Amino Sugars and Their Indicating Role in the Cycling of Organic Matter in Marine Environment

As a kind of marine organic matter with important geochemical characteristics, amino sugars can effectively reflect the source, diagenetic state and mineralization process of organic matter by their concentration and composition in marine environment. This article systematically concluded the research progresses of amino sugars from the aspects of their source, composition and distribution characteristics in marine environment, and the role as a biomarker indicating source and diagenetic state of marine organic matter. The result showed that the macromolecular morphology, the oxygen and nutrient level and the sedimentary environment could affect the reactivity of amino sugars. The higher ratios of glucosamine to galactosamine (GlcN/GalN) and the Total Hydrolysable Amino Acids to Total Hydrolysable Amino Sugars (THAA/THAS) can reflect the fresh planktonic organic matter source and the lower ratios can reflect the conversion from planktonic to bacterial organic matter. The carbon and nitrogen normalized yield of total hydrolysable amino sugars, however, could give contradictory results depending on the relative contribution of the source and degradation degree of organic matter. Muramic acid is suitable to estimate the contribution of relatively fresh bacteria organic matter to particulate and sediment organic matter, but it is not suitable for applying in the dissolved organic matter because of its very low concentration leading from its rapid recycle. It is critical to enhance the research on the contribution of different microorganisms to amino sugars and differentiate the influence of organic matter source and degradation on amino sugars in marine environment. The research on the conversion and fate of amino sugars in marine environment is also needed.     

Matrix protected organic matter in a river dominated margin: A possible mechanism to sequester terrestrial organic matter?

The provenance of organic matter in surface sediments from the northern Gulf of Mexico was investigated by analyzing the compositions of lipid biomarkers (n-alkanes, fatty acids, sterols) liberated after a series of chemical treatments designed to remove different organo-mineral matrix associations (i.e. freely extractable, base-hydrolyzable, unhydrolyzable). Bulk analyses of the organic matter (carbon content, carbon:nitrogen ratios, stable and radiocarbon isotopic analyses) were also performed on the intact sediments and their non-hydrolyzable, demineralized residue. We found recognizable lipids from distinct sources, including terrestrial vascular plants, bacteria and marine algae and zooplankton, within each of the isolated fractions. Based on the lipid signatures and bulk compositions, the organic matter within the unhydrolyzable fractions appeared to be the most diagenetically altered, was the oldest in age, and had the highest abundance of terrigenous lipids. In contrast, the base-hydrolyzable fraction was the most diagentically unaltered, had the youngest ages and was most enriched in N and marine lipids. Our results indicate that fresh, autochthonous organic matter is the most important contributor to base-hydrolyzable lipids, whereas highly altered allochthonous sources appear to be predominant source of unhydrolyzable lipids in the surface sediments from the Atchafalaya River shelf. Overall, the lipid biomarker signatures of intact sediments were biased towards the autochthonous source because many of the organic compounds indicative of degraded, terrigenous sources were protected from extraction and saponification by organo-mineral matrices. It is only after these protective matrices were removed by treatment with HCl and HF that these compounds became evident.     

A 2000‐year lipid biomarker record preserved in a stalagmite from north‐west Scotland

