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The middle (Miaolingian) to upper (Furongian) Cambrian Alum Shale Formation in the DBH15/73 core from south-central Sweden was exposed to local heat from a diabase intrusion, providing an opportunity to investigate the molecular geochemical response to thermal stress. Organic petrological observations and biomarker analyses were conducted to study changes in maturity-indicating parameters and the distribution of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during the maturation process. The DBH15/73 samples exhibit a maturity gradient, ranging from immature at the base to mature in the upper part of the Alum Shale Formation. Multiple maturity-based biomarker parameters were analyzed, and Ts/(Ts + Tm), M 30 /(M 30 + H 30), and Hopane H 32 : 22S/(22S + 22R) of saturated hydrocarbon parameters are found to be more reliable. Ratios of alkylnaphthalenes, alkylphenanthrenes, and alkyldibenzothiophenes (MNR, DNR, TMNr, TeMNr, MPI-1, MPR, MDR, and DMDR) also showed consistent correlations with thermal maturity. Thermal maturation impacted the macromolecular structure, resulting in the aromatization and demethylation, leading to MPy/Py, MChy/Chy, and the sum of unsubstituted 5-ring/4-ring PAH ratios changes with maturity. The influence of thermal maturation outweighs that of uranium radiation in this study, and maturity varies mainly with depth. • The behavior of saturated and aromatic maturity-dependent biomarkers within the maturity range of VR eqv < 1.40 % • High molecular weight PAHs ratios in Alum Shale Formation under thermal intrusion • Influence of uranium radiation on biomarker distributions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic fluctuations from the Eocene to the Miocene highlight the importance of investigating the paleoenvironment of the latest Eocene to the Middle Miocene Lark Formation in the Danish North Sea. This study investigates immature sedimentary organic matter in the Lark Formation using 54 cuttings samples and one core sample collected from seven wells in the eastern North Sea Basin. Organic petrography and molecular geochemistry analyses were performed to determine the variations in the quantity and origin of allochthonous and autochthonous organic matter. Additionally, the study assesses the impact of climate fluctuations on marine productivity in the eastern North Sea Basin and land plant vegetation at the basin margins during the latest Eocene to the Middle Miocene. The organic matter in the Lark Formation originated from mixed sources, primarily land plants, with a secondary contribution from marine algae. This is indicated by the maceral composition and the types and abundance of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon biomarker compounds. Moreover, the presence of diterpenoids (gymnosperm biomarkers) and non-hopanoid triterpenoids (angiosperm biomarkers) reveals that the allochthonous organic matter originated from conifers and angiosperms. Climatic impacts on land plants and marine algae during the latest Eocene to the Middle Miocene are revealed by several parameters: the Averaged Chain Length (ACL) of land plant waxes, the proportion of coniferous contribution (C/(C + A)), and the whole rock volume percentages of huminite, inertinite (H + I, vol%) and liptinite (L, vol%). The shifts to cooler and drier climates highlighted the cold adaptation of onshore conifers and resulted in the input of higher molecular weight waxy components into the sediments. However, under these conditions, reduced precipitation and runoff resulted in lower amounts of terrigenous organic matter supplied to the basin. Additionally, the drop in water temperature and the warm-affinity of local algae assemblage led to reduced marine productivity. Together, these factors contributed to an overall decrease in organic richness. In contrast, during shifts to warmer and more humid climates, the trend reversed. The contribution of conifers to the floral assemblage diminished, but higher amounts of terrigenous organic matter were transported to the basin due to increased precipitation and runoff. This was accompanied by warmer water temperatures, boosting the productivity of organic-walled microplankton in the marine environment and contributing to greater organic richness. • 54 drill cuttings and one core were obtained from the eastern North Sea Basin. • Point counting and GC–MS analysis were conducted to identify the biosource. • The biosource includes both land plants (majority) and marine algae (minority). • Contributions from gymnosperms (mainly conifers) and angiosperms were identified. • Climate fluctuations impacted land plants growth and marine productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Permian Pingdiquan Formation (P 2 p) in Shishugou Sag, Junggar Basin, Northwest China, is a typical example of mixed sedimentary strata formed in a saline lacustrine environment, characterized by complex lithological assemblages and extensive distribution of organic-rich source rocks. To further investigate the differences in oil-source contribution and hydrocarbon generation characteristics of source rocks with different lithologies, studying the difference of their geochemical characteristics and the formation mechanism of organic-rich source rocks is the top priority. Based on a comprehensive analysis of lithologic types, geochemical characteristics, and hydrocarbon generation potential of source rocks using organic petrology, molecular geochemistry and element geochemistry, this paper reveals the formation background and organic matter enrichment mechanism of the P 2 p organic-rich