachiopod shells which may reach 3 cm or 

more in width, most of the animal material consists 

either of complete individuals or of fragments smaller 

than 1 cm in maximum measurement; more than half 

are 0.5 cm or less.

It is probable that mechanical sorting by wave or 

current action before original sedimentation and subsequent translocation to the swamp is the explanation 

for the consistently small size of animal fossils found 

in the coal balls and that the residues are not a representative sample of typical Pennsylvanian marine 

faunas.

Few of the specimens show evidence of abrasion or 

mechanical wear, and some of the more intricately ornamented ostracode shells are perfectly preserved. The 

one group in which worn specimens are common are 

the fish remains. The rounded corners and edges of 

many scales and dermal plates suggest considerable 

abrasion before final deposition.

Representative suites of plant and animal remains 

recovered from the acid residues are shown in plates 

33 and 34, respectively. Plant material was photographed as recovered from the residues, without further 

chemical treatment.

INTERPRETATION OF ANIMAL-CONTAINING COAL 

BALLS

Because the marine animal remains contained in the 

mixed and faunal coal balls cannot be regarded as indigenous to the coal swamps, a fundamental conflict with 

commonly accepted theories of coal ball formation 

arises. Normal coal balls are considered by most authors to represent concretions formed in place, in accord with the conclusions of Stopes and Watson (1908). 

At variance with that hypothesis, however, Kindle 

(1934) preferred to compare coal balls with the socalled lake balls mechanically accretionary, spheroidal masses of plant material whose formation has been 

observed in Recent aquatic environments. Kindle's 

analogy has not met with popular acceptance (Schopf, 

1949, p. 81), but it is possible that his explanation may 

contain some acceptable points if applied to mixed coal 

balls. Obviously, any explanation of marine organisms 

in nomnarine strata must involve transportation of 

material. Rafting of coals has been suggested in explanation of the phenomena described here, but this 

explanation is highly improbable in view of the otherwise normal sedimentary relations of the coal seams 

that provided the mixed assemblages.

Some coal seams locally contain exotic materials 

such as igneous boulders and pebbles, and although 

these attract much interest, there seems to be no agreement regarding the mechanisms responsible for such 

inclusions; cataclysmic transportation, however, is a 

frequently suggested mechanism. The following discussion by Whiteheacl and others (1952, p. 290) demonstrates the necessity for resorting to unusual depositional circumstances by way of explanation.

W. L. Whitehead: A 15- or 20-foot tidal wave is not uncommon on some coasts during hurricanes or tsunamis. At these 

times submarine plants with hold-fasts can carry a 6-inch 

boulder 10 miles.

J. M. Schopf: Well, that certainly is a possibility. I should 

say that, a number of these freakish and very difficult-to-explain occurrences must be explained by some cataclysmic 

method of the sort. I am not at all sure that the widespread 

partings aren't in that category too.

I. A. Breger: Shouldn't you get occasionally some marine 

evidence?

J. M. Schopf: You would think so but let me tell you of an 

occurrence which puts the "shoe on the other foot." I have 

found coal-ball limestone, that is, the limestone characteristic 

of coal balls which must have originated no higher than within 

the upper portion of a coal-measures peat deposit such coalball limestone has been found embedded in an unquestionable 

marine coquina overlying the coal. This is an example of the 

reverge direction in transportation. The coal-ball limestone 

must have originated within the precoal peat bed and then have 

been transported bodily into the marine bed above it. There 

are some strange things associated with coal.

We regard the animal-containing coal balls as representative of the "marine evidence" sought by Breger.

HETEROGENEOUS-MIXED COAL BALLS

The Berryville cores or marine inclusions are considered best explained by a transitory force that introduced them into the accumulating peaty plant debris. 

The evidence for this hypothesis is the complete 

embedment of the inclusions within the coal balls, 

apparently without interruption of coal deposition. 

The following possible physical setting and sequence
212 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

of events is visualized in explanation of the origin of 

the cores:

The coal swamp lay at or near sea level and was 

perhaps separated from the sea only by a low narrow 

strand barrier, which was sufficiently high to prevent 

access of marine waters to the swamp environment 

through normal tidal action. Offshore in shallow 

waters, a calcareous mud was accumulating, into which 

both marine animals and bits of plant material, either 

windblown or drifted, were being incorporated. The 

animal remains, as demonstrated by their consistently 

small size, were probably being transported from farther offshore sites of original deposition by currents, 

the larger representatives of the fauna being sorted 

out during transportation and only rarely being 

brought landward, or being brought in only as smaller 

fragments.

As previously mentioned, each insoluble residue of 

Berryville core material contains many spores, bits of 

wood, cuticles, and other plant parts. Except for the 

spores, many of which are complete and undistorted, 

the plant material is fragmentary. If the cores do 

represent transported samples of the sea bottom, then 

the plant debris included in the cores represents a part 

of the original organic constituents of the marine mud, 

and as such must be interpreted as twice-transported 

matter. The plant material may have been blown to 

sea by the wind or may have drifted out on the surface; 

eventually it became waterlogged and sank to the 

bottom to intermingle with the accumulating animal 

debris. As the spore contents decayed, the spore interiors were filled with minerals, so that they underwent 

little or no compression before final calcareous cementation. Finally, the plant material was transported 

back to the coal swamp, perhaps coming to rest many 

miles from the area in which it had originally been 

produced. However, it may also be that a short distance, as well as a short time lapse, for both translocations was involved, because some of the most conspicuous spores in the core material ( Triletes gldbratus, 

T. a/u/ritus var. grandis, and Monoletes ovatus) also occur 

abundantly in the normal coal balls from this locality.

Occasionally lumps of the semiconsolidated mud 

were dislodged from the sea floor by tidal currents or 

by other relatively minor disturbances and were worn 

into various shapes by wave action; some of these lumps 

assumed cylindroid shapes, some were more irregular.

Violent storms created unusually large waves that 

swept inland and inundated the swamp. The waves 

carried along the cylindroid wave rollers as well as 

less regularly shaped lumps of mud that contained 

both animal and plant remains. The mud lumps were 

deposited on the irregular surface of the peat, or fell

through the upper layers. A firm consistency of the 

mud lumps is implied by the discrete nature of the 

cores and the angularity of some of the cross sections. 

However, parts of the mud lumps were sufficiently 

soft that intermixture with the adjacent peat occurred 

locally, and some of the firmer plant fragments penetrated the surfaces of the lumps.

The core shown in figure 45 is oriented parallel to the 

mass of roots that constitutes the normal matrix. The 

roots, preponderantly alined in the same direction, 

probably created a series of nearly parallel grooves 

on the surface of the peat, and minor agitation of the 

receding water could have caused the core to settle in 

one of the grooves. Meanwhile the turbulence also dislodged chunks of peat, redeposited them, and in some 

instances effected a reorientation of their original bedding planes. Evidence for this reorientation is apparent in the specimen shown in plate 30, figure 1, where 

the bedding of plant material in the small coal ball 

fragment within the coal matrix at the right is oriented 

nearly at right angles to that of the larger specimen 

containing the marine core. The same specimen shows 

evidence that deposition of the marine material was 

sudden, rather than gradual and protracted, for the 

plant material beneath the lump is compacted and 

bedded parallel to the rounded contours of the bottom 

of the lump, while the plant material in contact with 

the sides of the lump shows evidence of shearing.

Marine waters soon retreated. Upon restoration of 

the normal swamp environment, continued peat deposition covered the foreign marine mud-lumps and enclosed them within the plant debris.

Lithification of the mixed coal balls, just as of normal ones, preceded final compaction and coalification 

of the peat, as demonstrated by the direction of lamination of the coal in relation to layering in the heterogeneous-mixed coal balls and by the uncompressed 

condition of material within the coal balls. Concretionary action was probably responsible for calcareous 

preservation of plant debris and its cementation to the 

marine core.

While the summary above possibly represents an 

oversimplification of events, we believe that it best fits 

the evidence on hand.

In seeking to explain the slender cylindroid forms 

of some of the Berryville cores, let us consider an 

analogous modern erosional phenomenon. Along the 

western shore of Chesapeake Bay in Maryland are steep 

cliffs of the Miocene Calvert formation, including beds 

of blue clay. In the area south of Chesapeake Beach, 

large blocks of the clay occasionally slump into the 

water. Wave action erodes these blocks into smaller 

lumps, some of which eventually are thrown onto the
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 213

beach. Among these lumps some specimens are worn 

into long, roughly cylindroidal shapes. One, collected 

in 1952 by Jack E. Smedley, is a straight rodlike lump, 8 

inches long, iy2 inches wide, and y2 inch thick, with an 

oval cross section; its width and thickness are nearly 

uniform, and it is abruptly rounded at either end. This 

rod is similar in shape to the core illustrated in plate 

31, figure 1.

Occurrences of similar clay balls and boulders were 

reported by Grabau (1913, p. 711-712) and by Eichter 

(1926). They reported the boulders to have been 

formed under water and sometimes to be encrusted with 

marine shells that became embedded as the balls rolled 

over shell-containing sands. The "schlickgerolle" observed by Richter on the coast of the North Sea are 

sometimes cylindroid.

Analogous modern sedimentary material has been 

reported in several recent papers. Armored mud balls, 

described from Ventura County, Calif. (Bell, 1940), 

provide a striking example of the effects of currents 

in abrading chunks of mud into symmetrical forms; 

many observed by Bell were nearly spherical in shape. 

The armor of these balls, although consisting chiefly 

of pebbles, illustrates the ability of rolling mud masses 

to accumulate foreign debris through mechanical accretion. An important observation, in regard to the 

content of the armor, is that "frail gastropod shells 

were occasionally as perfectly preserved as though they 

had been packed in cotton" (Bell, 1940, p. 18) ; this 

fact may in part explain the undamaged condition of 

the ostracodes and conodonts found in the mixed coal 

balls.

A paper by Kindle (1937) contains descriptions of 

an even more appropriate modern analog of the mixed 

coal balls. Kindle observed that after the Atlantic 

coast hurricane of mid-September 1936 "boulderlike 

masses of tenaceous lagoon clay bound firmly together 

by salt grass roots were seen widely scattered over the 

flat surface of a lagoon island" (Kindle, 1937, p. 433) 

at an inlet a few miles southwest of Atlantic City, N. J. 

In regard to marine shells in many of the boulders, he 

stated that "these recent fossils do not represent a 

veneer of shells attached to the surface by rolling about. 

They have clearly been entombed in the sediments as 

they were laid down near the shore of the inlet or bay. 

From the original bed these mud boulders have apparently been separated by undercutting of currents 

in lagoon channels and the lifting power of waves."

