Compositions and sources of extractable organic matter in Mesopotamian marshland surface sediments of Iraq: II. Polar compounds

The concentrations of polar organic compounds including n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanols, steroids and triterpenoids were determined in extracts of shallow sediments from the Mesopotamian marshlands of Iraq. The sediments were collected by a stainless steel sediment corer, extracted with a dichloromethane and methanol mixture (3:1 v:v) by ultrasonic agitation and then analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometric (GC–MS). The analysis results showed that the n-alkanoic acids ranged from C₈ to C₂₀ with concentrations of 7.8 ± 1.2 μg/g sample, whereas the concentrations of n-alkanols, which ranged from C₁₂ to C₃₉ were from 28.6 ± 4.3 to 121.7 ± 18.3 μg/g sample. The steroids and triterpenoids included stenols, stanols, stenones, stanones, tetrahymanol, tetrahymanone and extended ββ-hopanes. The total concentrations of steroids and triterpenoids ranged from 26.8 ± 4.1 to 174.6 ± 26.2 μg/g and from 0.74 ± 0.11 to 11.2 ± 1.7 μg/g sample, respectively. The major sources of these lipids were from natural vegetation, microbial (plankton) residues and bacteria in the sediments, with some contribution from anthropogenic sources (livestock, sewage and petroleum). Further studies of these wetlands are needed to characterize the input rate, transformation and diagenesis of the organic matter and to assess its various sources.     

Seasonal deuterium excess in Nagqu precipitation: influence of moisture transport and recycling in the middle of Tibetan Plateau

The Cathedral of St. Giorgio in Ragusa Ibla like the majority of historic buildings in the Ragusa area is constructed mainly from locally outcropping calcarenite belonging to the Ragusa Formation. Through the years, the cathedral has undergone diverse restoration procedures using different protective products, the nature of which was determined by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Regardless of these interventions, the materials used today are still subject to diverse forms of alterations and degradation (alveolitation, differential degradation, decohesions, chromatic alterations and the formation of biological patinas correlated to lichen activity), which cause considerable damage to the façade. In this paper, three protective products were tested on the calcarenite of the Ragusa Formation taken from a quarry: a fluorurated elastomer, a fluorurated anionic polyurethane and linseed oil. The protective efficiency was determined, after undergoing UV radiation aging by means of capillary water absorption, porosimetric and colorimetric procedures. The results highlighted a good and persistent protective capability of both the elastomer and the fluorurated polyurethane, whereas, the linseed oil not only provoked strong chromatic variations but also quickly lost its hydro-repellant capacity with aging.     

Stable carbon isotope evidence for two sources of organic matter in coastal sediments: seagrasses and plankton

Organic carbon from sediments collected in Texas seagrass meadows was enriched in ¹³C by an average of 6.6% relative to organic carbon from offshore sediments. Within the South Texas hay system examined. δ¹³C values became increasingly more typical of offshore sediments with increasing distance from seagrass meadows. This permits the use of carbon isotope data as a measure of the relative contributions of seagrasses and plankton to sedimentary organic matter.     

Biomarkers in surface sediments from the Cross River and estuary system,SE Nigeria: Assessment of organic matter sources of natural and anthropogenic origins

Herein, lipid biomarker analysis is applied to surface sediments from the southeastern Niger Delta region for the quantitative determination of aliphatic lipids, steroids and triterpenoids in order to differentiate between natural (autochthonous vs. allochthonous) and anthropogenic organic matter (OM) inputs to this deltaic environment. This ecosystem, composed of the Cross, Great Kwa and Calabar Rivers, is receiving new attention due to increased human and industrial development activities and the potential effects of these activities impacting its environmental health. While the presence of low molecular weight n-alkanes (<C₂₂) and the fossil biomarkers pristane and phytane in all samples, are indicative of a minor petroleum related input, the total extractable organic component of the surface sediments of these rivers remains predominantly of a natural origin as characterized by the variety and predominance of lipid classes that are mainly derived from the epicuticular waxes of vascular plants and include n-alkanes, n-alkanols, n-alkan-2-ones, n-alkanoic acids, steroids and triterpenoids. In addition, recent OM inputs from microorganisms are indicated by the presence of lower molecular weight n-alkanoic acids (C_max = 16), while the major triterpenoids of the sediments, taraxerol and friedelin, and the major sterol, sitosterol, indicate recent OM inputs from vascular plants. Plankton-derived sterols, such as fucosterol and dinosterol, are also found in sediments from the Cross and Great Kwa Rivers and likely originate from autochthonous primary productivity. Furthermore, the coprosterols coprostanol and 24-ethylcoprostanol are present in most samples and indicate measurable anthropogenic contributions from domestic untreated sewage inputs and agricultural run-off, respectively. Of the three rivers studied, the Cross River system was excessively influenced by human and industrial development activities, including drivers such as urbanization and population center growth, land-use change to support agricultural production and animal husbandry, and petroleum exploration and production. These influences were found to be regionally specific as controlled by point sources of pollution based on the relative distributions measured and on the fact that the molecular characteristics of sedimentary OM were not distributed smoothly along a gradient.     

