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Title: Stratigraphic variation of sulfur isotopes in Colorado Corehole Number 1

Conference · · Oil Shale Symp. Proc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5286953

Sulfur isotope distribution with stratigraphy is reported for organic and pyritic sulfur of Green River Formation oil shale samples selected to represent the 1600-foot (488 m) Parachute Creek Member in Colorado Corehole No. 1. In the saline zone where nahcolite and dawsonite occur in the oil shale and in the Mahogany zone the /sup 34/ values for organic sulfur and pyrite sulfur match with the pyrite sulfur slightly lighter than the organic sulfur. This is interpreted to demonstrate that organic matter supplied most of the sulfur to the sediment which became oil shale. Little sulfate reached the sediment so no sulfate reduction could occur to enrich the heavy sulfur isotope. No systematic increase in S/sup 34/ was detected in either pyrite or organic sulfur. A remarkably large increase in concentration of /sup 34/S occurring in a short stratigraphic span is demonstrated. This abrupt increase occurs near the middle of the Parachute Creek Member sediments. Above this point both pyrite and organic sulfur remain significantly enriched in /sup 34/S.

OSTI ID:
5286953
Report Number(s):
CONF-830434-
Journal Information:
Oil Shale Symp. Proc.; (United States), Conference: 16. oil shale symposium, Golden, CO, USA, 13 Apr 1983
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English