Perhaps the best documented study of effects of a 

severe storm on a low-lying coast is that made following 

hurricane "Audrey," which struck southwestern Louisiana on June 27, 1957 (Morgan, Mchols, and Wright, 

1958). Two large arcuate masses of marine mud, each

more than 2 miles long and 1,000 feet wide, were driven 

between 1,100 and 1,250 feet inland. Tidal salt water 

extended more than 30 miles inland, and some areas 

were still inundated 3 wy eeks after the storm struck.

An older analog was described in some detail by 

Croneis and Grubbs (1939). They reported subspherical calcareous nodules containing assemblages of silicified marine animal fossils in dolomitic beds of Silurian 

age near Chicago, Illinois; they interpreted these nodules as mechanical accretionary structures formed by 

the action of storm waves on clastic calcareous muds in 

relatively shallow sea waters.

Although other descriptions of clastic balls have been 

published, the foregoing selected examples illustrate 

the points of emphasis in our interpretation of mixed 

coal balls. Under certain circumstances, wave or current action does dislodge chunks of plastic sediments, 

wears and deforms them, and transports them to new 

environments; it also forms similarly shaped masses 

through mechanical accretion and transportation. In 

either instance the remains of organisms may be incorporated within the sediment. It is the shaped chunks 

of plastic mud that we compare with the Berryville 

cores.

HOMOGENEOUS-MIXED AND FAUNAL COAL BALLS

The homogeneous-mixed coal balls from Kansas, 

Oklahoma, and Iowa are of less obvious origin than the 

Berryville, 111., specimens because of their less clearly 

delineated structural features. Nevertheless, we 

believe that they can be attributed to a series of events 

and a physical environment similar to that suggested 

above. Most of the Kansas homogeneous-mixed coal 

balls, and perhaps all of those from Oklahoma, may 

best be considered analogous to the core of a Berryville, 

111., specimen. They may represent transported marine 

mud lumps whose chief difference from the Berryville 

cores is that they usually are directly enclosed by coal 

rather than by a layer of petrified plant material. The 

presence of varied marine faunas within the coal is, 

of course, the primary evidence of transportation, but 

the texture of some mixed coal balls is also worth 

consideration.

The swirled texture of some of the homogeneousmixed coal balls may be regarded as evidence of prelithification rolling of fossiliferous mud lumps. The 

swirls are usually irregularly ovoid; they are sometimes 

vaguely marked and are often accompanied by thin 

stringers of decomposed plant material which extend 

for some distance into a nodule. More important, the 

swirls are primarily effects of animal shell fragments 

oriented with their flatter surfaces more or less parallel 

along curved lines (pi. 27, fig. 4). This alinement may

562661 O -62 -5
214 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

be the result of adhesion of shell fragments to the surface of a rolling mud lump, or may be secondary orientation by pressure on the enclosing matrix. Presence in a few mixed coal balls of two or more distinct 

sets of swirl markings may indicate adhesion of several 

originally separate mud lumps that were indurated, 

after deposition in the swamp, by additional calcium 

carbonate and pyrite.

Still other homogeneous-mixed coal balls may 

actually be more closely comparable to the Berryville 

cores, although not texturally so clearly delineated. 

Some of these contain pockets of marine fossils, which 

may lie either well within the coal ball or only along its 

periphery and which merge vaguely with areas containing only plant material. These pockets suggest an 

origin similar to that of the Berryville cores: that is, 

marine mud lumps deposited on the surface of the peat 

and ultimately incorporated along with some of the 

peat into the same coal balls. Before lithification, however, partial solution of the calcareous mud lumps may 

have occurred and permitted some intermingling of the 

marine animals and the surrounding peat.

Several processes are considered possible for formation of the rare specimens, such as the one from Oskaloosa, Iowa, in which an ostensibly normal coal ball 

contains a sparse marine fauna with no physical evidence of enclosing marine sediments. A small lump 

of transported mud may have been dissolved chemically 

or dispersed by gentle current action after deposition in 

the coal swamp; such action would have released the enclosed animal remains, which sank into the spongy peat 

mass and eventually became part of an otherwise normal 

coal ball, formed through concretionary growth. Another possible explanation is that disintegration of 

mud lumps during transportation could have released 

the contained fossils as the waves passed over the coal 

swamp; again exotic animal remains would have been 

incorporated in coal balls. A third possibility is that 

the shells were introduced as clastic particles in a mud 

slurry. Perhaps some of the animals thus introduced 

into the coal swamp were actually living at the time 

of inundation, and were swept along as part of the 

foreign debris. However, the foraminiferal-incrusted 

inner surfaces of many of the shells in the Kansas and 

Illinois coal balls indicate that the animals were dead 

before deposition in the coal swamp.

Striking evidence of twofold transportation of plant 

material is found in the Kansas mixed coal balls. 

Some residues contain abundant tests of serpulopsid 

foraminifers, a generalized and simple, irregularly 

tubular adherent type. These tests are commonly adherent on the associated invertebrate shells (pi. 34, fig. 

46) but are also found on plant debris (pi. 33, figs.

25-30). They are most common on the large megaspore species Triletes cf. T. superbus, where they occur 

on both the outer and inner surfaces of the spore coat 

(pi. 33, figs. 27-30). That these occurrences are not 

accidental juxtapositions is shown by the exact conformity of the foraminiferal tests with the spherical 

contours of the spore surfaces. The foraminiferal encrustation of the terrestrial plant material occurred 

in a marine habitat, and there seems no alternative to 

attributing this association to twofold transportation 

of the encrusted plant fragments.

The above concept actually strengthens rather than 

weakens the logic of our interpretation, because transportation of land-plant material from near-shore environments to the open sea and its subsequent deposition on the sea bottom among the remains of marine 

organisms ~ is a well-known phenomenon. -L White

(1911) summarized from the records of the Blake, the 

Challenger, and the Albatross several accounts of landplant debris having been dredged from the sea bottom 

at depths of as much as 2,150 fathoms.

The Monmouth, Kans., occurrence of mixed and 

faunal coal balls in the Bevier coal is the most difficult 

phase of this overall problem to interpret, and one 

which warrants further and more detailed investigation. The large amount of xenoclastic marine animal 

debris incorporated in the coal there is obviously a reflection of proximity of coal swamp and sea waters. 

The plant accumulations may even have lain at the 

actual strand line at the time of deposition, and have 

thus allowed more abundant introduction of marine 

muds into the swamp. Possibly the peat deposit was 

unusually spongy with large and abundant interstices 

that became filled with mud lumps before the weight 

of overburden could compress the peat and cause collapse of the interstices. This process could explain 

the distribution of the faunal coal balls throughout 

the thickness of the seam. An alternative hypothesis 

that the coal itself is an allochthonous marine deposit 

is disproved by the presence of a well-developed stigmarian underclay. There is no obvious explanation of 

the scarcity of recognizable plant material in the coal 

balls, but it may be due to the extreme pyritization, 

which is several times higher in the monmouth coal 

balls than in those from other localities and which may 

have obliterated plant structures that were originally 

present.

Whatever the origin of the faunal coal balls, it is 

evident that they were brought about by a very localized set of circumstances, for their occurrence in, the 

Bevier coal has not been sufficiently widespread to attract the attention of previous workers. Although 14 

mining localities were visited during his investigations,
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 215

Hambleton (1953, p. 56) remarked that coal balls occur 

"only in the Mineral coal" and, furthermore, that nodular pyrite is rare in the Bevier coal.

ALTERNATIVE INTERPRETATIONS

The difficulty of arriving at an interpretation of 

these mixed coal balls that might be expected to meet 

with a consensus of approval has been emphasized to 

us by discussion with several colleagues. Mixed coal 

balls have been suggested to us to represent filled 

animal burrows, erratic limestone boulders, or cavities 

filled by normal sedimentary processes. Although 

none of these possibilities appeals to us, it seems fitting 

to discuss each briefly and to present the contradictory evidence.

The animal-burrow hypothesis was suggested chiefly 

by the appearance of one of the heterogeneous-mixed 

specimens from Berryville, 111. This specimen, shown 

in plate 31, figure 1, contains the most symmetrical 

marine core found, the core itself being some 16 inches 

long and 2i£ inches in diameter. Its remarkably 

cylindroid shape is rather atypical of the Berryville 

cores, but at the same time is somewhat suggestive 

of an animal burrow. Evidence against such an interpretation follows:

1. The orientation of this particular core is parallel with 

the primary axis of the containing coal ball and, 

accordingly, parallel with the bedding of the coal 

itself. Assuming that such a horizontal burrow 

was made at a time when marine muds and animal 

debris were available as a filling substance after 

marine encroachment and deposition on the coal 

swamp surface of marine sediments complete 

filling of the burrow would have necessitated horizontal infiltration through a relatively narrow 

pathway. Moreover, if the overlying sediments 

were the source of the burrow fillings, the cores and 

the limestone presumably should have the same 

texture and fossils. However, the crinoidal fragments in the cores, being relatively well sorted and 

smaller than those in the overlying limestone, impart a finer texture to the cores. Large spores, 

which are fairly abundant in the cores, are apparently absent from the overlying limestone.

2. In most of the heterogeneous-mixed coal balls it is 

impossible to demonstrate sufficient uniformity or 

symmetry to suggest the origin of the cores as 

filled burrows. Aside from a few Berryville cores 

similar to that which suggested filled burrows as a 

possible interpretation, most of the marine inclusions from that locality are irregularly shaped. 

Furthermore, animal burrows can scarcely account 

for the lenticular or irregular shapes of the homogeneous-mixed coal balls from Kansas, or for the 

unusually large size of some.

The interpretation that mixed coal balls represent 

indurated erratic boulders analogous to the boulders 

described by Dix (1942) and Price (1932) from Welsh 

and American coal beds seems unlikely. If the mixed 

coal balls represent indurated boulders of fossiliferous 

limestone that wT ere swept into the coal swamps, it is 

difficult to explain the lenticular shapes of some specimens. Assuming that the specimens were indurated 

boulders at the time of introduction into the coal swamp, 

they would have been resistant to deformation of shape 

by compaction, and thus must have been lenticular in 

shape at the time of their deposition, in which case some 

other physical agency must have shaped them. It 

seems improbable that they were either torn loose from 

their source beds as small lenses, or that they were worn 

into such regular shapes through hydraulic erosion 

between the times of their derivation and deposition.

Further, in the Berryville mixed coal balls, the contacts between the cores and surrounding normal matrix 

commonly are sharply definable, but here and there are 

small areas where the contact is poorly developed and 

where plant material continuous with that of the normal 

matrix extends into the core for some distance. The 

material may be either woody axes that have clearly 

punctured the core matrix or may be partially decomposed, more or less finely comminuted, plant hash that 

grades almost imperceptibly into the core. These small 

areas suggest that at the time of its deposition in the coal 

swamp, part of the core was sufficiently plastic to allow 

for some mixture of its substance with the surrounding 

peat.

