Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 3.3
SEM image of hemic peat from Malaysia (H6-H9) (
after
Kazemian
et al
., 2011).
Figure 3.4
SEM image of sapric peat from Malaysia (H10)
(after
Kazemian
et al
., 2011).
fibrous, with relatively large pore spaces at macroscopic level between stems and leaves
and at microscopic level within the open and perforated plant structures.
Figure 3.3 shows the same fibrous peat but with a higher degree of humification.
Figure 3.4 shows SEM image of an amorphous peat.
Unlike the SEM images of fibrous peat, the state of the organic matter for the
above peat suggests that it is amorphous-granular. Evidence of plant-derived organic
matter is more difficult to identify in this image, despite the relatively high organic
content (80%). This may be at least partially attributed to the high degree of humifi-
cation (H10) and to the fact that well humified organic matter is generally difficult to
distinguish (Landva and Pheeney, 1980).
