柴达木盆地北缘东段中下侏罗统孢粉相及生烃潜力

孢粉相是反映沉积物及其成岩作用环境的沉积有机质组合。为了评价柴达木盆地北缘东段中下侏罗统烃源岩生烃潜力，对中下侏罗统孢粉相进行了详细研究，基于有机质组份的鉴定和统计，将中下侏罗统划分为5个孢粉相带：第Ⅰ孢粉相带为煤质—具结构陆生质有机质组合，分布在小煤沟组；第Ⅱ孢粉相带为无定型有机质组合，分布在大煤沟组1段；第Ⅲ孢粉相带为煤质—草质有机质组合，分布在大煤沟组2～4段。第Ⅳ孢粉相带为无定型—草质有机质组合，分布在大煤沟组5段；第Ⅴ孢粉相带为无定型—半无定型—结构水生质有机质组合，分布在大煤沟组第7段。大煤沟组第1段、第7段烃源岩孢粉相带有机质类型最好，是最有利的生油气层段，其次是大煤沟组第5段，其它层段生烃潜力差。     

河西走廊东部2019—2022年空气孢粉组合特征及影响因素

对空气孢粉散播和沉积过程的研究有助于理解现代植被组成及其与气候变化的关系,但迄今为止在干旱区开展的空气孢粉研究工作仍十分有限。利用自主设计的孢粉收集装置,在河西走廊东部祁连山北侧的古浪地区进行了连续3年（2019年7月至2022年6月）以月为时间尺度的观测研究,分析了草本植物、木本植物花期和非花期的孢粉百分比组成特征,探究了主要花粉的代表性;同时,讨论了孢粉浓度变化基本特征及其与典型气象要素（温度、降水、风速和风向）之间的关系。研究结果表明：(1)研究点空气孢粉组合主要以草本类型为主,高值出现在7～10月（93.7%）,低值出现在4～6月（62.9%）,相应的木本植物花粉高值出现在4～6月（37.1%）,低值出现在7～10月（6.3%）。草本植物和木本植物孢粉浓度与各自花期有很好的对应关系：草本植物花期和高浓度出现在7～10月,木本植物则主要出现在4～6月,草本植物浓度对总浓度影响最大。(2)孢粉组合与当地植被有很好的对应关系,杨属（Populus）和柏科（Cupressaceae）花粉能较好地反映当地植被特征,禾本科（Poaceae）花粉具低代表性,蒿属（Artemisia）、苋科（...     

广西英罗湾红树林表土沉积的孢粉学研究

对广西英罗湾红树林的木榄（Ｂｒｕｇｕｉｅｒａｇｙｍｎｏｒｈｉｚａ）、秋茄（Ｋａｎｄｅｌｉａｃａｎｄｅｌ）、红海榄（Ｒｈｉｚｏｐｈｏｒａｓｔｙ－ｌｏｓａ）、桐花树（Ａｅｇｉｃｅｒａｓｃｏｎｎｉｃｕｌａｔｕｍ）、海漆（Ｅｘｃｏｅｃａｒｉａａｇａｌｏｃｈａ）五个群落表土孢粉样品进行系统的分析,研究结果表明：（１）红树林表土孢粉能正确反映其植被组成,红树类孢粉在组合中占４０％～７０％左右,但不同群落其比例略有差异,秋茄群落最高,达总数４８％～７７．３％,桐花树群落略低,为３９．７５％～４６．２％,高潮线堤岸的海漆群落最低,仅为１３．８％～３７．８％;（２）在红树林表土孢粉组合中,红树类花粉比例从群落中心向群落内外侧减低,不同群落亦有差异;（３）红树林表土孢粉组合混有一定的外来种类,其动力因素为风的吹扬和流水搬运,外来孢粉以松最多,其次为水龙骨科等孢子,草本花粉最少;（４）红树林孢粉组合能很好指示其生态环境,反映热带季风海洋气候,温度、降水、含盐度、有机质含量等,指示年均气温２１～２５℃、降水量１４００～２０００ｍｍ,土壤含盐度４．６％～２７．８％,有机质３％～５％的生态环境。     