The view has been expressed that the mixed and 

f aunal coal balls may be the result of normal sedimentation that is, that the fossil animals may represent 

part of the first fauna that entered the drowned coal 

swamp. Although this view deserves serious consideration, again we regard it as untenable for several 

reasons:

1. The fossil associations described here and their 

ecological implications are not normal. Although 

Pennsylvanian stratigraphy and paleontology, 

especially of the economically important coal beds, 

have been studied intensively for over 100 years, 

to the best of our knowledge no one has previously 

reported marine invertebrates within the coal 

seams, except as contained in shale partings. In 

summarizing contemporary knowledge of American Pennsylvanian sedimentation, Weller (1957, 

p. 348) noted that "animal fossils, however, are 

exceedingly rare in coal seams, and those which
216 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

do occur almost invariably are preserved in cannel 

or canneloid layers."

2. Except for channels, "washouts," and rare sedimentary dikes, the upper surface of the coal seam 

is most commonly a flat surface. Had the upper 

surface of the coal-forming peat been notably irregular, plugs, sheets, and other irregular bodies 

of marine sediment should be common in coal 

seams. If the faunal and mixed coal balls were 

fillings of surface irregularities through normal 

sedimentation, they would likely be continuous 

with the overlying sediments; instead they are discrete bodies buried within the coal and have a 

vertical distribution throughout the thickness of 

the seam.

3. The coal on the upper surface of the animal-containing coal balls indicates that peat deposition 

continued after deposition of the marine inclusions. A permanent marine inundation that 

would have permitted a marine biota to flourish 

on the flooded peat surface would have killed the 

vegetation and stopped peat deposition.

4. In the West Mineral area of Kansas the fauna of the 

shale above the Fleming coal (Williams, 1937, p. 

105) has a different aspect from that of the mixed 

coal ball fauna, being locally a coquinoid mass of 

productoid brachiopods.

5. The swirled texture of some of the homogeneousmixed coal balls, as well as the fragmentary nature 

of the larger fossils, suggests transportation.

CONCLUSIONS

Studies of animal-containing coal balls suggest four 

conclusions, enumerated below. Some of these are 

long-established concepts in coal sedimentology, but 

they are incorporated here to complete the picture of 

depositional environments we are attempting to reconstruct. Whether these interpretations meet with 

general acceptance or not, it is hoped that this report 

will direct increased attention to the still preplexing 

problems of the physical and chemical genesis of normal 

coal balls.

1. Some coal swamps were close to seashores and lay 

at or very near sea level, separated from the sea 

by a bar or barrier (White and Thiessen, 1913, 

p. 54). The coal beds containing mixed or faunal 

coal balls represent seaward parts of the swamps. 

The barrier between the sea and the swamp was 

low enough to be transgressed by unusual wave 

action.

2. Under episodically unusual circumstances the coal 

swamps were briefly invaded by sea waters and 

were contaminated with minor amounts of clastic

marine material. Such invasions, although probably of very localized nature, occurred repeatedly 

in time and space, as shown by the geographic 

and stratigraphic distributions of mixed coal balls. 

They also were so brief that peat accumulation 

was not noticeably interrupted. The presence of 

mixed coal balls within the seams constitutes the 

only physical evidence for the marine invasions.

3. The American material described here introduces 

the probability that not all coal balls were formed 

under identical circumstances. Stopes and Watson (1908) suggested that coal balls developed by 

concretionary growth after marine invasion and 

cessation of peat deposition, the dissolved carbonates in the sea water percolating downward 

through the uncompressed peat and forming the 

matrix of coal balls. Since Stopes and Watson 

found no evidence of transitory marine inundations, their conclusions are sound insofar as their 

data are concerned.

On the other hand, transitory marine ingressions 

could have had various effects on the swamp environment, which in turn may have stimulated 

concretionary growth of normal coal balls before 

final marine inundation. Waves and currents 

powerful enough to transport chunks of marine 

mud into the coal swamp would also have carried 

significant amounts of the mud in suspension, as 

well as carbonates in solution. Assuming that this 

mud was calcareous, it may have provided chemical material for concretionary calcification of some 

normal coal balls. The mechanism for reprecipitation of the carbonates remains speculatory at 

best, but subtle localized variations in pH may 

explain it as well as the sporadic occurrence of 

coal balls.

4. Coal balls may be concretionary, clastic, or both. 

Exclusively plant-containing, concretionary, and 

most probably autochthonous (normal) coal balls 

preponderate, but others contain marine animal 

remains and are interpreted as clastic allochthonous material (homogeneous-mixed and faunal 

coal balls); still others (heteregeneous-mixed coal 

balls) combine both types of contents and modes 

of origin.

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DETAILS OF SAMPLES AND INSOLUBLE RESIDUES 

OSKALOOSA, IOWA

One coal ball (sample E-13) from the Patik mine was available. Parts of this specimen are illustrated on plate 31. figures 

2 and 4. It is one of the more significant specimens studied in 

this research. Casual inspection of its sawn surfaces suggests 

an apparently normal coal ball with no conspicuous bedding or 

textural features. However, close examination reveals a few 

small gastropod shells scattered here and there. The predominantly cordaitean plant contents are very well preserved, 

even though pyrite is conspicuous in the matrix. The pyrite 

is partly oxidized, so that its dull luster renders it 

inconspicuous.
218 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

Residues of this sample are high in pyrite content, hut 

abundant organic remains, mainly plant material with many 

coalified wood fragments and well-preserved pieces of cuticle of 

several types, were also recovered. The sample also contains 

the most diverse large-spore assemblage recovered in this 

study. This includes Triletes cf. T. superbus, T. triangulatus 

(pi. 33, figs. 21, 22), T. auritus var. grandis, Spencerisporites 

sp., Monolctes ovatus, and Cystosporites sp. Sample E-13 combines the widespread Spencerisporites type of spore with forms 

of Triletes that seem to characterize samples from other distinct areas but which rarely appear together in the same 

sample.

The fauna consists only of a few conodonts (pi. 34, fig. 45), 

pyritized ostracodes, and pyritized gastropods, which establish 

the presence of a marine element in this otherwise normalappearing coal ball.

McALESTETt, OKLA.

Several mixed coal balls from McAlester, Okla., were studied. 

In a few, the animal remains appeared to he locally concentrated 

in hazily defined bluish-gray parts of the matrix, which were 

lighter in color than the remainder and showed faint swirllike 

markings on sawn surfaces. Otherwise, these coal balls showed 

no distinctive textural features, and in most there was no 

obvious segregation of the animal remains.

Animal assemblages from this locality are mostly dominated 

by well-preserved pyritized ostracodes. Pelecypods and gastropods are fairly common; conodonts, fish remains, and other 

animal groups are only sparsely represented. The following 

samples were dissolved:

E-ll. Organic contents of the residue are largely of plant 

origin. Most of the plant fragments are small, and their 

parallel ribbing and stomata arranged in rows parallel to the 

ribs indicates they are coalified cordaitean leaf fragments. 

Fusinized wood fragments and cuticular remnants are also 

common, but very few spores were found. Most of the spore 

material consists of incomplete but uncompressed fragments 

of the Triletes auritus type; one small lageniculate specimen 

of Triletes (cf. T. rugosus) was also found.

With the exception of conodonts and fish remains, the animal 

fossils are all preserved as pyritic replacements. Poorly preserved Ostracodes are most common, small pelecypods are relatively abundant, worm tubes (pi. 34, fig. 46), gastropods, and 

fish fragments are rare, and one bryozoan was found.

E-22 This coal ball was similar to E-ll, although slightly 

less pyritized. Almost the same plant material is present in the 

residue; several specimens of a lageniculate species of Triletes 

(cf. T. rugosus) were recovered (pi. 33, figs. 18, 19).

Among the animal remains, ostracodes are again the dominant 

element, with gastropods (pi. 34, fig. 31) and pelecypods (pi. 34, 

fig. 27) also common. A few bryozoans, conodonts (pi. 34, figs. 

42, 43), scolecodonts (pi. 34, fig. 35), inarticulate brachiopods 

(pi. 34, figs. 17, 18), and fish fragments (pi. 34, figs. 52-57) were 

found, along with attached and free-living foraminifers. Some 

coprolites also occur (pi. 34, figs. 33, 34), as do worm tubes 

(pi. 34, figs. 38,46).

E-30. This small normal coal ball appeared to contain moderately well preserved plant material, but the residue yielded 

only a few spores, cuticles, and pyrite-filled woody fragments. 

The spores include a few specimens of Triletes cf. T. rugosus, 

two questionable fragments of T. auritus, and one specimen of 

Monoletes ovatus.

No animal remains are present in the residue.

E-81. This is a large irregularly shaped homogeneous-mixed 

coal ball, a foot long and nearly as broad. Several stringers of 

coal extend inward 1 to 2 inches from the periphery of the coal 

ball, whose content appears on sawn surfaces, to be poorly preserved plant material. Bedding was not detected in the 

specimen.

Animal remains are inconspicuous on sawn surfaces and are 

not concentrated at any spot. The fauna in the residue is 

primarily moluskan, with several genera of pelecypods and 

gastropods, the former being the more abundant (pi. 34, figs. 

22, 28). One species of cephalopod also occurs (pi. 34, fig. 29). 

The remainder of the fauna consists of a few fish fragments, 

inarticulate brachiopods, foraminifers (pi. 34, figs. 3, 8), some 

ostracodes, and a relatively large number of worm tubes.

Plant material is represented by many coalified wood fragments and a few cuticular scraps and spores. The latter consist of approximately equal numbers of Triletes cf. T. rugosus 

and T. auritus var. grandis. One specimen of Cystosporites 

varius was also found.

E-16. Associated with the Secor coal, and presumably above 

it, is a fossiliferous limestone. A sample was dissolved to ascertain whether any relation exists between the fauna of the mixed 

coal balls and that of the limestone caprock.

Animal remains in this sample are all pyritized and too 

poorly preserved for generic or specific identification. The 

fauna shows less diversity than those of the associated mixed 

coal balls. It contains a few specimens of three genera of 

pelecypods, one genus of gastropods, some inarticulate brachiopod fragments, foraminifers, and fish parts.

Plant material consists only of small fragments of fusinized 

wood and a few resin rodlets.

SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS

WEST MINERAJ -PITTSBURGH AND MIDWAY COAL CO. 

PITS

A large number of homogeneous-mixed coal balls from West 

Mineral, Kans., were examined. Some show rather well defined swirled textures, particularly the few that contain larger 

brachiopods. A few others show local concentrations of animals surrounded by fairly pure plant material.

