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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Paul Farrimond
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The effects of thermal maturation upon the abundance and composition of the tricyclic terpanes have been investigated within a single sedimentary horizon within the Dun Caan Shale Member (Isle of Skye, Scotland) intruded by a 0.9 m thick Tertiary dolerite dyke. Heating by the igneous body caused the concentrations of all 13β(H),14α(H) and 13α(H),14β(H) tricyclic terpanes to increase towards or within the effective 'oil window', recording generation from abundant non-hydrocarbon precursors, such as kerogen- and asphaltene-bound components. Progressive changes in tricyclic terpane composition accompany these concentration changes. An increase in the C23 βα/αα maturity parameter towards the dyke resulted from the relatively greater rate of generation of the βα isomer, combined with the earlier decline in concentration (by degradation or isomerisation) of the αα component. The tricyclics/(tricyclics + hopanes) parameter shows a dramatic increase within the latter part of the oil window, due to the greater relative thermal stability of the tricyclic terpanes. The quantitative data demonstrate the importance of the processes of generation (from non-hydrocarbon fractions of the sedimentary organic matter) and thermal degradation in the operation of tricyclic terpane maturity parameters.
Author(s): Farrimond P, Bevan JC, Bishop AN
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: American Chemical Society Geochemistry Division Symposium
Year of Conference: 1998
Pages: 1011-1019
ISSN: 0146-6380
Publisher: Organic Geochemistry: Pergamon
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0146-6380(99)00091-1
DOI: 10.1016/S0146-6380(99)00091-1
