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The occurrence of authigenic minerals in solid bitumens

Journal Article · · Journal of Sedimentary Research - Section A; (United States)
OSTI ID:7115887
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Queens Univ. of Belfast (United Kingdom). School of Geosciences
  2. Univ. of Leeds (United Kingdom). Dept. of Earth Sciences
Solid bitumens, the residues of migrating hydrocarbons, may contain authigenic minerals include quartz, feldspars, illite, and pyrite. Authigenic feldspars are of orthoclase or albite composition. In vanadium-rich bitumens, roscoelite is the dominant silicate phase. The minerals are recorded in bitumens from host rocks of Precambrian to Tertiary age. Silicate inclusions are particularly developed in large bitumen veins, which occupy major fluid-migration pathways. At a megascopic scale the bitumens appear to be pure hydrocarbon deposits, but the silicates indicate a major aqueous component in the hydrocarbon-bearing fluids. The sulfur-isotope systematics of fractioned bitumen samples are similar to those of sediments during early diagenesis, composed of [sup 34]S-depleted pyrite and [sup 34]S-enriched organic sulfur.
OSTI ID:
7115887
Journal Information:
Journal of Sedimentary Research - Section A; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Sedimentary Research - Section A; (United States) Vol. A64:1; ISSN XZ288H
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English