The West Mineral specimens contain more pyrite and other 

insolubles than those from any other locality, with the exception 

of the Apex-Compton mine near Monmouth. (See table 2.) 

However, a few of the West Mineral coal balls approach the 

latter in degree of pyritization.

Biologically, the West Mineral material is the richest examined thus far, both for variety and size of fossils. It contains Marginifera and small specimens of Derbyia. Animal 

remains as large as these have not been found in mixed coal 

balls from any of the other localities.

Aside from the large brachiopods, most of the faunal contents are small unbroken individuals, either mature or preserved in younger growth stages. A few small (2 mm and less 

in diameter) brachiopods and pelecypods were found, with 

ornamentation and delicate spines undamaged.

E-9. This large coal ball lacks any distinctive textural features and contains relatively few animals, scattered throughout 

the matrix. Although a few larger brachiopods and 2 cephalopods are evident on the sawn and broken surfaces, the acid 

residues contain a sparse fauna that consists only of 6 specimens of gastropods, one pelecypod, and several conodonts and 

poorly preserved ostracodes.
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 219

Recovery of plant material was poor, but a fairly large 

number of uncompressed spores are present in the residues. 

These contain Spencerisporites sp., Triletes cf. T. superbus, and 

T. triangulates.

E-10. This is a small, heavily pyritized coal ball that appears 

normal except for a few gastropods evident on cut surfaces. 

The faunal content of acid residues consisted only of four 

small gastropods. The plant material contains many fusinized 

wood slivers, a few resin rodlets, and some cuticular material. 

Numerous spores were recovered, chiefly large specimens that 

appear to represent spores of Triletes cf. T. super~bu$ in which 

the large equatorial frill has been accidentally separated from 

the spore body; one specimen of Spencerisporites sp. was also 

found.

E-12. Many animal fragments, including larger brachiopods, 

are visible on sawn surfaces of this specimen, and are scattered 

throughout the matrix. Although few of these were recovered 

in the acid residues, they embrace a variety of zoological 

groups. Several larger brachiopods and fragments of inarticulate brachiopods, a few pelecypods and gastropods, fish scales 

and teeth, ostracodes and adherent foraminiferal tests make 

up the fauna.

A varied spore population dominates the plant material. 

Most conspicuous are Triletes cf. T. superbus and Spencerisporites sp.; T. triangulatus, Monoletes ovatus, and T. auritus 

constitute a slightly less conspicuous fraction of the spore 

assemblage.

E-18. This specimen was selected as a representative normal coal ball. Careful inspection of its sawn surfaces showed 

no animal fossils, and their absence was corroborated by the 

acid residue.

Abundant plant cuticles and spores were recovered. Triletes cf. T. superbus, so conspicuous in mixed coal ball specimens, is lacking in this sample. However, T. triangulatus, 

Spencerisporites sp., and Monoletes ovatus are present, and 

establish a common element with the mixed coal balls.

E-2S. This large unlayered coal ball contained numerous 

animals, homogeneously scattered among the plant remains 

throughout the matrix. Faunally, it proved to be one of our 

richest specimens. Acid residues yielded numerous pelecypods, 

gastropods, and larger brachiopods (pi. 34, figs. 19, 20), two 

specimens of cephalopods, rare ostracodes, fish remains, conodonts, one scolecodont, abundant worm castings, a spongelike 

object, and many adherent forminiferal tests of the Serpulopsis 

type. The latter are also attached to associated fossils, both 

plant (pi. 33, figs. 25-30) and animal.

Plant remains in the residue contain abundant fusinized 

wood fragments, cuticular material, one coalified lycopodiaceous 

branch tip with intact leaves (pi. 33, fig. 32), intact masses of 

small spores, resin rodlets, and numerous large uncompressed 

spores. The latter are dominated by Triletes cf. T. superlus, 

which, with its ornate equatorial frill and trilete appendages 

presents a striking appearance in its fully distended, natural 

shape (pi. 33, figs. 5-7). Some specimens of this species have 

pyritic fillings (pi. 33, fig. 9), while the empty interiors of still 

others indicate the calcitic nature of their former fillings. 

Many specimens of this species were found with Serpulopsis 

tests adherent, both internally on broken fragments (pi. 33, 

fig. 28) and externally on intact specimens (pi. 33, figs 27 

29, 30).

Other spores present in this sample are T. triangulatus, 

Spencerisporites sp., and Monoletes ovatus.

E-24- This small coal ball yielded few animal remains with 

the exception of abundant foraminiferal tests of the Serpulopsis 

type. The few pelecypods recovered are diversified generically. 

A few spores of Triletes cf. T. super~bus and T. triangulatus 

were recovered; these represent the total of recognizable plant 

material.

E-14. (Limestone overlying Mineral Coal). Residues of 

this sample contain, in addition to pyrite, an abundance of 

small flakes of silty material, which is not present in significant 

amounts in any of the coal ball specimens.

Recovery of fossils was low. The animals consist mostly of 

ostracodes and broken undetermined brachiopod spines. Plant 

material, also scarce, consists of rare cuticle fragments, slivers 

of fusinized wood, compressed and poorly preserved Triletestype megaspores, and two uncompressed specimens of 

Spencerisporites sp. The latter provide the single common 

botanical element with the coal ball residues.

MONMOUTH APEX-COMPTON COAL CO. PITS

The area of the Bevier coal seam now being mined by the 

Apex-Compton Co. is unusual in that its abundant nodular 

impurities, which we consider to be coal balls, are extremely 

pyritic and composed almost exclusively of animal fragments. 

In the many coal ball samples examined, plant remains are 

nearly or completely absent, while the closest approaches to 

normal coal ball samples yielded only fragments of fusinized 

wood.

Some of the mixed coal balls show homogeneous texture and 

are heavily pyritized throughout. In others, however, the matrix is differentiated into a fairly distinct central nucleus of 

nearly pure pyrite in which all fossils have been completely 

obliterated, surrounded by areas of less complete pyritization 

in which fossils may be recognized. A few specimens contain 

roughly concentric zones of varying concentrations of pyrite.

Four samples were dissolved, including one that seemed to be 

a normal but poor quality coal ball.

E-7. The specimen is a slightly flattened nodule with adherent coal chips on all surfaces and streaks of coal incorporated 

within the matrix. It contains a clearly defined, nearly central 

area of almost solid pyrite that is surrounded by a less heavily 

pyritized zone in which animal fossils are abundant. A few 

calcareous crinoid columnals are apparent on sawn surfaces, 

but most of the animal remains are pyritized brachiopods and 

gastropods.

The residue is estimated to contain 90 to 95 percent pyrite, 

most of which consists of finely comminuted animal shell fragments that apparently originated from productoid brachiopods 

and large bellerophontid gastropods; the pyrite is relatively 

lustrous and unoxidized. The residue also produced a number 

of complete small generically diversified gastropods (pi. 34, 

figs. 25, 26), some poorly preserved ostracodes, foraminiferal 

tests, conodonts, and fish remains.

Except for very rare and small fusinized wood particles, 

plant remains are absent from this sample.

E-8. This specimen is similar to E-7, but less pyritized. 

The residue consists mostly of small fragments of invertebrate 

shells. The determinable faunal content is similar to that of 

E-7, except for the absence of foraminiferal remains.

No plant remains were observed in the residue.

E-20. This specimen has adherent coal on all surfaces and 

coaly inclusions within the matrix. Sawn surfaces contain a 

definite, almost centrally located mass containing well-pre-
220 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

served baritic fossils. This area is surrounded by a zone of 

heavy pyritization in which the animal remains are also 

pyritized, and there is a clear contact between the two zones. 

Local areas of the outer zone are so heavily pyritized that the 

fossils are practically obliterated.

A part of the inner zone was dissolved, and it produced a small 

amount of residue. The faunal content of the residue contained 

abundant baritic gastropods (pi. 34, figs. 23, 30), rare baritic 

pelecypod fragments, a few conodonts, and fish remains.

The plant remains consisted only of small fusinized wood 

particles and a sparse spore assemblage, which includes Honoifitfis ovatus and Triletes cf. T. auritus.

E-21. This is a small ellipsoidal, apparently normal coal 

ball, with only poorly preserved cordaitean wood fragments 

apparent on sawn surfaces. Acid solution produced only 

woody splinters, highly impregnated with pyrite. No spores 

or animal remains were noted.

FRANKLIN MACKIE-CLEMENTS FUEL CO. MINE NO. 23

Normal coal balls from this locality cannot be distinguished 

from those of the Pittsburgh and Midway mine on the basis of 

plant contents or overall appearances. This fact would seem 

to lend weight to local miners' opinions that the same coal 

seam is being mined at the two sites. (See p. 201.)

The mixed coal ball specimens are variable in pyrite content, 

and the pyrite may be more concentrated in one part of the 

nodule than another. None, however, are as heavily pyritized 

as the Monmouth specimens.

The fauna included in the mixed specimens is fairly varied, 

but apparently dominated by the brachiopod Mesolobus, invariably replaced by pyrite. Calcareous crinoid columnals 

are abundant on sawn surfaces; they occur even in the most 

heavily pryitized parts of the nodules; these, of course, are 

lost in the acid treatment. Ostracodes, chonetid brachiopod 

spines, and worm castings are also common, and there are a 

few other faunal elements, as noted below.

Plant material is very rare in residues of mixed specimens 

from this locality.

E-l. The sample does not appear to be heavily pyritized, 

nor does it show outstanding textural features. The residue 

is approximately 90 percent pyrite, but this includes no large 

masses such as characterize residues of the Monmouth specimens ; the pyrite is relatively lustrous.

The larger animal fragments are apparently of Mesolobus 

(pi. 34, fig. 21) and larger productoid origin, while the finer 

screen sizes of the residue consist of perhaps 50 percent brachiopod spine fragments. In addition to the brachiopods, several 

crinoid columnals, foraminiferal tests, rare ostracodes (pi. 34, 

figs. 47, 51), conodonts, and fish fragments were found.

Plant material consists mostly of small fragments of fusinized wood; cuticular material is very rare, and spores were 

not noted.

E-2. This sample has a swirled texture and is more pyritized than E-l; recovery of fossils was poor. Pyritization is 

especially localized in one eccentrically located area. The 

pyrite constitutes approximately 95 percent of the residue and 

lacks luster. The most abundant animal fossils recovered 

were fragments of Mesolobus. In addition, a few crinoid 

columnals, several gastropods, poorly preserved ostracodes, 

conodonts, and fish remains were noted.

Plant material is rare; it consists largely of small fragments

of fusinized wood and a few reesin rodlets. No spores or cuticular material were found.