岩溶石漠化区不同植被类型表土孢粉组合特征——以重庆市南川区南平镇石漠化区为例

通过对南平次生林地、杂草丛、坡耕地不同植被类型表土调查和采样,利用LuoPacias孢粉鉴定系统对所采的表土样品进行分析鉴定,以研究该区表土的孢粉组合特征。结果显示:（1）样品植物孢粉共由123种植物组成,其中以草本和蕨类植物占据优势,其孢粉含量为46.40%～76.47%,平均为65.55%,其次是乔木（主要为马尾松）,花粉含量为17.73%～46.84%,平均为26.40%,灌木植物花粉含量最小,为5.79%～12.50%,平均为8.26%,显示该区植被退化严重;（2）不同植被类型的表土孢粉组合差别明显, 次生马尾松林和次生樟树林的孢粉组合特征依次为马尾松—火棘—大楼梯草—里白和樟树—火棘—构棘—泽芹;杂草丛为裂叶荨麻—圆叶藜—车前子—里白;坡耕地为异叶花椒—裂叶荨麻—剑叶凤尾蕨—玉米,与其相应的实际植被情况大致相同,较好地反映出了石漠化地区现代植被的基本状况。      

鄂尔多斯盆地延长期湖泊热流体活动对烃源岩有机质丰度和类型的影响

选择鄂尔多斯盆地南部连续取岩心的YK1井延长组样品开展了系统的烃源岩评价、元素地球化学和孢粉相分析,探讨了延长期湖泊热流体活动对烃源岩有机质丰度和类型的影响。以碳质泥岩和油页岩为主的长7-3段发育优质烃源岩,灰黑色泥岩为主的长7-1+2段部分层段发育好的烃源岩,砂泥岩互层的长6段个别层位也可形成较好的烃源岩。热流体活动强度指标Al/(Al+Fe+Mn)和(Fe+Mn)/Ti比值指示,与上述3个烃源岩发育阶段相对应古湖泊经历了3幕明显的热水活动过程,其中长7-3期为热水活动的高峰。YK1井烃源岩可划分出3种孢粉相:孢粉相A分布于长8—长9段和长6-2+3段,主要出现Ⅲ型及少量Ⅱ型有机质,有机碎屑以半透明木质和凝胶化颗粒为主;孢粉相B分布于长7-3段,主要为Ⅰ型和Ⅱ₁型有机质,以高丰度藻类体和无定形体有机质为特征;孢粉相C分布于长7-1+2段,主要为Ⅱ型有机质,丰富的无定形体和植物碎屑同时出现。烃源岩总有机碳含量、有机质类型以及主要生烃组分含量均与热水活动强度表现出很好的耦合关系,表明热流体活动可能导致湖泊藻类和浮游生物的繁盛,使烃源岩有机质丰度和质量得到明显提高。热水活动高峰长7-3期发生了藻类勃发和优质烃源岩的沉积。     

南黄海柱状沉积物中烃类化合物的地球化学特征及其对沉积环境的指示

重点探讨了南黄海柱状沉积物中烃类化合物的分子组成特征及其对沉积环境的指示意义,结果显示,沉积柱中总有机碳（TOC）和总氮（TN）具有较好的正相关性,无机氮的影响较弱,这可能跟本区受径流输入的陆源物质的影响较弱有关。上层样品（0～10 cm）中长链正构烷烃占优势,奇偶优势显著,反映了陆源高等植物贡献;藿烷、甾烷的组成则显示该段样品中有机质具有较高的热成熟度;且姥鲛烷（Pr）/植烷（Ph）比值大于1.0,指示沉积环境以氧化为主,这相对不利于海洋源有机质的保存,从而凸显了陆源有机质的贡献。在10～20 cm之间,沉积环境由相对偏氧化向偏还原过渡;20 cm以下表现为强还原性的沉积环境,有机质成熟度较低。中、下层样品中正构烷烃多呈现双峰分布,短链烷烃具有一定的偶奇优势,这可能主要跟海洋浮游生物、藻类及微生物的贡献有关。与渤海烃类化合物的沉积记录进行对比,发现渤海沉积柱中烃类化合物主要跟历史时期不同来源物质的输入及人类活动的影响有关,而南黄海沉积柱中烃类化合物的特征则主要反映了沉积环境和微生物作用对有机质的埋藏保存有重要影响。     