Previous studies on lipid biomarkers preserved in Chinese stalagmites have indicated that ratios of low‐molecular‐weight (LMW) to high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) n‐alkanes, n‐alkan‐2‐ones, n‐alkanols and n‐alkanoic acids can be used as an index of vegetation versus microbial organic matter input to the system and, by extension, a marker of climatic changes, with increases in the proportion of LMW compounds coinciding with colder periods. Here we test whether this hypothesis is equally applicable to a different geographical region (north‐west Scotland), by examining a stalagmite record of the past 200 years, and a wider range of lipid markers. We also test the applicability of other lipid proxies in this context, including the use of n‐alkane ratios, to interpret vegetation changes, and unsaturated alkanoic acid ratios as climatic indicators. The results show that lipid proxies preserved in stalagmites, and especially those related to vegetation, are potentially extremely useful in palaeoenvironmental research. Of particular value is the use of C₂₇/C₃₁ n‐alkane ratios as a proxy for vegetation change, clearly indicating variations between herbaceous and arboreal cover. This proxy has now been successfully applied to samples from diverse environments, and can be considered sufficiently robust to be of use in analysing future stalagmite records. It will be of particular value in areas where reliable pollen records are not available, as is often the case with deeper cave deposits. However, the division between LMW and HMW aliphatic compounds is not a clear‐cut case of microbial versus plant activity, with the changes in LMW compounds relating more closely to those in their HMW analogues than in specific bacterial biomarkers. The use of unsaturated alkanoic acid ratios here gives conflicting results, with the observed variation through time depending on the isomer measured. The discrepancies between the findings of this study and previous work are likely to be due to the varying controls on the lipids (original organic matter input, and compound degradation), which in turn will be affected by whether the main climatic limiting factor on the soil is temperature or precipitation. This suggests that lipid proxies preserved in stalagmites must be interpreted with care, particularly in the case of bacterial compounds which may be derived from within the cave or from the soil. However, many of these issues can be resolved by the use of multi‐proxy studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bacterial reworking of terrigenous and marine organic matter in estuarine water columns and sediments

Amino acids and the bacterial biomarkers muramic acid and d-amino acids were quantified in the ultrafiltered dissolved, particulate and sedimentary organic matter (UDOM, POM and SOM) of the St. Lawrence system (Canada). The main objectives were to better describe the fate of terrigenous and marine organic matter (OM) in coastal zones and to quantify the bacterial contributions to OM composition and diagenesis. Regardless of their origin, the carbon (C) content of the particles substantially decreased with depth, especially near the water-sediment interface. Major diagenetic transformations of organic nitrogen (N) were revealed and important differences were observed between terrigenous and marine OM. Amino acid contents of particles decreased by 66-93% with depth and accounted for 12-30% of the particulate C losses in marine locations. These percentages were respectively 18-56% and 7-11% in the Saguenay Fjord where terrigenous input is important. A preferential removal of particulate N and amino acids with depth or during transport was measured, but only in marine locations and for N-rich particles. This leads to very low amino acid yields in deep marine POM. However, these yields then increased to a level up to three times higher after deposition on sediments, where SOM showed lower C:N ratios than deep POM. The associated increase of bacterial biomarker yields suggests an active in situ resynthesis of amino acids by benthic bacteria. The N content of the substrate most likely determines whether a preferential degradation or an enrichment of N and amino acid are observed. For N-poor OM, such as terrigenous or deep marine POM, the incorporation of exogenous N by attached bacteria can be measured, while the organic N is preferentially used or degraded in N-rich OM. Compared to the POM from the same water samples, the extracted UDOM was poor in N and amino acids and appeared to be mostly made of altered plant and bacterial fragments. Signs of in situ marine production of UDOM were observed in the most marine location. The POM entering the St. Lawrence Upper Estuary and the Saguenay Fjord appeared made of relatively fresh vascular plant OM mixed with highly altered bacterial debris from soils. In contrast, the POM samples from the more marine sites appeared mostly made of fresh planktonic and bacterial OM, although they were rapidly degraded during sinking. Based on biomarker yields, bacterial OM represented on average ∼20% of bulk C and approximately 40-70% of bulk N in POM and SOM, with the exception of deep marine POM exhibiting approximately two times lower bacterial contributions.     

Characteristics of lipid tracer compounds transported to the Arabian Gulf by runoff from rivers and atmospheric dust transport

River runoff and atmospheric fallout (dust and air particulate matter) are major input sources of natural and anthropogenic terrestrial organic and inorganic components to the Arabian seas. In this study, we report on the various lipid tracer compounds that might be transported to the Arabian Gulf by rivers, dust, and air particulate matter. These are based on geochemical analysis of sediment, dust, and particulate samples collected from Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The samples were extracted with a dichloromethane/methanol mixture and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The extractable organic compounds (lipids) in the samples include n-alkanes, n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanols, methyl n-alkanoates, steroids, triterpenoids, carbohydrates, and petroleum hydrocarbons. The steroids and triterpenoids were major components in river and wetland samples. The major sources of these lipids were from natural vegetation, microbial (plankton and bacteria) residues in the sediments, sand, and soils, with some contribution from anthropogenic sources. Accordingly, these sources could be major inputs to the Arabian seas besides the autochthonous marine products. Future studies of the organic and inorganic biogeochemistry on river, dust, and coastal areas are needed to characterize the various regional sources, transformation, and diagenetic processes of the organic matter en route to the marine environment.     