E-17. This is a normal coal ball, with vague horizontal layering. Parts of the specimen contain large pieces of cordaitean 

wood, but many well-perserved smaller plant structures are 

evident on sawn surfaces (principally Cordaicarpus, Stigmaria, 

and Scolecopteris). However, surprisingly few identifiable 

fragments survived acid solution. The residue of this sample, 

which contains very little pyrite, yielded only fusinized wood 

particles, cuticular fragments, and a few spores, which, 

contain Spencerisporites sp., Monoletes ovatus, and one tetrad 

of Triletes triangulatus.

No animal remains were found in this sample.

BERRYVILLE, ILL.

Mixed coal balls from this locality are unique in several respects, the most striking of these being the clearly defined 

cores of marine sediment incorporated within the otherwise 

normal type of coal ball matrix (pi. 30, fig. 1-3; pi. 31, fig. 1). 

They are further unique in their high proportion of acidsoluble carbonates. None of the Berryville coal ball samples 

contained as much as 6 percent insoluble matter, whereas samples from other localities contained from 6.1 to 36 percent.

From the zoological standpoint, Berryville material is distinct in that its fauna is dominated by pyritized bryozoans, a 

group that is nearly absent from all other samples. Furthermore it contains pyritized trilobite fragments, which are 

unique in coal balls from this locality. Siliceous foraminiferal 

tests and crinoid columnals are also much more conspicuous 

here than elsewhere. The residues also contain coalified wood, 

cuticles, and many well-preserved spores.

The marine cores of mixed coal balls also seem to be low 

in pyrite content, and their sawn surfaces show many calcified 

crinoid remains. The residues contain 50 to 60 percent pyrite, 

but this is either in the form of a fine powder or animal re* 

placements; it rarely appears in large amorphous masses like 

those contained in residues from other localities.

In view of the unusual nature of Berryville coal balls, a 

large suite of samples was dissolved. This suite includes: (a) 

core material from which all normal matrix had been carefully 

trimmed; (b) samples of normal matrix surrounding the core; 

(c) samples of a normal coal ball; (d) samples of limestone incorporated within the coal seam; and (e) samples of the limestone overburden.

E-3. This specimen was taken from a long cylindroidal 

core containing several conspicuous calcite-filled shrinkage (?) 

cracks. Its cut surface showed many crinoid columnals and 

tubular foraminiferal tests. The residue is small (2.9 percent 

of the total weight), but contains a varied assemblage. Animals include conodonts, pelecypods, gastropods, rare brachiopods, fish fragments, common foraminiferal tests, a few trilobites, and abundant bryozoans.

Abundant plant material is present, including fusinized wood 

and cuticular fragments, in addition to a varied spore assemblage. Spores include Triletes auritus var. grandis, T. triavtr 

gulatus, T. glabratus, Spencerisporites sp., Monoletes ovatus 

(the most abundant form see pi. 33, figs. 1, 2), and a few 

specimens of Parasporites cf. P. maccabei (pi. 33, figs. 23, 24). 

Small trilete spores are abundant in the finest residues, but 

there were not identified.
OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL REMAINS IN AMERICAN COAL BALLS 221

E-4. This sample resembles E-3, but its insoluble residue is 

smaller and contains less pyrite.

The fauna is nearly the same as that of E-3, except that 

foraminiferal tests are more conspicuous here. A plant assemblage similar to E-3 and differing only in the absence from 

E-4 of the Parasporites is also present.

E-19. This is a normal coal ball with distinct layering of 

its abundant and well-preserved plant debris evident on sawn 

surfaces. It was selected for solution in order to determine 

(a) whether animal fossils are actually absent, as suggested 

by inspection of sawn surfaces, and (b) what comparisons could 

be made between its plant content and that of the marine 

cores.

Little residue was obtained (4.6 percent), and this contains 

almost no pyrite. The residue, all of plant origin, has the 

appearance of a chaffy light- to dark-brown mass of more or 

less finely divided fragments of cuticles and wood, complete 

spores, and various other reproductive parts. No animal remains were found. Spores are rare ; only a few masses of small 

trilete spores, two specimens of Monoletes ovatus, and one 

of Spencerisporites sp. were found. Surprisingly enough, 

Triletes auritus was not found in this sample.

This residue is, however, of unusual interest in that it contains 

several uncompressed and otherwise undamaged specimens of a 

species of small pteridospermous seeds, and numerous 

scolecopterid fern fructifications. The seeds are hollow as a 

result of solution of their calcitic fillings, and are represented 

by a delicate inflated membrane that probably is the inner layer 

of the testa (endotesta). Cellular outlines may easily be seen 

with a dissecting microscope. Although the seeds cannot be 

identified without a knowledge of their inner structural details, 

overall size and shapes suggest affinity with the genus 

Coronostoma Neeley, which has been described from Berryville coal ball material; at any rate, they are unquestionably 

conostomalean structures (pi. 33, fig. 31).

The fern fructifications consist of uncompressed synangia that 

were apparently preserved after maturity and dehiscence (pi. 

33, figs. 33-36). The synangia are evidently referable to 

Scolecopteris minor, and contain four or five sporangia each, the 

sporangia being 1 mm. or less in length. Many of the synangia 

have their pedicels intact, and a few specimens of fertile 

pecopterid pinnules have been found. Furthermore, one very 

delicate circinate pecopterid frond tip with several pinnules 

attached was found.

Although these recoveries have little bearing on the basic 

problem under consideration, they demonstrate that studies 

of coal ball plant fossils based on the peel technique might 

well be supplemented to great advantage by acid solution in 

order more accurately to understand the three-dimensional 

aspects of the plant fossils investigated.

E-25. The residue of this core sample contains one of the 

most varied faunas found in this study. Animal remains include trilobite fragments, poorly preserved brachiopods, abundant and diversified gastropods (pi. 34, fig. 32), worm tubes and 

castings, some pelecypods, conodonts (pi. 34, fig. 36), abundant 

ostracodes, foraminiferal tests, bryozoans (pi. 34, figs. 11, 13- 

16), a few fish fragments, and several sponge spicules (pi. 34, 

figs. 9,10).

The usual fusinized wood and cuticular fragments also occur, 

along with well-preserved uncompressed spores, the most abundant form being Triletes auritus var. arandis. Monoletes 

ovatus, Spencerisporites sp., and Triletes glabratus complete 

the spore assemblage.

E-26. This core was physically similar to E-25. Its fauna 

differs from the former only in a larger representation of trilobite remains (pi. 34, figs. 39-41), and the spore assemblage 

contains a higher percentage of Triletes glabratus (pi. 34, figs. 

3, 4), although T. auritus var. grandis still dominates (pi. 34, 

figs. 15-17). Part of this specimen is illustrated on plate 30, 

figure 2.

E-27. This coal ball contains a very sharp contact delimiting 

its cylindroid core, and two samples, one consisting of carefully 

trimmed core material and the other of the surrounding normal 

matrix, were dissolved to compare the differences in content 

between the core and normal matrix surrounding it. Part of 

this specimen is illustrated on plate 30, figure 3.

The fauna recovered from the residue of the core is typical of 

the Berryville material, except that neither ostracodes nor conodonts are evident, and a few pyritized crinoid columnals were 

recovered. Plant material is rare in this sample, the most 

conspicuous - elements being a few specimens each of Triletes 

auritus var. arandis, T. glabratus, and Spencerisporites sp.

The residue of the normal matrix surrounding the core contains no animal remains and little pyrite. It consists only of 

plant debris, mostly brown and peaty-appearing. The residue 

contains a few scolecopterid fern synangia, well-preserved 

cuticles, abundant fusinized wood fragments, and only a few 

spores, identified as Triletes trianffulatus, Spencerisporites sp., 

and Monoletes ovatus.

E-28. Two samples of this mixed coal ball were treated as 

in E-27. The core residue yielded a varied fauna, unusual only 

in the apparent absence of conodonts. Plant debris is scarce; 

it consists of the usual cuticles, fusinized wood fragments, and 

spores, the latter being represented by Triletes auritus var. 

arandis (the dominant form), T. alabratus, and Spencerisporites sp. (pi. 33, figs. 11-14).

Residue of the normal matrix surrounding the core contains 

no animal remains and almost no pyrite. Cuticles, fusinized 

wood fragments, and spores are abundant, but Spencerisporites 

sp. is the only spore type recovered from this residue.

E-29. This core sample yielded a varied fauna, including 

trilobites. foraminiferal tests (pi. 34 figs. 4, 8), hexactinellid 

sponge spicules, worm tubes and castings, fish fragments, conodonts (pi. 34, fig. 44), articulate and inarticulate brachiopods, 

bryozoans, ostracodes (pi. 34, figs. 48-50), and diversified 

mollusks.

The usual type of plant debris is present in the residue, and 

it contains one of the most varied and richest spore assemblages found. This assemblage is dominated by Triletes 

auritus var. arandis, but it also contains T. alabratus, T. cf. T. 

rugosus, T. triangulatus, Cystosporites varius, Spencerisporites 

sp., and Monoletes ovatus.

E-6. This sample of the limestone overlying the coal seam 

(unit 3 of measured section, p. 198) proved to be nearly pure 

carbonate, with its insoluble fraction constituting only 0.42 

percent of the original weight. Sawn surfaces are similar to 

those of the cores, being bioclastic crinoidal limestone. However, this rock has a significantly coarser and less well sorted 

texture, with many of the crinoid stems two to three times as 

large as those in the cores.

The faunal content of the sample consists only of a few 

conodonts, fish remains, tubular foraminiferal tests, and one 

specimen each of a scolecodont, a gastropod, and pelecypod. 

The gastropod steinkern, though not tested, appeared to be phosphatic. No pyrite is evident in the residue; plant material is 

absent.
222 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY

E-5. A sample of the limestone filling of the presumed channel cut in the coal seam was more fossiliferous than the overlying limestone (E-6) ; its residue contains a large proportion 

of pyrite. In texture and faunal content this rock is very 

similar to the cores.

Animal remains recovered from the residue include abundant 

bryozoans, relatively few pelecypods, and worm castings, 

sparse ostracodes, rare gastropods and brachiopods, and some 

trilobites and conodonts; all but the worm castings and conodonts are pyritized.

Plant material is sparse, with some cuticle and woody material and a few well-preserved spores. The latter include

Triletes auritus var. grandis (the dominant form), T, glabratus, 

Spencerisporites sp. and an unknown spore that, except for its 

large size, is similar to Lycospora in form.

E-15. This is a sample of the impure limestone below the 

channel as discussed on page 198. This material is illustrated 

in plate 31, figures 3, 5, and 6.