Early diagenesis of organic matter in the water column and sediments: Microbial degradation and resynthesis of lipids in Lake Haruna

Particulate matter, sediment trap, and surface sediment samples collected in freshwater Lake Haruna were studied to understand early diageesis of organic materials in the water column and in bottom sediments. The samples were analyzed for biomarkers, including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, β- and ω-hydroxyacids, and α,ω-dicar☐ylic acids. Decreases in concentrations of autochthonous saturated C₁₂–C₁₉ fatty acids and polyunsaturated C₁₈ acids relative to TOC occured with the settling of organic matter ot the lake bottom, whereas the amounts of terrestial saturated C₂₀–C₃₀ acids remained almost constant. Conversely, the concentrations of monosaturated fatty acids, branched chain fatty acids, and β- and ω-hydroxyacids, which are probably produced by microbial activity, increased. These results indicate that preferential degradation of algal lipids accompanies microbial resynthesis of lipids during settling, however, terrigenous lipids are relatively stable.     

沉积物不同提取态有机物特征及水文地球化学意义——以河套盆地典型研究区为例

地下水系统中有机物（OM）特征和活性对于地下水化学特征的形成和演化起着十分重要的作用。将内蒙古河套盆地表层湖相沉积物按10 cm间隔采集,并对沉积有机质的性质及来源进行重点分析。测量了不同深度上不同岩性沉积物的色度、水溶性有机物（WEOM）和盐溶性有机物（SEOM）含量及其光谱学特性。结果显示,沉积物的色度（R530-520）与TOC含量呈现相反的变化趋势:色度值较大时,TOC含量反而较小。相对于细砂层,黏土层的色度值较低,但TOC含量较高。相同的沉积物中,SEOM含量高于WEOM,但WEOM更易迁移至地下水中。有机物的光谱指数表明,WEOM以微生物来源为主,而SEOM以陆源为主。通过三维荧光光谱分析发现,荧光强度和沉积物有机碳（SOC）含量呈正相关;黏土层沉积有机物荧光强度更高;WEOM和SEOM均含类腐殖质成分和类蛋白成分,但SEOM中腐殖质成分较高;类腐殖质是所研究的沉积物中OM最主要的存在形式。     

Structural changes of humic acids from sinking organic matter and surface sediments investigated by advanced solid-state NMR: Insights into sources, preservation and molecularly uncharacterized components

Knowledge of the structural changes that particulate organic matter (POM) undergoes in natural systems is essential for determining its reactivity and fate. In the present study, we used advanced solid-state NMR techniques to investigate the chemical structures of sinking particulate matter collected at different depths as well as humic acids (HAs) extracted from these samples and underlying sediments from the Saguenay Fjord and the St. Lawrence Lower Estuary (Canada). Compared to bulk POM, HAs contain more non-polar alkyls, aromatics, and aromatic C-O, but less carbohydrates (or carbohydrate-like structures). In the two locations studied, the C and N contents of the samples (POM and HAs) decreased with depth and after deposition onto sediments, leaving N-poor but O-enriched HAs and suggesting the involvement of partial oxidation reactions during POM microbial degradation. Advanced NMR techniques revealed that, compared to the water-column HAs, sedimentary HAs contained more protonated aromatics, non-protonated aromatics, aromatic C-O, carbohydrates (excluding anomerics), anomerics, OC_q, O-C_q-O, OCH, and OCH₃ groups, but less non-polar alkyls, NCH, and mobile CH₂ groups. These results are consistent with the relatively high reactivity of lipids and proteins or peptides. In contrast, carbohydrate-like structures were selectively preserved and appeared to be involved in substitution and copolymerization reactions. Some of these trends support the selective degradation (or selective preservation) theory. The results provide insights into mechanisms that likely contribute to the preservation of POM and the formation of molecules that escape characterization by traditional methods. Despite the depletion of non-polar alkyls with depth in HAs, a significant portion of their general structure survived and can be assigned to a model phospholipid. In addition, little changes in the connectivities of different functional groups were observed. Substituted and copolymerized carbohydrates and fused-ring aromatics detected in the present study likely represented an important part of molecularly uncharacterized components (MUC).     