source rocks. The results show that the mixed sedimentary rocks of the P 2 p were deposited under relatively arid and saline lacustrine conditions. Paleoclimatic conditions tended to be more arid and hydrothermal activity became more frequent during the sedimentation process from mudstone, dolomitic mudstone to argillaceous dolomite. Consequently, the water column salinity elevated, leading to an increased proportion of salt-tolerant green algae and slight salt-tolerant cyanobacteria compared to salt-intolerant algae. Frequent changes in paleoclimate and hydrothermal activity control the interbedding deposition of mudstone, dolomitic mudstone and argillaceous dolomite, and the resulting salinity fluctuations contribute to variations in the proportion of salt-tolerant and intolerant algae in source rocks with different lithologies. Furthermore, the source rocks within the mixed sedimentary strata (mudstone, dolomitic mudstone and argillaceous dolomite) all exhibit substantial hydrocarbon generation potential, and there exists heterogeneity among source rocks of the same lithology. The key factor influencing the development of these organic-rich source rocks is the enhancement of palaeoproductivity driven by volcanic activity. Additionally, the water stratification caused by saline water promotes anoxic water columns, also contributing to organic matter enrichment in the source rocks. • The paleoclimate and hydrothermal activity control the lithology and its composition. • The water column salinity controls the variation of algal composition in source rocks. • Volcanic activity promotes organic-rich source rock by controlling paleoproductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lower Triassic Montney Formation of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) is a world-class unconventional hydrocarbon resource in North America. It was deposited on the northwestern margin of Pangaea at mid-latitudes in an arid climate and after major mass extinction at the Late Permian-Triassic boundary. Despite decades of exploration and economic importance, the origin of organic matter and source of accumulated hydrocarbons is not well understood. The Montney Formation is primarily composed of dolomitic siltstone with a mean total organic carbon (TOC) content of ≤1 wt%. In this study, we re-examined samples from an Alberta Geological Survey (AGS) data release in 2010 on Montney Formation organic petrography and expand the sampling and analysis to further investigate organic matter type, thermal maturity, and possible internal hydrocarbon source intervals within the Montney Formation as well as organic matter preservation and depositional environment by integrating programmed pyrolysis, organic petrography, and molecular geochemistry. Organic petrography and molecular geochemistry show that millimeter to centimeter thick mudstone intervals with TOC ≤ 1 wt%, are dominantly comprised of Type II marine kerogen (Prasinophyte and Tasmanites) with minimal terrigenous organic matter. The presence of these organic-rich mudstone beds in central and western Alberta reveals intra-formational sources of hydrocarbons within the Montney Formation, in addition to hydrocarbons sourced from overlying organic-rich source rocks (i.e., Triassic Doig and Jurassic Gordondale). These results confirm that the Montney Formation can be considered as a hybrid unconventional hydrocarbon reservoir with an interbedded source and reservoir. Molecular geochemistry data suggest that photic zone euxinia (PZE) was favorable for the preservation of organic matter during deposition of the Montney Formation. However, in many instances, this only happened during very short periods similar to depositional conditions on the offshore present day Namibian shelf. Traces of terrigenous organic matter were able to reach the basin, likely in the form of inertinite and combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Although the results of this study show there are source rock intervals within the Montney Formation, a comprehensive organic petrography and geochemistry study on a series of full-length Montney cores throughout the basin will help to ascertain the major paleo depositional variation and their effect on organic matter preservation as well as hydrocarbon source intervals and their contribution to WCSB petroleum systems. • Organic petrography and molecular geochemistry show the presence of immature/early mature Type II kerogen in the Montney Formation. • Thin (1–10 cm) mudstone intervals contributed to hydrocarbon resources of the Montney Formation. • Short-lived photic zone euxinia was favorable for preservation of organic matter. • The presence of PAHs may be related to combustion-derived materials transported from higher latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The character of the coal in Tomago and Greta coal measures are similar to other coals from the Sydney Coal Basin, with variation from vitrinite-rich to inertinite-rich coal. A type III organic matter (OM) linked to continental higher plants and a perhydrous type III similar to type II were found by Rock-Eval analysis. The coexistence of inertinite with algae ( Botryococcus ) in the Greta coals explains the high HI in the perhydrous type. The Gangamopteris flora that is reported in the Greta coal measures, grew after plants in a taiga like the recent birch forests in Russia (Retallack, 1980). The Glossopteris flora that is reported in the Tomago coal measures, grew in a swamp forest. Based upon the botanic zonation, this flora was located in the cold temperate biome that was located in Gondwanaland, except for Antarctica which was in the glacial biome. Diterpane analysis results reveal alternation of wet and dry periods existed during the deposition of Lewis coals in the Greta coal measures during the Kungurian, and an increase of dryness is noted from Upper Donaldson to Beresfield in the Tomago coal measures during the Capitanian. Based on analysis of aromatics and diterpanes, the same periods of dryness and wetness alternate during the coal deposition in the Sydney Coal Basin. These climatic changes correspond to high frequency cycles (< 100 ka, Goldhammer et al., 1994). The presence of aromatics linked with combustion in the studied samples confirms the hypothesis of fire in peat land to explain high inertinite content. A low to medium biodegradation by bacteria was observed for saturates and aromatics from the studied samples as noted previously in the Sydney and Bowen Basins. This biodegradation concerns short chain n -alkanes, naphtalenes and phenanthrenes and does not alter the paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic interpretation. The comparison between biomarkers from coals and isotopes from marine (Birgenheier et al., 2010) and terrestrial (Retallack et al., 2011) deposits allow us to identify precise dry/wet climate and glacial/interglacial periods during the Permian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: More than one hundred and thirty coal seams and coaly layers occur in the Donets Basin (Donbas). Twenty-eight (52 samples) of them, ranging in age from Serpukhovian (Late Mississipian) to Gzhelian (Late Pennsylvanian), 33 clastics and three limestones were studied in terms of maceral composition, sulphur contents, and biomarker distribution. Diterpanes are used to estimate the contribution of different groups of plants and the height of the water table in the swamp; hopanes are a measure of bacterial activity in the peat; and steranes indicate the relative input of wood and algae. Stratigraphic trends in these parameters are discussed in relation to paleoenvironment, climatic changes, and eustacy. A tropical climate prevailed in the Donbas from Serpukhovian to Kasimovian times. Nevertheless, periods with drier and wetter conditions can be distinguished based on maceral and biomarker data. Relatively dry conditions are observed during Serpukhovian and Vereian times, whereas wetter climates with a maximum of coal deposition occurred during the (late) Bashkirian, most of the Moscovian, and the earliest Kasimovian. No economic coal seams are hosted in upper Kasimovian and Gzhelian deposits, a result of a change to an arid climate. Our data also suggest climatic changes during sequences of different order. For the second-order, third-order, and fourth-order sequences, relatively dry or wet conditions occurred during coal deposition in the lowstand systems tract, an intermediate climate during the transgressive systems tract and the maximum flooding, and a wet climate during the highstand systems tract. The results for high frequency sequences support the Cecil''s paleoclimatic model: an intermediate paleoclimate during LST (sandstone and levee siltstone), a wet climate during early TST (coal), and a dry climate during late TST (limestone), MFS (claystone), and HST (deltaic siltstone). Coals deposited during maximum flooding periods are more enriched in C27 steranes derived from algae, and contain lower proportions of C29 steranes derived from the wood of higher plants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A comprehensive geochemical and petrographic study was performed on 23 clay-rich shale samples collected from 18 wells drilled in the mid-western part of the Ordos Basin to investigate the characteristics and thermal maturity of organic matter as well as the paleo-depositional environment of the Chang 7 Member within the Triassic Yanchang Formation. The samples are characterized by moderate to very high organic carbon (TOC) contents ranging from 0.24% to more than 24.83% (2.72% on average) and total sulfur (TS) contents of 0.06% to 6.51%. Rock-Eval S 1 and S 2 values range from 0.13 to 3.70 mg HC/g rock and 0.62 to 92.50 mg HC/g rock, respectively, implying good to very good hydrocarbon generation potential for most of the samples. Rock-Eval data and petrographical observations reveal that the kerogen is mainly composed of type II to type III, consisting of a mixture of aquatic and terrigenous organic matter. The aliphatic fractions show variable monomodal to bimodal distributions of normal alkanes. Different parameters such as TOC/TS and molecular biomarker data imply that the Chang 7 member is a typical clay-rich source rock deposited in a sulphate-poor lacustrine to fluvio-deltaic environment under oxic to sub-oxic conditions with substantial input of organic matter derived from higher land plants, mainly conifers. Low values of gammacerane further indicate a low salinity of the paleo-lake. Average T max values of 445 °C, vitrinite reflectance values between 0.68% and 0.88%, biomarker parameters, such as sterane ratios of C 29 ααα 20S/(20S + 20R) and C 29 ββ/(ββ + αα), and maturity indices based on aromatic compounds, indicate a thermal maturity within the oil window for the studied samples, showing some regional variability within the mid-western Ordos Basin. • Detailed elemental and molecular composition, organic petrology of the Chang 7 Member • Thermal maturity within oil window uniform over a large area within the Ordos Basin • Lacustrine deposition at high sedimentation rates under oxic-suboxic bottom water • Kerogen originated from a mixture of higher land plants, bacteria and algae [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]