Methylhopanoids: Molecular indicators of ancient bacteria and a petroleum correlation tool

Methylhopanoids are organic compounds synthesized by certain bacteria, that when preserved in sediments act as molecular fossils or biomarkers for organic matter inputs from specific bacterial sources. Two series of methylhopanoids occur, each mainly deriving from a distinct bacterial source: cyanobacteria (2-methyl) and methanotrophic bacteria (3-methyl). The abundance and composition of methylhopanoids within sediments of modern depositional environments varies widely, apparently due to different bacterial communities contributing to the sedimentary organic matter. Comparable molecular characteristics are found in oils and their source rocks. Consequently, methylhopanoids are valuable in oil-oil and oil-source rock correlations, distinguishing between samples related to different depositional environments. In particular, abundant 3β-methylhopanoids (from methanotrophic bacteria or an additional unknown bacterial source) are characteristic of some modern alkaline saline lake environments. Comparable compositional features in the methylhopanes of oils allow the assignment of lacustrine oils offshore West Africa to two distinct lacustrine source rock facies, and to distinguish between different marine source facies, thus refining oil-source rock correlation.     

Molecular characterization of dissolved organic matter in pore water of continental shelf sediments

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in sediment pore water is a complex molecular mixture reflecting various sources and biogeochemical processes. In order to constrain those sources and processes, molecular variations of pore water DOM in surface sediments from the NW Iberian shelf were analyzed by ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) and compared to river and marine water column DOM. Weighted average molecular element ratios of oxygen to carbon ((O/C)_wa) and hydrogen to carbon ((H/C)_wa) provided general information about DOM sources. DOM in local rivers was more oxygenated ((O/C)_wa 0.52) and contained less hydrogen ((H/C)_wa 1.15) than marine pore water DOM (mean (O/C)_wa 0.50, mean (H/C)_wa 1.26). The relative abundance of specific compound groups, such as highly oxygenated aromatic compounds or nitrogen-bearing compounds with low H/C ratios, correspond to a high concentration of lignin phenols (160 μg/g sediment dry weight) and a high TOC/TN ratio (13.3) in the sedimentary organic matter and were therefore assigned to terrestrial sources. The lower degree of unsaturation and a higher relative abundance of nitrogen-bearing compounds in the pore water DOM reflected microbial activity within the sediment. One sampling site on the shelf with a high sediment accumulation, and a humic-rich river sample showed a wide range of sulfur compounds in the DOM, accompanied by a higher abundance of lipid biomarkers for sulfate-reducing bacteria, probably indicating early diagenetic sulfurization of organic matter.     

Biomarkers and compound-specific stable carbon isotope of n-alkanes in crude oils from Eastern Llanos Basin,Colombia

Representative samples of crude oils from Cusiana, Cupiagua, Apiay, Castilla and Chichimene fields in the Eastern Llanos Basin of Colombia were analyzed to determine its compound-specific stable carbon isotope composition (CSIA) using gas chromatography–isotopic ratio–mass spectrometry (GC–IRMS). GC–IRMS analyses of n-alkanes allowed differentiating between Cretaceous and Cretaceous/Tertiary oil samples. Cretaceous sourced samples have δ¹³C-enriched values than Cretaceous/Tertiary sourced samples; the heavier isotope composition of these samples is due to their major terrigenous organic matter input. Their isotope distribution patterns suggest significant algal and/or bacterial contribution (marine origin). The analysis of the n-alkane fractions by GC–IRMS confirms that the organic matter has marine origin in those samples from Cusiana, Cupiagua and Apiay while Castilla and Chichimene have marine origin with terrestrial inputs. The results were confirmed by gas chromatography/FID and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Basic geochemical composition show that samples from Cupiagua/Cusiana fields and Apiay/Castilla/Chichimene fields in the Llanos basin, Colombia present different characteristics reflecting a specific for each depositional environment.     

