Differences in the mode of incorporation of biogenic sources in sedimentary organic matter as revealed by {delta}{sup 13}C measurements of sequential degradation products

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:539010

Love, G D; Snape, C E ^[1]; Fallick, A E ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Strathclyde, Glasgow (United Kingdom)
2. Scottish Universities Research & Reactor Centre (SURRC), Glasgow (United Kingdom)

Compound-specific stable isotope ({delta}{sup 13}C) measurements on the alkanes released from a Tertiary type I oil shale (Goynuk, Turkey) via hydropyrolysis, following solvent extraction and a milder hydrogenation treatment, have highlighted the fact that significant compositional fractionation effects can exist between the principal aliphatic constituents of the solvent extractable (bitumen) phase and the insoluble organic network (kerogen) comprising the bulk of sedimentary organic matter. These results provide definite evidence that solvent-extractables and low yield degradation products are not necessarily reliable indicators of kerogen biogenicity. Significant differences observed in the distribution and isotopic signature of the free and covalently-bound hopane constituents of a type I oil shale (Goynuk) and a lignite (Hambach, Germany) will also be discussed.

• OSTI ID: 539010
• Report Number(s): CONF-960807--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
ALKANES
CARBON 13
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
FRACTIONATION
HYDROGENATION
KEROGEN
LIGNITE
OIL SHALES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION