Duxite is a mostly black-brown fossil
resin
In polymer chemistry and materials science, resin is a solid or highly viscous substance of plant or synthetic origin that is typically convertible into polymers. Resins are usually mixtures of organic compounds. This article focuses on nat ...
from
Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...
s
lignite
Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, is a soft, brown, combustible, sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat. It has a carbon content around 25–35%, and is considered the lowest rank of coal due to its relatively low heat ...
layers in the northern
Bohemia
Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...
. The resin is first mentioned in 1874 by Christian Dölter.
[C. Doelter: ''Harz aus der Braunkohle von Dux.'' – In: ''Verh. Geol. Reichsanstalt'', 17. März 1874: P. 145-146, Wien 1874.] It is named after the small Czech town of
Duchcov (German: Dux) in northern Bohemia, where it was found in the lignite mining Emeran.
Not far from Duchcov, duxite has been found since the 1980s in a lignite workhouse at
Bílina. In the lower section of the mined here lignite occur grade category tree residues with duxite. Mostly it involves
Taxodium.
Properties
Cornelio Doelter reported the following composition for the samples which were extracted in 1874 (air-dry basis): 78.25% carbon, 8.14% hydrogen, 13.19% oxygen and 0.42% sulfur. The specific gravity was determined 1.133. The sample was in
alcohol
Alcohol most commonly refers to:
* Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom
* Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks
Alcohol may also refer to:
Chemicals
* Ethanol, one of sev ...
sparingly soluble in
benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula C6H6. The benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a planar ring with one hydrogen atom attached to each. Because it contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms ...
.
Doelter noted a certain similarity of the analyzed sample resin to Walchowit, gave the resin but because of the opposite Walchowit significantly higher oxygen content and because of some differing physical properties has its own name. He classified duxite in the category of
Retinite fossil resins. Already in the middle of the 20th century, duxite was known as the "Resinous
bitumen
Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term a ...
".
Modern methods of investigation, such as the
infrared spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy (IR spectroscopy or vibrational spectroscopy) is the measurement of the interaction of infrared radiation with matter by absorption, emission, or reflection. It is used to study and identify chemical substances or functi ...
shows that duxite is not a pure resin, but a mixture of saturated
hydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and hydrophobic, and their odors are usually weak or ...
s and plant resins and
waxes.
[N. Vávra et al.: ''Duxite and ist geochemical biomarkers („Chemofossils“) from Bilina open-cast mine in the North Bohemian Basin (Miocene, Czech Republic).'' – In: ''N. Jb. Geol. Paläont. (Mh.)'' 1997 (4): S. 223 -243, Stuttgart 1997.]
References
{{reflist
External links
What Is Cannabis Resin?
Resins