Coals of the Calypsostranda Group (Palaeogene) at Bellsund, Spitsbergen

Numerous thin coal seams occur in terrestrial deposits of the Skilvika Formation, Calypsostranda Group (Late Palaeogene), at Bellsund, central Spitsbergen. According to coal-petrographic study, they mainly belong to the vitrinite-fusinite facies. At Calypsostranda (Tyvjobekken), Calypsobyen (abandoned coalmine) and Skilvika (coastal main section), they are represented mainly by telocollinite subfacies which developed in a wet forest swamp at high groundwater level condition (the "shale with coal streaks" subfacies) close to a delta distributary or main river channels. At Rensdyrbekken (NW Calypsostranda), an increased share of herbaceous swamp facies was recognized in coal formation: a sapropelic coal facies was generated there under condition of inner parts of interchannel lakes.