[A fluorescence photometry study on the suberinite in the shallow burial peat]

A detailed study of the suberinite in the shallow burial peat from Zhenan basin, western Yunnan, has been carried out. The study has revealed that the suberinite is the most unstable maceral among all the stable macerals. It may be oxidized and/or decomposed, resulting in changes in the structure and, especially optical feature. The fluorescence light of the suberinite that has not been oxidized and decomposed is green with I546 ranging from 1.5 to 2.0; and the fluorescence spectrum has one peak: lambda(max) ranging from 480 to 510nm; Q500/650 ranging from 0.12 to 0.26; semi-wave width averaging 150nm. Nevertheless, those suberinites that are oxidized and/or decomposed give off yellow or yellowish brown fluorescent light and the I546 reduces to less than 1, even to 0.05 lambda(max) increases from 580 to 610nm; Q500/560 from 2.75 to 3.31. With illuminating time going by, the fluorescence feature of the suberinite could be changed, mainly in the fluorescence intensity and fluorescence spectrum. The suberinite that has been not oxidized and/or decomposed changes negetively in fluorescence intensity and its fluorescence spectrum moves towards red light wavelength. Nevertheless those suberinites that have been oxidized and/or decomposed change positively in fluorescence intensity and the fluorescent spectrum moves towards blue light wavelength.