The significance of 24-norcholestanes, 4-methylsteranes and dinosteranes in oils and source-rocks from East Sirte Basin (Libya)

The present paper involves a detailed evaluation of specific steroid biomarkers by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and GC-metastable reaction monitoring (MRM) analyses of several crude oils and source rocks from the East Sirte Basin. 24-Norcholestanes, dinosteranes, 4α-methyl-24-ethylcholestanes and triaromatic steroids have been identified in both source-rocks and crude oils of the East Sirte Basin. Diatoms, dinoflagellates (including those potentially associated with corals) and/or their direct ancestors are amongst the proposed sources of these biomarkers. These biomarker parameters have been used to establish a Mesozoic oil–source correlation of the East Sirte Basin. Hydropyrolysis of an extant coral extract revealed a similar distribution (although immature) of dinosteranes and 4α-methyl-24-ethylcholestanes also observed in the Sirte oils and source-rocks. This is consistent with the presence of dinoflagellates present during the deposition of the Mesozoic aged East Sirte Basin Formations.A good data correlation for the rock extracts revealed a similar distribution of 3,24-dimethyl triaromatic steroids, 3-methyl-24-ethylcholestanes, 4-methyl-24-ethylcholestanes and 2-methyl-24-ethylcholestanes observed in one of the oil families and associated source-rocks for the East Sirte Basin.     

The IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names: procedures and guidelines on mineral nomenclature, 1998

Summary An author wishing to introduce a new mineral name into the literature, or to redefine, discredit or rename an existing mineral, must obtain prior approval of the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. This paper outlines the procedure to be followed in the preparation and submission of a proposal for approval, and describes how such proposals are handled by the Commission. The paper also gives general guidelines on mineral nomenclature and provides a list of nomenclature changes approved since 1987.

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Zusammenfassung Autoren, die einen neuen Mineralnamen in die Literatur einführen, oder einen solchen neu definieren, abschaffen oder ein schon bekanntes Mineral mit einem neuen Namen belegen wollen, müssen dafür vorher die Zustimmung der IMA Commission of New Minerals and Mineral Names einholen. In dieser Arbeit wird die empfohlene Vorgangsweise für die Vorbereitung und Einreichung eines Antrages dargestellt. Ebenso wird die Vorgangsweise der Kommission, die sich mit solchen Anträgen befaßt, in Übersicht gebracht. Weiters geben wir allgemeine Hinweise zur Nomenklatur von Mineralen und geben eine Liste von Nomenklatur-Änderungen vor, die seit 1987 genehmigt worden ist.

     

New insights into the origin of perylene in geological samples

The origin of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) perylene in sediments and petroleum has been a matter of continued debate. Reported to occur in Phanerozoic organic matter (OM), fossil crinoids and tropical termite mounds, its mechanism of formation remains unclear. While a combustion source can be excluded, structural similarities to perylene quinone-like components present in e.g. fungi, plants, crinoids and insects, potentially suggest a product-precursor relationship. Here, we report perylene concentrations, ¹³C/¹²C, and D/H ratios from a Holocene sediment profile from the Qingpu trench, Yangtze Delta region, China. Perylene concentrations differ from those of pyrogenic PAHs, and rise to prominence in a stratigraphic interval that was dominated by woody vegetation as determined by palynology including fungal spores. In this zone, perylene concentrations exhibit an inverse relationship to the lignin marker guaiacol, D/H ratios between −284‰ and −317‰, similar to the methoxy groups in lignin, as well as co-variation with spores from wood-degrading fungi. ¹³C/¹²C of perylene differs from that of land plant wax alkanes and falls in the fractionation range expected for saprophytic fungi that utilise lignin, which is isotopically lighter than cellulose and whole wood. During progressive lignin degradation, the relative carbon isotopic ratio of the perylene decreases. We therefore hypothesise a relationship of perylene to the activity of wood-degrading fungi. To support our hypothesis, we analysed a wide range of Phanerozoic sediments and oils, and found perylene to generally be present in subordinate amounts before the evolutionary rise of vascular plants, and to be generally absent from marine-sourced oils, few exceptions being attributed perhaps to a contribution of marine and/or terrestrial-derived fungi, anoxia (especially under marine conditions) and/or contamination of core material by fungi. A series of low-molecular-weight aromatic quinones bearing the perylene-backbone were detected in Devonian and Cretaceous sediments, potentially representing precursor components to perylene.     