Molecular formulae of marine and terrigenous dissolved organic matter detected by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

The chemical structure of refractory marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) is still largely unknown. Electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR-MS) was used to resolve the complex mixtures of DOM and provide valuable information on elemental compositions on a molecular scale. We characterized and compared DOM from two sharply contrasting aquatic environments, algal-derived DOM from the Weddell Sea (Antarctica) and terrigenous DOM from pore water of a tropical mangrove area in northern Brazil. Several thousand molecular formulas in the mass range of 300-600 Da were identified and reproduced in element ratio plots. On the basis of molecular elemental composition and double-bond equivalents (DBE) we calculated an average composition for marine DOM. O/C ratios in the marine samples were lower (0.36 ± 0.01) than in the mangrove pore-water sample (0.42). A small proportion of chemical formulas with higher molecular mass in the marine samples were characterized by very low O/C and H/C ratios probably reflecting amphiphilic properties. The average number of unsaturations in the marine samples was surprisingly high (DBE = 9.9; mangrove pore water: DBE = 9.4) most likely due to a significant contribution of carbonyl carbon. There was no significant difference in elemental composition between surface and deep-water DOM in the Weddell Sea. Although there were some molecules with unique marine elemental composition, there was a conspicuous degree of similarity between the terrigenous and algal-derived end members. Approximately one third of the molecular formulas were present in all marine as well as in the mangrove samples. We infer that different forms of microbial degradation ultimately lead to similar structural features that are intrinsically refractory, independent of the source of the organic matter and the environmental conditions where degradation took place.     

白令海陆架区柱样沉积物脂类分子特征及其气候变化响应

为探究全球变暖对于高纬度海洋生态环境的影响,对中国第5次北极科学考察在白令海陆架区采集的BL16柱样沉积物中的脂类进行了研究.沉积物中检测到丰富的饱和烃和脂肪酸等化合物,其组成和分布显示,该沉积柱中有机质为陆源和海源混合输入.其中长链正构烷烃和长链饱和正构脂肪酸主要来源于陆源高等植物,饱和异构和反异构脂肪酸主要来源于海洋自生细菌,短碳链正构烷烃、反异构烷烃和烷基环戊烷烃的浓度相互间有较好的相关性,表明其来源较为一致,主要来源于海洋浮游藻类和细菌.海源短链正构烷烃与陆源长链正构烷烃的比值∑C_15-21/∑C_23-33在0.14~0.90之间,表明该沉积柱中正构烷烃主要以陆源输入为主.沉积柱中短链正构烷烃、反异构烷烃和烷基环戊烷浓度,以及脂肪酸中异构、反异构脂肪酸组分与长链饱和正构脂肪酸组分的相对变化与总有机碳含量（TOC）、总氮含量（TN）变化一致,尤其在20世纪70年代以来明显升高,可能反映了海洋初级生产力持续增加的趋势,并且对全球变暖做出了灵敏的响应.      

20 My of nitrogen fixation during deposition of mid-Cretaceous black shales on the Demerara Rise,equatorial Atlantic Ocean