东营凹陷细粒混积岩发育环境及其岩相组合:以沙四上亚段泥页岩细粒沉积为例

为了进行陆相断陷湖盆泥页岩细粒混积岩有利岩相预测,以指导页岩油气有利目标优选,综合运用岩心、薄片、全岩衍射、元素、古生物等资料,系统进行了东营凹陷沙四上亚段泥页岩细粒混积岩沉积环境恢复、岩相精细表征,揭示了沉积环境对岩相及其组合、分布的控制作用.研究表明,东营凹陷沙四上亚段泥页岩细粒混积岩沉积期整体上表现为气候由半湿润向湿润转化,自下而上显示碎屑物源输入量在增加、水体水深加大、盐度降低、还原性减弱的过程;有序复杂多变的沉积环境一定程度上控制了泥页岩细粒混积岩沉积组构复杂性,进而控制了细粒混积岩相的多样性、组合和分布规律性.建立基于“岩石组分、沉积构造、灰质结构和有机质丰度”四端元划分方案,将东营凹陷沙四上亚段泥页岩细粒混积岩划分为20类,实现了复杂细粒混积岩岩相划分;半湿润少物源条件下,浅湖强还原盐水环境主要发育膏盐、含有机质层状膏质泥岩和含有机质层状泥质灰（云）岩相组合,半深湖强还原咸水环境主要发育富有机质纹层状微晶泥质灰岩和富有机质纹层状灰质泥岩频繁互层岩相组合,半深湖强还原半咸水环境主要发育富有机质水平泥晶纹层泥质灰岩和富有机质纹层灰质泥岩频繁互层岩相组合,深湖还原半咸水环境主要发育富有机质层状泥质灰岩夹富有机质层状灰质泥岩相组合;湿润多物源条件下,深湖强还原半咸水环境主要发育富有机质层状泥质灰岩和富有机质层状灰质泥岩频繁互层岩相组合,深湖还原半咸水环境主要发育富有机质层状灰质泥岩夹富有机质层状泥质灰岩相组合.      

湖南株洲天元区晚白垩世恐龙化石层时代及沉积环境

在湖南省株洲市天元区的戴家坪组发现了新的恐龙化石产出点.然而,关于赋存该恐龙化石地层的时代存在一定的争议.基于碎屑锆石U-Pb物源分析和孢粉数据对恐龙化石点进行了年代学和沉积学研究.从恐龙化石点的关键层位采集了孢粉和碎屑锆石样品,经过室内样品处理和数据分析,孢粉化石鉴定获得15属18种;根据具有时代意义的孢粉特征分子可以得到其共存延限带Aquilapollenites coriaceus-Betpakdalina pentaoculoides,把戴家坪组时代厘定为晚白垩世坎潘期（Campanian）-马斯特里赫特期（Maastrichtian）.碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄峰值主要为6个阶段:200~320 Ma、390~450 Ma、740~950 Ma、1 020~1 100 Ma、1 640~2 000 Ma和2 440~2 600 Ma,指示戴家坪组粗粒的沉积物主要来源于盆地SE侧的近源幕阜罗霄山,而细粒的沉积碎屑可能部分来自NW侧的黄陵等地区.      

泌阳凹陷核桃园组湖相碳酸盐岩系孢粉相及烃源岩评价

孢粉相是反映一定沉积物以及成岩作用环境的显微沉积有机质组合。对我国河南泌阳凹陷下第三系核桃园组核三上段至核二段湖相碳酸盐岩系孢粉相进行了详细研究。基于有机质组分的鉴定和统计将碳酸盐岩系划分为五个孢粉相带;并利用孢粉相结合有机质成熟度地化指标,对其生油潜能进行了评价。     

土壤腐殖物质特征及其对有机碳长时间尺度稳定性的指示：以陕西洛川黄土剖面为例

在长时间尺度上研究土壤中腐殖物质的组成和腐殖化特征对于正确评价土壤有机质的稳定性具有重要意义。文中对洛川黄土/古土壤剖面S8以上的17个黄土和古土壤样品中的胡敏酸（HA）、富里酸（FA）和胡敏素（HM）进行定量研究,并对HA和FA的E465、E665值等进行了测定。结合该课题组对矿物组成、总有机碳（TOC）及其各组分含...     

长江口-杭州湾及其邻近海域不同粒级沉积有机碳分布特征

通过对长江口、杭州湾、舟山海域及东海陆架4个海区表层沉积物样品的粒度敏感组分分析,发现东海陆架与长江口具有相似的三级组分物质组成,杭州湾与舟山海域具有相似的两级组分物质组成.综合4个区域粒级组分分布特征,采用湿分法将4个海域表层沉积物样品分成6个粒级:＜0.004 mm,0.004～0.025 mm,0.025～0.063 mm,0.063～0.125 mm,0.125～0.250 mm和＞0.250 mm,分别提取各级组分和全样进行有机碳及同位素测试.定量分析各级组分有机碳含量、来源及物质组分,除杭州湾海域粗粒级外,基本上＜0.004 mm的粘土组分有机碳含量最高;富集在杭州湾海域粗颗粒中的有机质主要来源于陆源植物碎屑.沉积物颗粒大小、物质组成类型是不同粒级有机质富集的主要控制因素.     

Size distributions of hydrocarbons in suspended particles from the Yellow River

Suspended particle samples from the Yellow River estuary were sorted into five grain size fractions to explore the effect of grain size distribution on organic matter content and composition. The n-alkanes and PAHs were determined for each size fraction. PAHs and n-alkanes were more abundant in the finer fractions and the loading decreases steadily with increasing of grain size. However, the total n-alkanes or PAHs normalized to organic C were lower in the smaller size fractions than those in the larger size fractions, suggesting n-alkanes or PAHs may be diluted by the addition of organic matter or gradually decreased by degradation in the smaller size fractions. The particulate n-alkanes in the Yellow River estuary consist of a mixture of compounds from terrigenous and riverine biogenic n-alkanes and more biogenic n-alkanes accumulate in finer particles. Particulate PAHs are related to combustion/pyrolysis processes of coal/wood, and the relative contribution of petrogenic PAHs increase with increasing grain size. The total particulate n-alkane and PAH discharges passing the Lijin Station are about 3.94 t d⁻¹ and 0.52 t d⁻¹, respectively. Fine particles (<32 μm) play a significant role in organic matter transfer.     

Determination of the origin of suspended matter and sediments in the Elbe estuary using natural tracers

The clay mineral composition, the concentrations of carbonates, the proportions of carbon and oxygen isotopes in carbonates and organic matter, as well as the concentrations of different nonanthropogenic metals were used to determine the origin of different grain size fractions of sediments and suspended matter in the Elbe estuary. Analysis of the smectite/kaolinite proportion revealed that solid material ≤2 μm from the North Sea is transported up the river, about 40 km beyond the most upstream position of the salt wedge. In the 2–20 μm fraction, the¹⁶O/¹⁸O ratio in carbonates and the kaolinite/chlorite proportion demonstrate a transport of North Sea material between 40 and 20 km upstream of the marine water limit. The transport behaviour of the 20–63 μm grain size fraction could be determined by the hafnium concentration, representative for the heavy mineral zircon. In this case, the transport distance beyond the salt wedge was up to 20 km. No information was available on the origin of the fine organic matter, whereas the coarser fractions were derived primarily from debris of salt marsh vegetation. The results demonstrate that in the Elbe estuary mixing between marine and fluvial solid material occurs upstream of the salt wedge and is significantly responsible for the observed decrease in the concentration of various pollutants in sediments and suspended matter along the estuary. The cause of the upstream particle transport is probably a scour lag mechanism based on asymmetries of the flood- and ebb-tide current distribution, especially their differing maximum velocities.     

Fluxes of dissolved combined neutral sugars (polysaccharides) in the Delaware estuary

This project examined concentrations, composition and turnover neutral sugars in the Delaware estuary to gain insights into dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) use by heterotrophic bacteria and into the lability and diagenetic state of dissolved organic material (DOM) during passage through the estuary. Dissolved free monosaccharides were not measurable (<5 nM) in the estuary whereas concentrations of dissolved combined neutral sugars (DCNS) were high, much higher than observed in oceanic waters. DCNS made up a similar fraction of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as in the oceanic waters examined to date, and the monosaccharide composition of the DCNS pool was similar to that of oceanic waters. The composition did not vary substantially within the estuary or seasonally, but it did vary among three size fractions of the organic matter pool. Glucose was enriched in the low molecular weight fraction of DOC and in particulate material, whereas the high molecular weight DOC fraction was slightly depleted in glucose. Depletion experiments indicated that DCNS is not used extensively on the day time scale in the Delaware estuary, although freshly-produced polysaccharides may still be important carbon sources for heterotrophic bacteria. The very low concentrations of free monosaccharides in the Delaware estuary help to explain why DIN use by heterotrophic bacteria is relatively low in this estuary. Although DOC-DIN interactions in the Delaware apparently differ from oceanic waters, the portion of DOM traced by DCNS, which is thought to be the labile fraction, appears to be similar to that of oceanic DOM, suggesting that organic material in the estuary is degraded extensively before being exported to the coastal ocean.     

