The carbon isotopic compositions of individual compounds from ancient and modern depositional environments
This work examines factors influencing the isotopic compositions of individual compounds and, consequently, that of preserved sedimentary organic matter. Specifically, isotope effects associated with reactions resulting in the production and degradation of organic matter in the water column and reactions affecting preservation during diagenesis are considered in three projects. The first documents the preservation of the isotopic compositions of hydrocarbons altered by diagenetic reaction. Isotopic compositions of structurally-related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from the Messel Shale show little variation with increased unsaturation. The influence of environmental conditions on the isotopic composition of sedimentary organic carbon is documented by a comparison of the {delta}{sup 13}C of hydrocarbons in the marine Julia Creek Oil Shale and the lacustrine Condor Oil Shale. A model is proposed for identifying relative degrees of oxygenation and productivity within a paleoenvironment based on the observed {sup 13}C contents of biomarkers. Effects of processes proposed in the environmental model are documented by an examination of hydrocarbons from the waters and sediments of the Black Sea and of the Cariaco Trench. Sources of individual compounds are identified by comparison of their {sup 13}C content with that predicted for autotrophic biomass calculated from the concentration and {sup 13}C content of CO{sub 2}(aq) in the surface waters.
- Research Organization:
- Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 5517345
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BLACK SEA
WATER POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SEDIMENTS
CONTAMINATION
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
CARBON 13
CARBON DIOXIDE FIXATION
DIAGENESIS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
ISOTOPE EFFECTS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ORGANIC MATTER
TRACER TECHNIQUES
AROMATICS
CARBON ISOTOPES
CHEMISTRY
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
GEOCHEMISTRY
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATTER
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SEAS
STABLE ISOTOPES
SURFACE WATERS
041000* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Environmental Aspects
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)