Thick sequences of dark colored, organic carbon rich, finely laminated Santonian–Cenomanian claystones and homogeneous Albian siltstones were recovered from Ocean Drilling Program Sites 1257, 1258 and 1260 on the Demerara Rise in the western equatorial Atlantic Ocean. Total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations vary from 2 to over 20 wt% in the sequences of “black shales” that were deposited over a period of ～20 million years. Similarly long periods of elevated marine productivity implied by the high TOC concentrations are uncommon in the geological record and must have required unusual paleoceanographic conditions. The importance of nitrogen fixing bacteria to sustaining the amplified export production of organic matter is indicated by δ¹⁵N values that remain between ?4‰ and 0‰, a range that is notably less positive than the average of +5‰ for modern ocean sediments. Although containing mostly marine organic matter, the black shales have TOC/TN molar ratios between 20 and 40 that mimic those of land plant organic matter. The anomalously large TOC/TN ratios suggest selective organic matter degradation, probably associated with low oxygen conditions in the water column, that favored preservation of nitrogen poor forms of organic matter relative to nitrogen rich components. Deposition of black shales on the Demerara Rise was likely a consequence of the mid-Cretaceous warm and wet greenhouse climate that strengthened thermohaline stratification of this part of the Atlantic Ocean, which in turn encouraged bacterial nitrogen fixation, enhanced primary production, magnified organic matter export, and ultimately established anoxic conditions at the seafloor that improved preservation of organic matter for much of the 20 My period represented by these thick sequences.     

Amino sugars in suspended particulate matter from the Bay of Bengal during the summer monsoon of 2001

Amino sugars (AS) are important constituents of organic matter. However, very little is known about their cycling in marine waters. In this research, we assessed the distribution and cycling of these compounds in waters of the Bay of Bengal. For this purpose, samples of suspended particu late matter (SPM) were collected from 8 depths (surface to 1000 m) at 6 locations during the 166th cruise of the ORV Sagar Kanya in the Bay of Bengal in July/August 2001. The SPM samples were analysed for particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate nitrogen (PN) and AS concentrations and composition. The AS varied between 0.4 and 17.5 nmol/l. Concentrations were high in the surface waters and generally decreased with increasing depth. AS concentration decreased from the south to north. AS accounted for 0.01 to 0.71% and 0.05 to 2.37% of POC and PN, respectively. Rapid decrease in AS-C% and AS-N% with depth indicates that these compounds were preferentially degraded relative to bulk POC and PN. The composition of AS suggests that glucosamine (GLU-N) and galactosamine (GAL-N) were present in the surface SPM samples, and their abundance decreased from surface downwards. Relatively, low values of GLU-N/GAL-N ratio indicate that the organic matter was mostly derived from the detritus of micro-organisms. Our data suggest that chitin, a polymer of the glucosamine produced by many marine organisms was not the major source of AS in the Bay. Rapid cycling of these compounds indicates their importance in the cycling of nitrogen in marine waters     

CN ratios in Pacific deep-sea sediments: Effect of inorganic ammonium and organic nitrogen compounds sorbed by clays

Analyses of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and inorganically bound ammonium (exchangeable and fixed ammonium) in two oxic deep-sea sediment cores from the Central Pacific Ocean revealed insufficiently high inorganic ammonium contents of these sediments to explain the low C/N ratios, although representing 20–45% of the total nitrogen.Both, organic carbon/total nitrogen ratios (ranging from 3.9?1.3) and organic carbon/organic nitrogen ratios (5.6?1.9) decrease with increasing sediment depth, the latter indicating a real enrichment of organic nitrogen compounds during diagenesis relative to total organic matter.Organic matter/alumina relationships indicate that this unusual preservation of organic nitrogen compounds is probably caused by sorption to clay minerals protecting them against bacterial attack.     

Marine Dissolved Organic Phosphorus Composition: Insights from Samples Recovered Using Combined Electrodialysis/Reverse Osmosis