Variability of tetraether lipids in Yellow River-dominated continental margin during the past eight decades: Implications for organic matter sources and river channel shifts

Glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) and bulk organic geochemical parameters were examined for a short core from the Bohai Sea, a Yellow River-dominated continental margin. A three end member mixing model using branched/isoprenoid tetraethers (BIT) index, δ¹³C and C/N shows that the average fractions of soil, marine and plant organic matter (OM) during the period of 1933–2011 are 67.7% (38–92%), 26.1% (0–58%) and 6.2% (0–23%), respectively. Abrupt changes of sedimentary OM compositions around 1953, 1976 and 1996 are synchronous with the Yellow River mouth relocations. The BIT index values (0.33–0.80) present a stronger correlation with crenarchaeol abundance (R² = 0.88) than branched GDGTs abundance (R² = 0.27), suggesting that variations of marine Thaumarchaeota abundance rather than soil OM inputs is the first order factor controlling the BIT index values, although this proxy has been widely used for soil OM. The comparison between the BIT index, nutrient status and historical Yellow River sediment load indicates that the high sensitivity of the BIT index to the Yellow River channel shifts cannot be explained by a nutrient stimulation mechanism, but instead is likely caused by the restriction of Thaumarchaeota growth in highly turbid water due to the enormous sediment inputs from Yellow River. Our study demonstrates that local conditions should be considered when applying the BIT index as an environmental proxy.     

Composition and origin of organic matter in surface sediments of Lake Sarbsko: A highly eutrophic and shallow coastal lake (northern Poland)

We present an organic geochemical study of surface sediments of Lake Sarbsko, a shallow coastal lake on the middle Polish Baltic coast. The aim was to provide evidence concerning the origin of the organic matter (OM) and its compositional diversity in surface deposits of this very productive, highly dynamic water body. The content and composition of the OM in the bottom sediments were investigated at 11 sampling stations throughout the lake basin. OM sources were assigned on the basis of bulk indicators [total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), δ¹³C_TOC and δ¹⁵N and extractable OM yield], biomarker composition of extractable OM and compound-specific C isotope signatures. The source characterization of autochthonous compounds was verified via phytoplankton analysis. The distribution of gaseous hydrocarbons in the sediments, as well as temporal changes in lake water pH, the concentration of DIC (dissolved inorganic carbon) and δ¹³C_DIC were used to trace OM decomposition.The sedimentary OM is composed mainly of well preserved phytoplankton compounds and shows minor spatial variability in composition. However, the presence of CH₄ and CO₂ in the bottom deposits provides evidence for microbial degradation of sedimentary OM. The transformation of organic compounds in surface, bottom and pore waters via oxidative processes influences carbonate equilibrium in the lake and seasonally favours precipitation or dissolution of CaCO₃.The data enhance our understanding of the relationships between the composition of sedimentary OM and environmental conditions within coastal ecosystems and shed light on the reliability of OM proxies for environmental reconstruction of coastal lakes.     