The acid residues contain no animal remains. The plant 

debris is mostly small and unrecognizable flakes of incompletely 

coalified plant material. However, abundant well-preserved 

cuticular material and uncompressed spores were recovered. 

The spores include Triletes auritus var. grandis (the dominant 

form), Spencerisporites sp., Triletes glabratus, and one specimen of Parasporites cf. P. maccabei.
INDEX

A Page 

Acanthodii ________________ 209

Acknowledgments__,_________ 194 195

Actinopterygii____________ 209 ; pi. 34

Ammovertella __ ______ __ 208

inclusa ___________________ 208

labyrintha __ _ _ _____ 208

prodigalis ______________ 208

sp_______ ______ 208 ; pi. 34 

centronotus_______ 209 ; pi. 34

sp _________________ 209 

________-__ 206, 207 

Animal-burrow hypothesis _ 215 

Annelida _______________ _ 208

Apex-Compton Coal Co _ __ 194, 

199, 201, 202, 218, 219

Apterrinella sp______ __ 208 ; pi. 34 

Arabellites sp _ ___ 208 ; pi. 34 

Astartella sp___ ____ - 208 

auritus grandis, Triletes ____ _ 209,

212, 218, 221, 222 ; pi. 33 

Triletes______________________ 209,

218, 219, 220, 221 ; pi. 31 

Aviculopecten sp __ _ 208

B

Bairdia ________ ______ 209

garrisonensis ___ _ _ _ 209 

oklahomensis ____________ 209 

pompilioides __ ________ 209 

rhomboidalis _____-__ _ 209 

texana ______________________ 209

sp____ __-_____ 209 ; pi. 34

Bairdiacypris sp___________ 209; pi. 34

Ballast, coal balls used for______ 199

bassleri, Gnathodus____ ___ 2(09 ; pi. 34

Baxter, Robert W., quoted_______ 202

Belgian coal balls___________ 193, 202

Bellerophontid ______________i. 208

Berryville, 111., coal balls__ 197-199,

206, 207, 208, 209, 220-222 ;

pis. 26, 27, 30, 31.

cores-____________ __ 204,

205, 206, 207, 211, 212, 213,

214, 215, 220-222 ; pis. 30, 31

geologic section __ _ 198

Bevier coal________________ 201,

202, 206, 207, 214, 215, 219

Boggy formation._ __________ 197

Bohemian coal balls__________ 206

Borestus sp_ _____ 208 ; pi. 34

Botryopteris _________________,__ 198

Bradydonti _________________ 209 

Breger, I. A., quoted ____ _ 211

Bulimorpha sp_____________ 209

Calcitornella sp__________ _ 208 

Calhoun coal__________ 197, 206, 207

Calvert formation_________ _ 212 

Cavellina sp____________-__ 209 

Cavusgnathus flexa-__ _ 209 

centronotus, Amphissites___ - 209; pi. 34 

Cherokee shale______ ____ _ 200, 201

Chonetid __________________ 208 

Chordata ___________ ___ 209

Cladoidachii___________ 209; pi. 34

Page

Coal, Bevier ___________ 201, 

202, 206, 207, 214, 215, 219 

Calhoun ______ 197, 206, 2(07 

Fleming seam 200, 201, 206, 207, 216 

McAlester _____________ 197 

Mineral seam_______ 200, 201, 215 

Secor___ 194, 19>6, 197, 206, 207, 218 

Coal balls, definition_________ 195-196 

description of samples and insoluble residues___ 217-222 

interpretation of animal-containing____________ 211-216 

nucellar ___________-___ 202 

occurrences of animal-containing__________,__ 19&-202 

physical, chemical, and biological

features, faunal_ 206,

207 ; pis. 26, 28, 32

heterogeneous-mixed_ 204 206,

207 ; pis. 27-29, 31

homogeneous-mixed__ 197,

2013-204, 206, 207 ; pis. 27-31

normal___ 202-203, 206, 207 ; pis.

27, 28

Coelenterata __________ __- 208 

Compton, H. W., information provided 201 

Conclusions _ _ 216 

Conodonts __________________ 209 

Corals_________________ 208; pi. 32 

Cordaicarpus ____________________ 220

Cordaitean plant remains _ 202, 

217, 220; pis. 28,29, 31

Cores, marine ________ _ 204, 

205, 206, 207, 211, 215, 220, 

221, 222 ; pis. 30, 31.

Cornuspira sp_______________ 208 

Coronostoma____________ 221; pi. 33

Crinoid stems____________ 208 ; pi. 34

Cystosporites varius 209, 218, 221 pi. 33

Cystosporites sp_________ 209, 218

D

dattonensis, Kegellites__ ____ 209 

delicatula, Ozarkodina_____ 209 ; pi. 34 

Derbyia sp_______ 208, 211, 210; pi. 34 

Definition of coal balls_______ 195-196 

Ditomopyge sp__ ___ __ 209, pi. 34 

Donaldina sp____________ 209; pi. 34 

Duosporites _______________ 210

E

Echinodermata _______ , 208 

Economic use of coal balls___ __ 199 

eleganttiliiSj Streptognathodus__ 209 ; pi. 34 

Elmore, P. L. D., analyst______ 206 

Endolobus sp_____________ 209

Endothyra _____________________ 208

Endothyranella powersi________ 208

sp ____________________ 208 

English coal balls_____ 193, 194, 202, 206 

Encochlis sp ___________ 208 ; pi. 34

F

Fabelocypris sp___ _________ 209 

Fenestella sp____________ 208; pi. 34

Page

Fish remains________________ 209

Fissispongia sp ___ __ 208 

Fleming coal seam _____ __ 200,

201, 206, 207, 216 

flexa, Cavusgnathus_______________ 20'9

Flora, in normal coal balls-- ___ 202 

Fossils, distribution_________ 208-209 

Fossils, preservation_____ _ 210-211 

Frank, Mona, analyst __ ____ 206 

Franklin, Kans., coal balls______ 201, 220 

Fusulinids___ ____ 208 ; pi. 34

Garrett Coal Co_____________ 202 

garrisonensis, Bairdia_________ 209 

Geologic section, Berryville, 111- _ 198 

German coal balls __________ 206

Girtyspira sp________________ 209

glabratus, Triletes______________ 209,

212, 221, 222 ; pi. 33 

Glabrocingulum sp___________ 208

Globivalvulina sp ________ 208 ; pi. 34 

Glomospira sp__ ______ 208

Glyptopleura sp_________ 209 ; pi. 34 

Gnathodus bassleri_______ __ 209 ; pi. 34

roundyi_,_______________ 209

sp_____________________ 209

grandis, Triletes auritus_______ 209,

212, 218, 221, 222 ; pi. 33

H

Healdia sp__-__________--__ 209 

Hexactinnellid spioule_____ 208 

Hindeodella sp___________ 209 ; pi. 34 

Hollinella sp___________ 209; pi. 34 

Hurricane effects _,____ , 213

Idiognathodus magniflcus____ 209 ; pi. 34 

inclusa, Ammovertella_________ _ 20'8

Indurated erratic-boulder hypothesis- 215 

insita, Serpulopsis_________ ___ 208

Interpretation of animal-containing

coal balls_______________ 211-216

Kansas, southeastern, animal-containing coal balls 197, 199-202, 218-220 

Kegellites dattonensis__ _ ___ 209 

Kellettina sp________________ 209 

Kirkbya sp_________________ 209 

Knightina sp _ - 209 

Knightites (Retispira) sp____ 208 ; pi. 34 

knoxense, Pseudorthoceras_____ 2O9 ; pi. 34 

Kousnetzk basin, Russia 206 

Krebs group, Boggy formation 197

Laboratory methods__________ 207-210

labyrintha, Ammovertella___ __ 208

Leiopteria sp___ ______ __ 208

Linguloid _____________ __ 208

Litostroma ___ ____ ____ 194

Lophophyllid coral_____________ 208

Lycospora _______._ _ 209

223
224 INDEX

M Page

McAlester, Okla., coal balls____, 196-197 

206, 207, 218

McAlester coal _ ___ 197 

McAlester shale___ __-__ _ 197 

maccabei, Parasporites_____________ 209,

221, 222 ; pi. 33

Mackie-Clemens Mines____-__ 201, 220 

McLeansboro group, Calhoun coal-_ 197 

magniflcus, Idiognathodus______ 209 ; pi. 34

Marginifera sp_______ 208, 219; pi. 34 

Marine cores___________ __ 204,

205, 206, 207, 215, 220, 221,

222 ; pis. 30, 31.