Sedimentary organic matter in condensed sections from distal oxic environments: examples from the Mesozoic of SE France

A detailed analysis of sedimentary organic matter (or palynofacies) was carried out on thermally immature to early mature Upper Jurassic and Hauterivian condensed intervals in deep-sea carbonate–marl alternations outcropping in the Vocontian Basin (SE France). All the condensed sections studied are characterized by intense bioturbation and very low organic carbon content (< 0·25 wt.%), indicative of oxic depositional conditions. Oxic condensed sections display variable palynofacies signatures, which are best illustrated by: (1) the ratio of continental to marine constituents; (2) the ratio of opaque to translucent phytoclasts (i.e. woody debris) and (3) the preservation of palynomorphs (based on fluorescence intensity and morphological preservation state in transmitted light microscopy). Both of the ratios increase with the degree of palynomorph degradation, which shows that phytoclasts, especially the opaque ones, become relatively concentrated in the most degraded facies. These observations lead to the classification of oxic condensed sections into three organic facies types showing different degrees of preservation and palynofacies signatures. Type 1 organic facies display intense degradation and are characterized by high values of the ratio of continental to marine fraction. They record unfavourable depositional environments for preservation of organic matter. Type 2 organic facies are most common and are characterized by a decreasing value of the ratio of continental to marine fraction. Type 3 organic facies display the same trend of the ratio of continental to marine fraction as type 2, but the palynomorph assemblage is better preserved. Type 1 and type 3 organic facies are relatively rare. Recognizing these organic facies types is important when analysing the relationship between sedimentary organic matter and sequence stratigraphy, because it allows the use of the appropriate palynofacies parameters. In particular, the use of the ratio of continental to marine constituents, usually a very good indicator of regressive–transgressive trends, becomes questionable in highly degraded intervals. Moreover, distinguishing between well-preserved or highly degraded palynofacies in condensed intervals provides valuable information on the oxicity of the depositional environment.     

Sources and transformations of organic matter in surface soils and sediments from a tidal estuary (North Inlet, South Carolina, USA)

Surface soil and sediment samples collected along a forest-brackish marsh-salt marsh transect in a southeastern U.S. estuary were separated into three different fractions (sand, macro-organic matter, and humus) based on size and density. Elemental, stable carbon isotope, and lignin analyses of these samples reveal important contrasts in the quantity, composition, and sources of organic matter, between forest and marsh sites. Elevated nitrogen contents in humus samples suggest nitrogen incorporation during humification is most extensive in forest soils relative to the marsh sites. The lignin compositions of the macro-organic and humus samples reflect the predominant type of vegetation at each site. Lignin phenol ratios indicate that woody and nonwoody litter from, gymnosperm and angiosperms trees (pines and oaks) is the major source of vascular plant-derived organic matter in the forest site and that angiosperm, grasses (Juncus andSpartina) are the major sources of lignin at the marsh sites. The phenol distributions also reveal that oxidative degradation of lignin is most extensive in the forest and brackish marsh zones whereas little lignin decay occurs in the salt marsh samples. In forest soils, most organic matter originates from highly altered forest vegetation while at the brackish marsh site organic matter is a mixture of degradedJuncus materials and microbial/algal remains. Organic matter in the salt marsh appears to be composed of a more complex mixture of sources, including degradedSpartina detritus as well as algal and microbial inputs. Microbial methane oxidation appears to be an important process and a source of¹³C depleted organic carbon in subsurface sediments at this site.     

Wetland soil organic matter composition in a Mediterranean semiarid wetland (Las Tablas de Daimiel, Central Spain): Insight into different carbon sequestration pathways