The dominant phosphorus compound classes were characterized in marine samples using a new, high recovery method for isolating and concentrating bulk dissolved organic matter (DOM) called combined electrodialysis + reverse osmosis (ED/RO). In contrast to earlier studies that use ultrafiltration (UF) to recover only the high molecular weight DOM, ED/RO is capable of isolating both low molecular weight (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) DOM. Samples were collected from a broad range of marine environments: along a transect incorporating coastal and offshore waters off the Southeastern United States, in Effingham Inlet, a Pacific fjord located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica. Results from phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P NMR) analysis reveal a similar abundance of P compound classes among samples, phosphate esters (80–85%), phosphonates (5–10%) and polyphosphates (8–13%). These samples contain significantly higher proportions of polyphosphate P and P esters and lower proportions of phosphonates than measured in previous studies using the UF method. The much higher levels of polyphosphate detected in our samples suggests that polyphosphate is present mainly in the LMW dissolved matter fraction. Polyphosphates in dissolved matter may be present as (or derived from) dissolved nucleotides or organismal polyphosphate bodies, or both. Low molecular weight P esters are possibly composed of phosphoamino acids and small carbohydrates, like simple sugar phosphates and/or dissolved nucleotides. Phosphonates in DOM are more prevalent as HMW phosphonate compounds, which suggests that LMW phosphonates are more readily utilized in marine ecosystems. Overall, the investigation of DOM across a size spectrum that includes both the HMW and the LMW fractions reveals a new picture of phosphorus distribution, cycling and bioavailability.     

长直链烷基苯及其异构体母质来源研究及地球化学意义

烷基苯系列化合物广泛分布在岩石圈中,但其母质来源和指示意义仍存在一定争议。对四川盆地晚三叠世须家河组和鄂尔多斯盆地晚三叠世延长组烃源岩样品进行了岩石热解及GC-MS（GC-MS-MS）分析,检测出一系列的长直链烷基苯及其异构体。烃源岩基本地球化学参数表明四川盆地和鄂尔多斯盆地样品均遭受过较强程度的微生物降解作用,有机质类型以腐殖腐泥型为主,埋藏期间经历过一定程度的黏土矿物催化作用,以弱氧化的淡水沉积为主。此外,两个研究区样品中长直链烷基苯及其异构体的相对含量呈现出相反的分布模式,在前人研究基础上并结合研究区烃源岩沉积环境和热演化背景,认为烷基苯系列化合物可能来自于类脂化合物（如脂肪酸和脂肪醇）或简单芳烃化合物与类脂化合物的反应,且热作用会导致长直链烷基苯向其异构体转化。综合以上研究表明长直链烷基苯及其异构体可以作为一种指示有机质热演化程度和母质来源的有效参数。     

The sequestration of terrestrial organic carbon in Arctic Ocean sediments: A comparison of methods and implications for regional carbon budgets

A variety of approaches have previously been developed to estimate the fraction of terrestrial or marine organic carbon present in aquatic sediments. The task of quantifying each component is especially important for the Arctic due to the regions’ sensitivity to global climate change and the potential for enhanced terrestrial organic carbon inputs with continued Arctic warming to alter carbon sequestration. Yet it is unclear how each approach compares in defining organic carbon sources in sediments as well as their impact on regional or pan-Arctic carbon budgets. Here, we investigated multiple methods: (1) two end-member mixing models utilizing bulk stable carbon isotopes; (2) the relationship between long-chain n-alkanes and organic carbon (ALKOC); (3) principal components analysis (PCA) combined with scaling of a large suite of lipid biomarkers; and (4) ratios of branched and isoprenoid glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether lipids (the BIT index) to calculate the fraction of terrestrial organic matter components preserved in Arctic marine sediments.Estimated terrestrial organic carbon content among approaches showed considerable variation for identical sediment samples. For a majority of the samples, the BIT index resulted in the lowest estimates for terrestrial organic carbon, corroborating recent suggestions that this proxy may represent a distinct fraction of terrestrial organic matter; i.e., peat or soil organic matter, as opposed to markers such as n-alkanes or long-chain fatty acids which measure higher plant wax inputs. Because of the patchy inputs of n-alkanes to this region from coastal erosion in the western Arctic, the ALKOC approach was not as effective as when applied to river-dominated margins found in the eastern Arctic. The difficulties in constraining a marine δ¹³C end-member limit the applicability of stable isotope mixing models in polar regions. Estimates of terrestrial organic carbon using the lipid-based PCA method and the bulk δ¹³C mixing model approach varied drastically at each site, suggesting that organic matter fractions such as amino acids or carbohydrates may affect bulk organic matter composition in a manner that is not captured in the lipid-based analysis. Overall, terrestrial organic matter inputs to the Chukchi and western Beaufort Seas using the average of the methods at each site ranged from 11% to 44%, indicating that land-derived organic matter plays a substantial role in carbon dynamics in the western Arctic Ocean.     