长江三角洲晚新生代沉积物有机碳、总氮和碳酸盐组成及古环境意义

长江三角洲地区埋深达320m的PD钻孔揭示了上新世以来河湖相、滨海相和三角洲相的沉积环境特征。钻孔沉积物中有机碳、总氮和碳酸盐组成变化较大,但具有一定的规律性。上新世东部地区气候较暖湿,古湖泊发育,化学风化强烈,有机质保存率较低;早更新世气候波动较大,相对温湿气候下高等植被发育;中、晚更新世长江流域气候逐渐变冷干,晚第四纪气候变化较显著,流域植被类型发生明显变化;全新世气候转暖,有机质保存率高。有机碳、总氮和碳酸盐组成揭示的古气候变化与孢粉、沉积地层等资料相当吻合,与相邻内陆地区的第四纪古环境研究认识也具有明显的可比性。本研究也揭示,运用有机碳、总氮和碳酸盐组成重建我国东部地区第四纪古环境和季风演化史具有相当的难度,必须充分考虑沉积地层不连续性、粒度、有机质来源、埋藏成岩环境以及陆海相互作用等多因素的复杂影响,同时需要结合有机碳同位素等分析来深化古环境研究。     

墨西哥湾含水合物和油气渗漏区海底表层沉积物中有机质饱和烃组成分布特征研究

报道了采自墨西哥湾富含水合物和油气渗漏区6个海底表层沉积物样品中有机质的丰度、组成和分布特征.研究发现,所分析的6个沉积物样品中有机质的丰度和组成变化很大,其中S-1、S-7和S-9样品中饱和烃的组成分布主要反映了现代海洋沉积有机质及其受细菌微生物改造作用的特征,而S-8、S-10和S-11样品中饱和烃组成以特征的石油污染成因的不可分辨的混合物(UCM)为主,相关甾萜类参数也表明沉积物受到原油渗漏或泄露污染;另一方面,S-8和S-11样品中正构烷烃不同程度的缺失表明有机质遭受了较为强烈的的生物降解作用.仅在S-1沉积物中鉴定出了与甲烷古细菌厌氧氧化有关的特征标志物--2,6,10,15,19-五甲基二十烯烃系列化合物(PMI△)并且具有极负的碳同位素组成,这表明S-1样品所在海底可能有天然气水合物的产出.     

Coupling between Pbex and organic matter in sediments of a nutrient-enriched lake: An example from Lake Chenghai, China

Sediment cores were collected from deep-water areas of Lake Chenghai, China in June 1997. The vertical profile of ¹³⁷Cs activity gives reliable geochronological results. The results also indicate that sediment accumulation rates in deep-water areas of Lake Chenghai were relatively constant in recent decades, averaging 0.43 g cm^− 2 y^− 1, despite a variable organic carbon influx. ²¹⁰Pb_eq (= ²²⁶Ra) activity was relatively constant also, with an average value of 54.3 ± 3.2 Bq kg^− 1. Vertical profiles of ²¹⁰Pb_ex (= ²¹⁰Pb_total − ²²⁶Ra) decreased exponentially, resulting in somewhat lower sediment accumulation rates (0.3 g cm^− 2 y^− 1). These lower rates are likely less reliable, as the relatively large fluctuations in ²¹⁰Pb_ex activities correlate closely to the organic carbon (C_org) content of the sediments. For example, the vertical profile of ²¹⁰Pb_ex activity displays peaks at mass depths of 3.7-4.7 g cm^− 2 (10-12 cm) and 10-11 g cm^− 2(25-28 cm), similar to the maxima in the vertical profile of C_org. This phenomenon must be related to the delivery of particulate organic matter (POM) from the water to the sediments, or to watershed soil erosion. Since the mean atomic ratios of H_org / C_org and C_org / N_org in Lake Chenghai sediments are 5.5 and 7.0, respectively, indicating that POM was predominantly derived from the remains of authigenic algae, this eliminates watershed erosion rates as a primary control on lake sedimentation rates as resolved by ²¹⁰Pb_ex. Sedimentation fluxes (F(C_org)) of particulate organic carbon since 1970 varied between 60 to 160 g m^− 2 y^− 1, and appeared to closely influence variations in ²¹⁰Pb_ex concentrations. For example, sedimentation fluxes of ²¹⁰Pb_ex (F(²¹⁰Pb_ex)) showed maxima in the years 1972-1974 and 1986-1989, likely reflecting historical variations of lake biological productivity or carbon preservation.     

浑善达克沙地碱湖表层沉积物的粒度、沉积有机质变化特征与指示意义

本文选择浑善达克沙地南缘濒临干涸的碱湖为研究对象,综合分析湖泊及流域表层沉积物的粒度、总有机碳(TOC)及其同位素(δ¹³C_TOC)指标的空间分布特征及环境指示意义。结果表明,湖泊水域区及滩地区的黏土与粉砂组分含量高,TOC含量多低于1%,而东缘的盐生草甸砂组增加,同时TOC含量升高至10.75%;δ¹³C_TOC值表现为从西向东,即水域区(-24.88‰)、滩地区(-25.17‰)、盐生草甸(-27.93‰)呈逐渐偏负的趋势。水域区表层沉积物粒度端员组分分析表明,粗粒端员(近源风成组分及洪积组分)含量的增加指示湖泊退缩及流域植被退化;水域区低TOC指示水生植物基本消失,陆源C₃植物成为湖泊沉积物有机质的主要来源,控制了δ¹³C_TOC的波动。当湖泊彻底干涸,裸露滩地的粒度初始以细粒组分(黏土、粉砂)为主,而后强烈的风蚀作用将富盐细粒带走,沉积物的粒度变粗,盐度降低,盐生植被入侵。此后沉积物的TOC含量显著增加,而δ¹³C_TOC值逐渐偏负可能与上覆盐生植被演替过程中C₃植物生物量增加有关。因此,乌日图音淖尔现代沉积过程及机理的研究,加深了对浑善达克沙地碱湖干涸过程中沉积及生态演化过程的认识,也为古环境的重建提供了重要依据。     

Molecular and carbon isotopic analysis of individual biological markers: evidence for sources of organic matter and paleoenvironmental conditions in the Upper Ordovician Maquoketa Group, Illinois Basin, U.S.A.

Variations in the carbon isotopic composition (δ¹³C) of pristane, phytane, n-heptadecane (n-C₁₇), C₂₉ ααα 20R sterane, and aryl isoprenoids provide evidence for a diverse community of algal and bacterial organisms in organic matter of the Upper Ordovician Maquoketa Group of the Illinois Basin. Carbon isotopic compositions of pristane and phytane from the Maquoketa are positively covariant (r = 0.964), suggesting that these compounds were derived from a common source inferred to be primary producers (algae) from the oxygenated photic zone. A variation of 3‰ in δ¹³C values (−31 to −34‰) for pristane and phytane indicates that primary producers utilized variable sources of inorganic carbon. Average isotopic compositions of n-C₁₇ (−32‰) and C₂₉ ααα 20R sterane (−31‰) are enriched in ¹³C relative to pristane and phytane (−33‰) suggesting that these compounds were derived from a subordinate group of primary producers, most likely eukaryotic algae. In addition, a substantial enrichment of ¹³C in aryl isoprenoids (−14 to −18‰) and the identification of tetramethylbenzene in pyrolytic products of Maquoketa kerogen indicate a contribution from photosynthetic green sulfur bacteria to the organic matter. The presence of anaerobic, photosynthetic green sulfur bacteria in organic matter of the Maquoketa indicates that anoxic conditions extended into the photic zone.The δ¹³C of n-alkanes and the identification of an unusual suite of straight-chain n-alkylarenes in the m/z 133 fragmentograms of Ordovician rocks rich in Gloeocapsomorpha prisca (G. prisca) indicate that G. prisca did not contribute to the organic matter of the Maquoketa Group.     

Phosphorus in suspended matter and sediments of a hypertrophic lake. A case study: Lake Dianchi,China

From June 2004 to December 2004, Lake Dianchi, which had large scale of cyanobacterial blooms was investigated in order to study P-fractionation in the suspended matter and the sediment. The investigation improves our understanding of phosphorus in Lake Dianchi and the relationship between phosphorus and cyanobacterial blooms. It contributes to the available literature on the behavior of P in hypertrophic lakes. The distribution of P-fractions in Lake Dianchi was not uniform from northwest to south, but was closely related to the trophic status of the whole lake. The concentrations of total phosphorus, labile P (NH₄Cl-P), Organic P (NaOH-NRP) and loss on ignition in suspended matter were positively correlated with the strength of cyanobacterial blooms. Total phosphorus in suspended matter was relatively stable for almost half an year and closely related to Chl. a concentration. The main content of organic phosphorus is in the cyanobacterial blooms. The concentrations of phosphorus bound to metal oxides and carbonates (NaOH-SRP and HCl-P) in sediment were similar to NaOH-SRP and HCl-P in the corresponding suspended matter. The latter two forms of P in suspended matter were not affected by cyanobacterial blooms, indicating that the inorganic phosphorus is derived from the sediment after resuspension from the sediment due to wind and wave action. The contribution of the different P-fractions to TP in sediment and in suspended matter indicates that NH₄Cl-P in the suspended matter is an important buffer for maintaining dissolved phosphorus in water.     