Wetland soils from a Mediterranean semiarid wetland (Las Tablas de Daimiel, Central Spain) were studied to characterize the organic matter (OM) and determine its origin and transformation. Cross polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mathematical molecular mixing allowed analysis of the organic fraction in terms of six generic components (carbohydrate, protein, lignin, lipid, char and “carbonyl”). Las Tablas is an active carbon sink, with total organic carbon (TOC) content independent of soil OM quality; the TOC content of the upper sediment is 10.0 ± 7.8%. The inorganic carbon content is also high (5.4 ± 3.3%) and is associated mainly with OM of aliphatic character. The OM composition is variable; samples predominantly aliphatic (carbohydrate, lipid and protein) are characteristic of the northern sector, whereas predominantly aromatic samples are typical of the southern Tablas. A strong negative relationship between protein content and lignin content was found, interpreted as a consequence of different proportions of vascular vs. non-vascular (mostly charophyte) litter input. The effect of perturbation is apparent in the extended presence of char, particularly abundant in fire-prone areas. OM quantity and quality do not seem to depend on hydrology (although seasonal flooding is associated with lower TOC wetland soils) or soil characteristics. Dominant vegetation and fire are the main drivers of OM content and composition. Structural carbohydrate, protein and lipid (>60% of total organic fraction) dominate. Widespread anaerobic conditions and the recent character of the sediments could explain the preservation of different fractions of the original detritus composition (due to different vegetation and presence of microbes).     

Stable isotope analysis of carbon cycling in the Perdido estuary, Florida

Stable carbon isotope (δ¹³C) analysis was used in the Peridido Estuary, Florida U.S. to determine the predominant carbon source that supports the bacterial assemblage. Stable carbon isotope values were measured in the suspended particulate matter (SPM), dissolved organic and inorganic matter, and bacteria. Stable nitrogen isotope (δ¹⁵N) ratios were measured in SPM and nitrate to assist in understanding carbon cycling through the estuary. Analyses were conducted on samples from riverine, coastal, and anthropogenic sources and compared with samples from the bay. Stable isotope ratio analysis was coupled with estimates of mixing of riverine and coastal waters into the bay. Preliminary observation of the °¹³C data indicates that terrestrial organic matter is the primary carbon source that is assimilated by bacteria in the ecosystem. Stable isotope data from carbon and nitrogen pools in combination with analysis of estuarine current velocities indicates that primary production is an important factor in the carbon cycle. This study demonstrates the importance of stable isotope analysis of multiple carbon and nitrogen pols to assess sources and cycling of organic matter.     

Palynofacies and hydrocarbon generation potential of the upper Triassic Kurrachine Formation and lower part of the Baluti Formation, Mosul Block, Northwestern Iraq

Three exploration wells were selected near Mosul city (Az-29, Bm-15, and Kd-1) to study the palynozones and hydrocarbon generation potential of the Upper Triassic Baluti and Kurrachine Formations. This study was completed in two phases: The first was a study of palynofacies and their paleoenvironmental indications, degree of preservation, diversity of palynomorphs, and organic maturity of the rocks according to palynomorphs’ color using a refracted light microscope. More than 80 slides of organic matter were used for this study. Four palynofacies were tentatively recognized. (1) The first palynofacies is diagnostic of the Baluti Formation in the Az-29 and Kd-1 wells; (2) The second palynofacies appeared at different depths in the Kurrachine Formation in three wells. (3) The third was only found between the depths of 4,534 to 4,685 m in the well Az-29. (4) The fourth was only found between 3,500- and 3590-m depth in the well Bm-15. A distal coastal marine environment is suggested for the Baluti Formation and restricted lagoonal environment for the Kurrachine Formation. The second phase used organic geochemical analyses to confirm the suggested paleoenvironmental and hydrocarbon generation material. Three techniques were used, namely total organic carbon, pyrolysis, and pyrolysis gas chromatography, on more than 35 samples from different depths in three wells. The analyses proved that a sufficient quantity of organic matter occurs that and has suitable maturity for hydrocarbon generation potential of oil and gas.     

Geochemical Characteristics of Organic Matter from Maikop Rocks of Eastern Azerbaijan

Based on investigation of more than 170 samples taken from natural outcrops of the Maikop Formation (Oligocene–Lower Miocene) in eastern Azerbaijan, the genetic hydrocarbon potential and the organic matter (OM) maturity of these rocks were estimated. In the study region, sedimentary rocks of this formation were deposited under reductive or weakly oxidative conditions. Possessing a relatively high (1.9%, on the average) content of organic matter of a mixed (continental–marine) OM, these rocks are able to generate both liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons under favorable conditions. Contributions of both the continental and marine components to the total organic carbon (TOC) varied in time and space. The upper and lower subformations of the Maikop Formation differ in the qualitative and quantitative compositions of OM. Oligocene rocks have a relatively lower OM content and are characterized by better oil-generating properties, as compared to lower Miocene rocks.