sup 14 C ages of hydrothermal petroleum and carbonate in Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California: implications for oil generation, expulsion, and migration

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Geology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0253:CAOHPA>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:5750634

Peter, J M; Peltonen, P; Scott, S D ^[1]; Simoneit, B R.T.; Kawka, O E ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
2. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (USA)

{sup 14}C dates have been obtained by accelerator mass spectrometry and by conventional techniques from hydrothermally derived petroleum, calcite, and vent water from the southern trough of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California. The ages for petroleum range from 4240 to 5705 B.P., whereas those for calcite range from 7340 to 33,168 B.P. The CO{sub 2} in a sample of hydrothermal vent fluid (24% end member) yielded an apparent age of 14,820 B.P., which is within the calcite age range. These are not true ages, but rather they reflect the age of carbon within these materials. The data indicate that the conversion of sedimentary organic matter to petroleum occurs very rapidly and that the petroleum is mobilized from sedimentary organic matter in the upper 30 m of the sediment column ({le}500 m thick) underlying the sea-floor deposits. The large difference in ages between the petroleum and most of the calcites indicates that the carbon source in the calcites is more complex. The inorganic carbon pool probably originates from the dissolution of older detrital carbonates and autochthonous biogenic carbonates in the shallow sediments, and/or the decarboxylation of organic matter at greater depth, with a magmatic component of dead carbon.

• OSTI ID: 5750634
• Journal Information: Geology; (USA), Journal Name: Geology; (USA) Vol. 19:3; ISSN GLGYB; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
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&amp; Exploration
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BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
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EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRATA
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GULF OF CALIFORNIA
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LIGHT NUCLEI
MAPS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MASS TRANSFER
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MINERALS
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SEDIMENTARY BASINS
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SPECTROSCOPY
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YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES