1. Biomarker evidence for a major preservation pathway of sedimentary organic carbon.
- Author
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Hebting Y, Schaeffer P, Behrens A, Adam P, Schmitt G, Schneckenburger P, Bernasconi SM, and Albrecht P
- Subjects
- Anaerobiosis, Bacteria metabolism, Carbon metabolism, Carotenoids chemistry, Catalysis, Chlorobi chemistry, Chlorobi metabolism, Cholestenones chemistry, Chromatiaceae chemistry, Chromatiaceae metabolism, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Hydrogen chemistry, Hydrogen Sulfide chemistry, Hydrogen Sulfide metabolism, Ketones chemistry, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Molecular Conformation, Molecular Structure, Organic Chemicals metabolism, Oxidation-Reduction, Phytoplankton chemistry, Phytoplankton metabolism, Stereoisomerism, Switzerland, beta Carotene chemistry, Carbon chemistry, Geologic Sediments chemistry, Organic Chemicals chemistry
- Abstract
Hydrogenation processes leading from biomolecules to fossil biomarkers in anoxic sediments are crucial for the preservation of organic matter. However, these processes are still poorly understood. The present identification of several reduced carotenoids in recent sediments attests that these processes operate at the earliest stages of diagenesis without structural or stereochemical specificity, implying a nonbiological reduction pathway. Sulfur species (e.g., H2S) are the hydrogen donors involved in such reduction, as demonstrated with laboratory experiments. These reactions allow the preservation of abundant organic carbon in the rock record.
- Published
- 2006
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