Distribution and significance of novel low molecular weight sterenes in an immature evaporitic sediment from the Jinxian Sag,North China

An unusual series of C₂₂–C₂₇ monounsaturated sterenes and C₂₄–C₃₀ tetracyclic terpanes (17,21-secohopanes) were detected in relatively high concentrations in an immature evaporitic marl sediment of the Jinxian Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, North China. The site of unsaturation in these novel sterenes is assigned tentatively to the D ring on the basis of mass spectral interpretation, which also distinguishes them from reported unsaturated sterenes. Other hydrocarbon biomarker or stable isotope characteristics are indicative of microbial (e.g. methyl hopanes), phytoplankton or higher plant (depleted δ¹³C values of isoprenoids and hopanes) inputs and an anoxic carbonate depositional environment (hexacyclic hopanes; tetracyclic terpanes). The hydrocarbon composition showed no obvious biodegradation and the relatively high concentration of unsaturated terpenoids (e.g. gammacerene) and low values of other established maturity parameters (T_s/T_m = 0.23; R_o = 0.44%; T_max = 417 °C), are consistent with sediments of low maturity. The novel, low molecular weight sterenes and the tetracyclic terpanes may be early diagenetic products of microbial sources in a carbonate environment.     

国际矿物学协会新矿物及矿物命名委员会（CNMMN,IMA）1998年批准的新矿物

本文的资料是国际矿物学协会新矿物及矿物命名委员会提供的,以资矿物学家在新矿物研究工作中参考和对比。ＣＮＭＭＮ鼓励其成员将本文提交其所在国家的有关刊物发表。中译文由中国新矿物及矿物命名委员会供稿。文中所列的已经批准的新矿物的名称及其详细资料,将由每个新...     

Petroleum geochemistry of the Potwar Basin,Pakistan: II – Oil classification based on heterocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

In a previous study, oils in the Potwar Basin (Upper Indus) of Pakistan were correlated based on the dissimilarity of source and depositional environment of organic matter (OM) using biomarkers and bulk stable isotopes. This study is aimed at supporting the classification of Potwar Basin oils into three groups (A, B and C) using the distribution of alkylnaphthalenes, alkylphenanthrenes, alkyldibenzothiophenes, alkyldibenzofurans, alkylfluorenes, alkylbiphenyls, triaromatic steroids, methyl triaromatic steroids, retene, methyl retenes and cadalene. The higher relative abundance of specific methyl isomers of naphthalene and phenanthrene and the presence of diagnostic aromatic biomarkers clearly indicate the terrigenous and oxic depositional environment of OM for group A oil. Group B and C oils are of marine origin and the aforementioned heterocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HCs) differentiate them clearly into two different groups. The relative percentages of heterocyclic aromatic HCs reveal that the distribution of these compounds is controlled by the depositional environment of the OM. Sulfur-containing heterocyclic aromatic HCs are higher in crude oils generated from source rocks deposited in suboxic depositional environments, while oxygen-containing heterocyclic aromatic HCs in combination with alkylfluorenes are higher in marine oxic and deltaic oils. Biomarker and aromatic HC parameters do not indicate significant differences in the thermal maturity of Potwar Basin oils. Triaromatic and methyl triaromatic steroids support the division of Potwar Basin oils into the three groups and their relative abundances are related to source OM rather than thermal maturity. Significantly higher amounts of C₂₀ and C₂₁ triaromtic steroids and the presence or absence of long chain triaromatic steroids (C₂₅, C₂₆, C₂₇, and C₂₈) indicates that these compounds are probably formed from different biological precursors in each group. Different isomers of methyl substituted triaromatic steroids are present only for short chain compounds (C₂₀–C₂₂) and the origin of these compounds may be short chain methyl steranes from unknown biological precursors.