Structural and vibrational behaviour of fluorapatite with pressure. Part I: in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction investigation

Using single-crystal X-ray diffraction from a diamond anvil cell, the compressibility of a synthetic fluorapatite was determined up to about 7?GPa. The compression pattern was anisotropic, with greater change along a than c. Unit cell parameters varied linearly with β _a =3.32(8)?10^?3 and β _c =2.40(5)?10^?3 GPa^?1, giving a ratio β _a :β _c =1.38:1. Data fitted with a third-order Birch-Murnaghan EOS yielded a bulk modulus of K ₀=93(4)?GPa with K′=5.8(1.8). The evolution of the crystal structure of fluorapatite was analysed using data collected at room pressure, at 3.04 and 4.72?GPa. The bulk modulus of phosphate tetrahedron is about three times greater than the bulk modulus of calcium polyhedra. The values were 270(10), 100(4) and 86(3) GPa for P, Ca1 (nine-coordinated) and Ca2 (seven-coordinated) respectively. While the calcium polyhedra became more regular with pressure, the distortion of the phosphate tetrahedron remained unchanged. The size of the channel extending along the [001] direction represented the most compressible direction. The Ca2–Ca2 distance decreased from 3.982 to 3.897?Å on compression from 0.0001 to 4.72?GPa. The anisotropic compressional pattern may be understood in terms of the greater compressibility of the channel size over the polyhedral units. The reduction of the channel volume was measured by the evolution of the trigonal prism, having the Ca2–Ca2–Ca2 triangle as its base and the c lattice parameter as its height. This prism volume changed from 47.3?ų at room pressure to 44.78?ų at 4.72?GPa. Its relatively high bulk moduli, 86(3) GPa, indicated that the channel did not collapse with pressure and the apatite structure could remain stable at very high pressure.     

青藏高原典型大陆性冰川表面消融期溶解性有机质演化特征分析——以祁连山老虎沟12号冰川为例

冰尘是冰川消融区表面黑色或棕色的球状聚合体,是冰川表面微生物的主要聚集区,同时含有丰富的溶解性有机质(dissolved organic matter,DOM),在冰川物质能量平衡、生物地球化学循环特别是碳循环中发挥着重要作用.在冰川消融期,受环境条件和微生物活动水平等方面的影响,冰川表面DOM的含量是动态变化的.为了...     

The effects of surface area, grain size and mineralogy on organic matter sedimentation and preservation across the modern Squamish Delta, British Columbia: the potential role of sediment surface area in the formation of petroleum source rocks

Surface sediment samples were collected from the Squamish River Delta, British Columbia, in order to determine the role of sediment surface area in the preservation of organic matter (OM) in a paralic sedimentary environment. The Squamish Delta is an actively prograding delta, located at the head of Howe Sound.Bulk total organic carbon (TOC) values across the Squamish Delta are low, ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 wt.%. The carbon/total nitrogen ratio (C_org/N) ranges from 6 to 17, which is attributed to changes in OM type and facies variations. The <25-μm fraction has TOC concentrations up to 2.0 wt.%, and a C_org/N ratio that ranges from 14 to 16. The 53–106-μm fraction has higher TOC concentrations and C_org/N ratios relative to the 25–53-μm fraction. The C_org/N ratio ranges from 9 to 18 in the 53–106-μm fraction and 5.5–10.5 in the 25–53-μm fraction. Surface area values for bulk sediments are low (0.5–3.0 m²/g) due to the large proportion of silt size material. Good correlation between surface area and TOC in bulk samples suggests that OM is adsorbed to mineral surfaces. Similar relationships between surface area and TOC were observed in size-fractionated samples. Mineralogy and elemental composition did not correlate with TOC concentration.The relationships between surface area, TOC and total nitrogen (TN) can be linked to the hydrodynamic and sedimentological conditions of the Squamish Delta. As a result, the Squamish Delta is a useful modern analogue for the formation of petroleum source rocks in ancient deltaic environments, where TOC concentrations are often significantly lower than those in source rocks formed in other geological settings.