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Identification and significance of 3[beta]-ethyl steranes in sediments and petroleum

Journal Article · · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States)
 [1];  [2]
  1. Bureau of Mineral Resources, Canberra City (Australia)
  2. Univ. of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria (Australia)
3[beta]-Ethyl steranes occur in ancient sediments and petroleum, particularly those of Paleozoic and Proterozoic age. This newly recognised modification to the sterane ring system has no known direct counterpart in the steroid metabolism of extant organisms. When they are present in a sample the pattern of side-chain substitution and some aspects of the isomer distributions of co-occurring 3[beta]-ethyl steranes, 3[beta]-methyl steranes, 2[alpha]-methyl steranes, and desmethyl steranes are similar. This suggests that these ring A-alkylated steranes are not synthesised de novo by their source organism(s) but arise via microbial modifications to sedimentary sterenes during the early stages of diagenesis.
OSTI ID:
6912915
Journal Information:
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States), Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States) Vol. 55:8; ISSN GCACAK; ISSN 0016-7037
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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