Meekospira sp____________ _ 209 

Mesolobus sp__________ 208, 220 ; pi. 34 

Microdoma sp______________ 208 

Mineral coal seam_______ 200, 201, 215 

minor, Scolecopteris_____ ___ 221; pi. 33

minutus, Spathognathodus___ 209 ; pi. 34

Monmouth, Kans., coal balls___ 201-202,

206, 207, 219-220

Monoceratina sp_____________ 209 

Monoletes ovatus______________ 209,

212, 218, 219, 220, 221; pi. 33 

Mooreoceras sp_________ __ 209 

Mud balls, armored, California_ 213 

Mytilid __________________ 208

N

Naticopsis sp____________ 209 

Neilsonia sp__-____-__-___- 208 

Neoprioiodus sp__ _ _ _ 209 

Normal sedimentation hypothesis_ 215 216 

Nuculana sp____________-__ 208 

Nuculoid _______________ 208

O

oklahomensis, Bairdia__________ _ 209

Orbiculoid ____ _____________ 208

Oskaloosa, Iowa, animal-containing

coal balls____ 197, 217-218 

ovatus, Monoletes_____________ 209,

212, 218, 219, 220, 221 ; pi. 33 

Ozarkodina delicatula 209 ; pi. 34

sp ___ ________ __ 209

Paleostylus (Pseudozygopleura) sp 209 

Parallelodon sp__________ 208; pi. 34 

Paraparohites sp__________ 209 

Parasporites_________ 209, 221, 222 ; pi. 33

maccabei________ 209, 221, 222; pi. 33

Patik mine, Iowa__________ 196, 2,17 

pauperata, Tetrataixis_________ 208; pi. 34

Page 

Pectinoid __________ 208

Penniretepora sp___ 208

Permophorus sp__ 208; pi. 34

Pittsburg and Midway Coal Co__ _ 194,

199,200,201,218,220

Pleurocanthoidii ______ 209 

Pleurotomarian __ ____ 208 

Polypora sp_______ 208 

pompilioides, Bairdia____________ 209

Porifera _______________ 208 

powersi, Endothyranella___ 208 

Preservation of the fossils__ 210-211 

Previous work_ 194 

prodigalis, Ammovertella-_________ 208

Productoid ___ __ 208 

Psaronius_______________ __ 198, 202

Pseudorthoceras knoxense______ 209; pi. 34

(Pseudozygopleura) sp., Paleostylus- 209

R

Ramiporalia sp_ 208 

rectangularis, Thurammina________ 208

References cited_______ 216-217 

(Retispira) sp., Knightites 208 

Rhabdomeson sp 208 

Rhipidomella sp__ _ 208 

Rhombocladia sp__ 208 

rhomboidalis, Bairdia--- ___________ 209

Rhombopora sp____ 208; pi. 34 

Road ballast ___ 199 

Roundya ____________ 2109

subacoda 209 

rouiidyi, Gnathodus__ 209 

rugosus, Triletes_____ 209, 218, 221; pi. 33

Ruhr area, Germany, coal balls 206 

Russian coal balls__ 206

S

Samples, description 217-222 

Sansabella sp_________ 209 

Schi~odus sp_____ 208 

Schlickgerolle __ 213 

Schopf, J. M., quoted__ 211 

Scolecopteris_______ 220, 22|1; pi. 33

minor_____________ 22il; pi. 33

Scott, Paul W., analyst 207 

Secor coal___ 194, 196, 197, 206, 207, 218 

Selaginellites______ __ pi. 33

Septimyalina sp_____ 208 ; pi. 34 

Septopora sp___ 208 

Serpulopsis _______________ 208, 214, 219

insita 208

sp_______________ 208; pi. 33 

Shansiella, steinkern_ 208

sp________________ 208 ; pi. 34 

Solachii ___________ 209

Page

Spathognathodus minutus______ 209; pi. 34

Spectroscopic analysis _______ 206 

Spencerisporites sp___ ____ 209, 

218, 219, 220, 221, 222 ; pi. 33 

Spicule, hexactinellid__________ 208 

Spirorbis sp_____________ 208; pi. 34 

Spore, resembling Lycospora_______ 209

Steinkern Donaldina sp_-_____ 209 

Shansiella ________________ 208

Stigmaria___________ ____ 220 ; pi. 27

Stratigraphic relations, coal balls at

West Mineral, Kans________ 200-201 

Streptognathodus elegantulus_ 209 ; pi. 34 

siibacoda, Roundya____________ 209

Subulitid______________ 209; pi. 34

superbus, Triletes _______ 209,

210, 214, 218, 219 ; pi. 33

Tetrataxis pauperata- ________ 208; pi. 34

texana, Bairdia___________________ 209

Thurammina--______________ 208, 210

rectangularis _______ ____ 208

sp_________________ 208 ; pi. 34

Thuramminoides sp__________ 208

Trepostomatous bryozoans _ 208 

triangulatus, Triletes_________-_ 209,

218, 219, 220, 221; pi. 33 

Triletes _____________________ 209,

210, 214, 218, 219, 220, 221, 

222 ; pis. 31, 33.

auritus 209, 218, 219, 220, 221; pi. 31 

grandis ___________ _ 209,

212, 218, 221, 222 ; pi. 33 

glabratus 209, 212, 221, 222 ; pi. 33 

rugosus________ 209, 318, 221; pi. 33

superbus _ _ 209,

210, 214, 218, 219 ; pi. 33

triangulatus _ 209,

218, 219, 220, 221 ; pi. 33

sp __________ _______- 209

varius, Cystosporites 209, 218, 221 ; pi. 33

W

Welsh coal beds__ _______ 215

West Mineral, Kans., coal balls 199^-201,

206, 207, 218, 219; pis. 27,

28, 29. 

Whitehead, W. L., quoted 211

Yorkshire, England, coal balls 194

O
PLATES 26-34
PLATE 26

FIGURE 1. Closeup of channeling in coal bed at Berryville, 111. Several coal balls may be seen to the right of and below the hammer.

2. A large coal ball mass overlying 4 inches of coal at Berryville, 111. Part of this mass may be seen in the lower left corner 

of figure 3.

3. General view of the Berryville, 111., locality. The channel and swelling of the overlying limestone is shown at left center 

of photograph, above stream level. Section was measured along trench at right of photograph.

4. A part of one of the piles of coal balls near the tipple of the Pittsburg and Midway Coal Co., West Mineral, Kans.

5. View of Bevier coal in Apex-Compton Coal Co. strip pit near Monmouth, Kans., showing two faunal coal balls in place, 

(at arrows), overlain by more than an inch of coal. Irregularly shaped coal ball directly above light meter, with 

tabular specimen to left. Flat specimen also shown in figure 6; sawn surfaces of both specimens shown in plate 32. 

Photograph by R. W. Baxter, University of Kansas.

6. View of Bevier coal taken a few minutes prior to figure 5, showing the flat faunal coal ball when first exposed. Arrow to 

left of light meter points to upper surface of coal seam; tabular coal ball below and to right of arrow. Photograph by 

R. W. Baxter, University of Kansas.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 354 PLATE 26

5 6

VIEWS AT THE BERRYVILLE, ILLINOIS, WEST MINERAL, KANSAS, AND MONMOUTH,

KANSAS, COAL BALL LOCALITIES
PLATE 27

[Photographs natural size unless otherwise shown]

FIGURE 1. Sawn surface of a normal coal ball from Berryville, 111., showing layered appearance of plant debris, primarily fern 

roots. Specimen 9190-31C.

2. Enlargement of part of specimen illustrated in figure 3, showing cross section of high-spired gastropod. X 3.

3. Sawn surface of small homogeneous-mixed coal ball from West Mineral, Kans., containing primarily plant debris, with 

gastropods scattered at random through the ball. Enlarged area indicated by arrow. Specimen 9189-123A.

4. Sawn surface of homogeneous-mixed coal ball from West Mineral, Kans., showing well-defined swirled texture and, 

locally, alinement of shell fragments parallel to swirls. The fossils are predominantly animal, but a large stigmarian 

stele is shown at left center of photograph. Specimen 9189-121C.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 354 PLATE 27

NORMAL AND MIXED COAL BALLS FROM ILLINOIS AND KANSAS
PLATE 28

[Photographs natural size]

FIGURE 1. Sawn surface of faunal coal ball from near Monmouth, Kans., showing lenticular shape and abundant pyritized animal 

debris. Specimen 9487-1 A.

2. Sawn surface of normal coal ball from West Mineral, Kans., showing lenticular shape. Plant debris consists predominately of cordaitean leaves, stems, and fructifications. Specimen 9189-80D.

3. Sawn surface of homogeneous-mixed coal ball from West Mineral, Kans. Organic content predominately plant debris 

that includes well-preserved cordaitean organs. Some marine gastropod shells indicated by arrows. Specimen 9189- 

120C.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 354 PLATE 28

FAUNAL, MIXED, AND NORMAL COAL BALLS FROM WEST MINERAL AND MONMOUTH, KANSAS
PLATE 29

[Photographs natural size unless otherwise shown]

FIGURE 1. Sawn surface of homogeneous-mixed coal ball from West Mineral, Kans.; coal ball composed predominately of plant 

material that includes well-preserved cordaitean seeds. Orthoceroid cephalopod and gastropods indicated by arrows. 

Specimen 9189-122A.

2. Enlargement of part of specimen illustrated in figure 3, showing associated plant and animal remains. Cross section of 

a gastropod shell and a pteridophyllous pinnule indicated by arrows. X 4.

3. Sawn surface of a homogeneous-mixed coal ball from West Mineral, Kans., showing mixture of plants and animal remains. 

Specimen 9189-124C.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 354 PLATE 29

HOMOGENEOUS-MIXED COAL BALLS FROM WEST MINERAL, KANSAS
PLATE 30

[Photographs natural size]

FIGUEE 1. Sawn surface of a heterogeneous-mixed coal ball from Berryville, 111., showing stratification of marine fossil fragments 

within the large marine core. A small normal coal ball lies to the right of the photograph. The layering of plant debris 

in the normal coal ball and the normal part of the mixed coal ball are approximately at right angles to one another. 

Specimen 9190-1E.

2. Sawn surface of a heterogeneous-mixed coal ball from Berryville, 111. The layering of the normal part is at right angles 

to the bottom of the plate. Specimen 9190-13E. Part of this specimen was dissolved as sample E-26.

3. Sawn surface of a heterogeneous-mixed coal ball from Berryville, 111., showing an irregular marine core. The black line 

above the core is a coal film. Specimen 9190-17D. Part of this specimen was dissolved as sample E-27.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 354 PLATE 30

HETEROGENEOUS-MIXED COAL BALLS FROM BERRYVILLE, ILLINOIS
PLATE 31

[Photographs natural size unless otherwise shown]

FIGURE 1. Sawn surface of heterogeneous-mixed coal ball from Berryville, 111., showing discrete nature of core of marine material 

with abundant animal debris, and complete enclosure of core within normal coal ball material. Specimen 9190-2F.

2. Broken surface of a homogeneous-mixed coal ball from Oskaloosa, Iowa, showing well-preserved plant debris. Cordaitean 

axis at upper left; gastropod shell indicated by arrow. Specimen 1002B. X 3. Part of this coal ball was dissolved as 

sample E-13.

3. Piece of limestone from Berryville, 111., composed of coal-ball-like particles. The dark bands are streaks of coal. 

Specimen 9190-57. Part of this specimen was dissolved as sample E-15.

4. Part of sawn surface of homogeneous-mixed coal ball from Oskaloosa, Iowa. Several gastropods indicated by arrows. 

Part of this specimen illustrated in figure 2.

5. Photomicrograph of thin section cut from specimen shown in figure 3. Irregular angular and rounded particles of calcareous coal-ball-like material are tightly packed and interpenetrating. Traces of original plant tissue are still visible 

within the replacing calcite. Sections of two uncompressed megaspores, probably Triletes auritus, are shown at right. 

X 10.

6. Same as figure 5, taken between crossed nicols. Calcite replacement shows up as fibrous, radially arranged crystals 

that superficially resemble spheralites.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 354 PLATE 31

b ° 

MIXED COAL BALLS FROM ILLINOIS AND IOWA, AND LIMESTONE FROM ILLINOIS
PLATE 32

[Photographs natural size]

FIGURE 1. Part of sawn surface of faunal coal ball from the Bevier coal, near Monmouth, Kans., shown in place in figures 5 and 6 of 

plate 26. Animal fossils exposed include sections of brachiopods and of gastropods and of a coral. Note adherent coal 

on upper and lower surfaces, and included coaly stringers. Specimen shown in original attitude. Specimen 9487-2E.

2. Remainder of same specimen shown in figure 1, the two pictures overlapping slightly. Black particles in left center are 

fusinized wood.