辽西金羊盆地北票组一类新的油砂地球化学特征及意义

金羊盆地章吉营子凹陷西缘的SZK04井北票组发现了油气显示,有机地球化学分析结果显示该类油砂具有姥植比低、藿烷系列化合物丰富、伽马蜡烷含量较高、甾烷系列化合物缺失且碳同位素较轻的特征.综合生物标志化合物及组分碳同位素认为,SZK04井油砂应为海相还原环境沉积的烃源岩贡献,且有机质的来源应以细菌输入为主.结合本区地质背景,认为该类海相油砂可能来自中新元古界烃源岩,这为金羊盆地乃至辽西地区的中新元古界油气勘探提供了依据.     

Trace element characterisation of Cretaceous Orange Basin hydrocarbon source rocks

Trace elements in the kerogen fraction of hydrocarbon source rock samples from two wells obtained from the Cretaceous units of the Orange Basin, South Africa were determined using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, in order to determine their distribution and geochemical significances. The concentrations of the elements (As, Ce, Co, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, Pb and V) determined ranged from 0.64 to 47,300 ppm for the samples analysed. The total organic carbon (TOC) values indicate that the samples are organic rich but did not show any trend with the distribution of the trace metals except Ce, Mo and Pb. Dendrogram cluster analysis discriminated the samples into three groups on the basis of their level of thermal maturity. Thermal maturity has a significant effect on the distribution of the trace metals. Cobalt/Ni and V/Ni ratios and cross plots of the absolute values of V and Ni indicate that the samples had significant marine organic matter input. The V and Ni contents and V/(V + Ni) ratio indicate that the organic matter of the source rocks had been deposited in reducing conditions. Despite the similarities in the organic matter source input and depositional environment of the organic matter of the samples from the two well, cross plots of Co/Ni versus V/Ni and Mo/Ni versus Co/Ni were able to reveal subtle differences. Cluster analysis of the samples was also able to reveal the subtle thermal maturity differences of the samples.     

南黄海中部表层沉积物有机质分布与分子组成研究

通过分析南黄海中部501个站位表层沉积物通沉积物有机质、粒度及常量元素特征,了解有机质分布特征及影响因素,并进一步对其中64个站位的进行气相色谱（GC-FID）分析,探讨有机质分子组成。分析表明:南黄海中部总有机碳受水动力影响呈分布西低东高分布,总有机碳与Al2O3含量中值粒径依次相关特性;正构烷烃组成表明有机质主要来源于陆源高等植物,海洋浮游藻类贡献次之,陆源植物中草本植物与木本植物贡献相当,类异戊二烯烃反映了短链正构烷烃明显海洋还原沉积环境;常量元素与正构烷烃参数综合分析表明,南黄海中部陆源有机质主要来自于现代黄河、苏北古黄河输入,体现无机-有机综合分析对有机质物源判断;部分样品具有明显石油源输入特征,细菌对沉积物有机质贡献普遍存在。     

末次冰期以来南海北部下陆坡区沉积有机质地球化学特征及其意义

选取南海北部下陆坡-深海平原过渡带典型沉积柱状样,通过对其沉积有机质的整体有机地球化学特征进行表征,探讨了南海下陆坡-深海平原区沉积有机质在冰期/间冰期旋回中的赋存状态、来源变化以及与古气候环境之间的相应关系。结果表明,总有机碳（TOC）、总氮（TN）和有机质稳定碳同位素（δ13Corg）与冰期/间冰期旋回有明显的对应关系,冰期时对应高值,间冰期时对应低值;而有机质稳定氮同位素（δ15N）表现为全新世时其值偏低,末次冰消期其值偏高,与气候旋回没有相关性; C/N值和δ13Corg值都表明南海北部下陆坡沉积有机质来源是陆相和海相的混源,且在末次冰期/间冰期尺度上主要以海相来源为主。