3. Sawn surface of faunal ball from the Bevier coal, near Monmouth, Kans., shown in place to right in pi. 26, fig. 5. The 

specimen is almost completely replaced by pyrite, but scattered shell fragments are visible. Specimen shown in original 

attitude. Specimen 9487-3A.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 354 PLATE 32

* BGgrnm in. iimys-**

:|jl^jgg**3|p

- .

FAUNAL COAL BALLS FROM MONMOUTH, KANSAS
PLATE 33

[All photographs made with reflected light except as indicated]

FIGURES 1-24. Spores, mostly uncompressed, and spore contents from mixed coal ball residues. 

1, 2. Monoletes ovatus Schopf.

Proximal and distal surfaces, X 45; from residue E-3 (marine core of heterogeneous-mixed coal ball,

Berryville, 111.); USNM 41177 (fig. 1), 41178 (fig. 2). 

3, 4. Triletes glabratus Zerndt.

Proximal and distal surfaces, X 10; from residue E-26 (marine core of heterogeneous-mixed coal ball,

Berryville, 111.); USNM 41179 (fig. 3), 41180 (fig. 4). 

5-10. Triletes cf. T. superbus Bartlett.

Ail specimens from residue E-23 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, West Mineral, Kans.). 

5. Proximal surface of specimen denuded of equatorial frill, X 15, USNM 41181; 6, proximal surface of 

nearly complete specimen, X 15, USNM 41182; 7, distal surface, X 15, USNM 41183; 8, calcareous 

filling of spore cavity, proximal surface, X 15, USNM 41184; 9, pyritic filling of spore cavity, 

proximal surface, X 15, USNM 41185; 10, fragment of proximal part of endosporal membrane 

dissected from spore, showing numerous round dark bodies, possibly megagametophytic remains; 

transmitted light, X 100; USNM 41186. 

11-14. Spencerisporites sp.

All specimens from residue E-28 (marine core of heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.). 

11. Proximal surface, X 75, USNM 41187; 12, distal surface, X 75, USNM 41188; 13, specimen photographed with transmitted light from proximal side, X 70, USNM 41189; 14, specimen photographed 

with transmitted light from distal side, X 70, USNM 41190. '" 

15-17. Triletes auritus var. grandis Zerndt.

All specimens from residue E-26 (marine core of heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.). 

15. Proximal surface, X 20, USNM 41191; 16, distal surface, X 20, USNM 41192; 17, lateral view of 

specimen broken along two rays of trilete suture, showing hollow nature of uncompressed spore, 

thick exospore, and thin endospore, somewhat separated from exospore, X 20, USNM 41193. 

18-19. Triletes cf. T. rugosus (Loose) Schopf.

Both specimens from residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.). 

18. Lateral view of partly split but uncompressed specimen, X 30, USNM 41194; 19, lateral view of 

compressed specimen with segments of apical vestibule separated from each other, USNM 41195. 

20. Cystosporites varius (Wicher) Dijkstra, X 20.

Apical view of abortive specimen showing spongy pyramidal structure at apex of spore. From residue

E-31 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.), USNM 41196. 

21 22. Triletes triangulatus Zerndt.

Both specimens from residue E-13 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, Oskaloosa, Iowa). 

21. Lateral-distal view, X 45, USNM 41197; 22, proximal surface, X 45, USNM 41198. 

23-24. Parasporites cf. P. mac'jnbei Schopf.

Both specimens from residue E-3 (marine core of heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.). 

23. Distal surface, X 45, USNM 41199; 24, proximal surface, X 45, USNM 41200. 

25-36. Uncompressed plant parts and foraminifer-encrusted plant material from coal ball residues. 

25-26. Fragments of fusinized wood, with adherent tests of Serpulopsis sp., X 25.

From residue E-23 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, West Mineral, Kans.), USNM 41201 (fig. 25), 41202 

(fig. 26).

27. Denuded specimen of Triletes cf. T. superbus, with adherent test of Serpulopsis sp., X 10. 

From residue E-23 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, West Mineral, Kans.); USNM 41203.

28. Fragment of specimen of Triletes cf. T. superbus, with test of Serpulopsis sp. adherent to inner surface, X 25. 

From residue E-23 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, West Mineral, Kans.); USNM 41204.

29. Oblique-lateral view of specimen of Triletes cf. T. superbus, with test of Serpulopsis sp. adherent to median

ray of trilete appendage, X 10. 

From residue E-23 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, West Mineral, Kans.); USNM 41205.

30. Oblique-lateral view of specimen of Triletes cf. T. superbus, with two adherent tests of Serpulopsis sp., X 10.

From residue E-23 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, West Mineral, Kans.); USNM 41206.

30a. Same spore, enlarged to X 25, showing conformity between Serpulopsis test and sinuosity of right-hand

ray of trilete appendage of spore.

31. Uncompressed conostomalean seed (cf. Coronostoma Neeley), X 15.

From residue E-19 (normal coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 41207.

32. Uncompressed fusinized lycopod branchlet with attached leaves (cf. Selaginellites), X 15. 

From residue E-23 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, West Mineral, Kans.); USNM 41208.

33. Apical view of uncompressed fusinized scolecopterid fern synangium (cf. Scolecopteris minor Hoskinb,,

X 30.

Tips of sporangia are broken away, showing hollow sporangial cavities. From residue E-19 (normal 

coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 41209.

34. Fusinized fragment of uncompressed fern pinnule, bearing scolecopterid synaugium at right, X 30. 

From residue E-19 (normal coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 41210.

35. Lateral view of uncompressed fusinized scolecopterid fern synangium, X 30. 

From residue E-19 (normal coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 41211.

36. Apical view of uncompressed fusinized scolecopterid synangium composed of four sporangia, X 30. 

From residue E-19 (normal coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 41212.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 354 PLATE 33

36

REPRESENTATIVE SPORES AND OTHER PLANT REMAINS RECOVERED FROM INSOLUBLE RESIDUES
PLATE 34

[Explanation of figures 36-57 follow plate 34]

FIGURE 1, 2. Tetrataxis pauperalaf (Warthin), X 25.

From residue E-7, (faunal coal ball, Monmouth, Kans.); USNM 628518a,b.

3. GlobivaJvulina sp., X 25.

From residue E-31 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 628519.

4. Apterrinella sp., pyritic cast of undivided, tubular chamber, X 25.

From residue E-29 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 628520a.

5. Thurammina sp., X 25.

From residue E-27 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 628521.

6. Ammovertella sp., X 50.

From residue E-28 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 628522.

7. Fusulinid indet., X 25.

From residue E-31 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138848.

8. Apterrinella sp., with adherent sponge spicule near left end of tube, X 25.

From residue E-29 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 628520b. 

9, 10. Hexactinellid sponge spicules, X 30.

From residue E-25 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138849a, 138849b.

11. Penniretepora sp., X 8.

From residue E-25 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138850.

12. Crinoid columnal incrusted by foraminifer, X 10.

From residue E-7 (Jfaunal coal ball, Monmouth, Kans.); USNM 138851.

13. Rhombopora sp., X 10.

From residue E-25 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138852.

14. Polypora sp., X 4.

From residue E-25 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138853. 

15, 16. Fenestella sp., X 10.

From residue E-25 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138854a, b.

17. Linguloid brachiopod, X 20.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138855.

18. Orbiculoid brachiopod, X 10.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138856.

19. Derbyia sp., X 2,

From residue E-23 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, West Mineral, Kans.); USNM 138857.

20. Marginifera sp., X 2.

From residue E-23 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, West Mineral, Kans.); USNM 138858.

21. Mesolobus sp., exterior, X 8.

From residue E-l (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, Franklin, Kans.); USNM 138859.

22. Septimyalina sp., interior, X 10.

From residue E-31 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138860.

23. Knightites (Relispira) sp. X 5.

From residue E-20 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, Monmouth, Kans.); USNM 138861.

24. Eucochlis sp., X 20.

From residue E-28 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138862.

25. Paleostylus (Pseudozygopleura) sp., X 12.

From residue E-7 (faunal coal ball, Monmouth, Kans.); USNM 138863.

26. Shansiella sp., X 20.

From residue E-7 (faunal coal ball, Monmouth, Kans.); USNM 138864.

27. Parallelodon sp., X 15.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138865.

28. Permophorus sp., X 10.

From residue E-31 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.), USNM 138866.

29. Pseudorthoceras knoxense (McChesney), X 4.

From residue E-31 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.), USNM 138867.

30. Borestus sp., X 3.

From residue E-20 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, Monmouth, Kans.); USNM 138868.

31. Subulitid indet., slightly oblique, apertural view. X 15.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138869.

32. Donaldina sp., X 8.

From residue E-25 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.; USNM 138870. 

33, 34. Coprolitic pellets of unknown organism, X 20.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138821a, b. 

35. Arabellites sp., X 20.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138872.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 354 PLATE 34

X

52 "- "^ 53 54 55

REPRESENTATIVE ANIMAL REMAINS RECOVERED FROM INSOLUBLE RESIDUES
FIGURE 36. Spathognathodus minutust (Ellison), X 30.

From residue E-25 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138873.

37. Ozarkodina delicatula (Stauffer and Plummer), X 30.

From residue E-4 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138874.

38. "Spirorbis" sp., X 20.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138875. 

39-41. Free cheek, fragment of pygidium, and cephalon, respectively of tDitomopyge sp., X 8.

From residue E-26 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138876a, b, c.

42. Hindeodella sp., X 30.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138877.

43. Idiognathodus magnificus Stauffer and Plummer, X 30.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138878.

44. Streptognathodus elegantulus Stauffer and Plummer, X 30.

From residue E-29 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138879.

45. Gnathodus bassleri (Harris and Hollingworth), X 30.

From residue E-13 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, Oskaloosa, Iowa); USNM 138880.

46. "Spirorbis" sp. in crusted with foraminifers, X 20.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138881.

47. Hollinella sp., X 30.

From residue E-l (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, Franklin, Kans.); USNM 138882.

48. Amphissites centronotus (Ulrich and Bassler), X 30.

From residue E-29 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138883.

49. Bairdiacypris sp., X 30.

From residue E-29 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138884.

50. Bairdia sp., X 30.

From residue E-29 (heterogeneous-mixed coal ball, Berryville, 111.); USNM 138885.

51. Glyptopleura sp., X 30.

From residue E-l (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, Franklin, Kans.); USNM 138886.

52. Actinopterygii: palaeoniscoid fish scale, X 10.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USN M 138887. 

53, 54. Cladoidachii: cladodont shark scales, X 10.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138888a, b. 

55-57. Actinopterygii: cranial roofing element, vertebra, and lower jaw fragment, respectively, of palaeoniscoid fish, X 10.

From residue E-22 (homogeneous-mixed coal ball, McAlester, Okla.); USNM 138889a, b, c.

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1962 O -562661