Thermochemical sulphate reduction and Huayuan lead-zinc ore deposit in Hunan, China

In recent years, some arguments with regard to the organic mineralization of MVT lead-zinc ore deposit are focused on the thermochemical sulphate reduction in the presence of organic matter. Based on the research into the organic geochemistry and C, O, S isotopes of mineralized host rocks, mineral gas fluid inclusion and solid bitumen from Huayuan (W. Hunan, China) lead-zinc ore deposit formed in the algal limestones of Qingxudong formation, Lower Cambrian, the authors consider that a lot of organic matter occurred and participated in mineralization. The organic matter from different sources participated in the mineralization with two main forms: thermochemical sulphate reduction and thermal degradation which supplied abundant H₂S for the precipitation.     

Depositional environments and maturity evaluated by biomarker analyses of sediments deposited across the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary in the Yezo Group,Tomamae area,Hokkaido, Japan

Biomarker analyses for evaluating maturity of organic matter and depositional environments such as redox conditions, were performed in sediments across the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary (CTB) in the Saku Formation of the Yezo Group distributed along the Shumarinai‐gawa River and the Omagari‐zawa River, both in the Tomamae area, Hokkaido, Japan. Maturity indicators using steranes and hopanes, show that organic matter in sediments from the Shumarinai‐gawa and Omagari‐zawa sections are of lower maturity than those from the Hakkin‐gawa section (Oyubari area). Moreover, the ββ hopane ratios clearly show that the maturity of the Shumarinai‐gawa samples is lower than that of the Omagari‐zawa samples. These variations in the maturity of organic matter presumably reflect the difference in their burial histories. The results for the pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) ratios suggest that the Shumarinai‐gawa samples were deposited under dysoxic to anoxic environments across the CTB, while the depositional environments of the Omagari‐zawa samples were relatively oxic. By another paleoredox indicator using C₃₅ homohopanoids including a homohopene index (HHenI), higher values are observed in the Shumarinai‐gawa section, particularly in the horizons of the preceding period and an early stage of the first negative shift phase and the latest oceanic anoxic event 2 (OAE2) interval. These results suggest that the Shumarinai‐gawa samples record dysoxic to anoxic environments across the CTB. In contrast, the signals for the C₃₅ homohopanoid index values show a relatively oxic condition in the Omagari‐zawa section. The trends of stratigraphic variations in redox conditions are different from those in the OAE2 interval in the proto‐Atlantic and Tethys regions as reported previously. Hence, the redox variations in the Tomamae area were basically related to a local environmental setting rather than global anoxia. However, the prominent anoxic emphasis observed in the HHenI profile of the Shumarinai‐gawa section can be a distinctive, and possibly global, event in the North‐West Pacific just before the OAE2.     

The occurrence state of vanadium in the black shale-hosted vanadium deposits in Shangling of Guangxi Province,China

The Shangling vanadium deposit, which occurs in the Lower Devonian Tangding formation black rock series strata, has V2O5 reserves of more than 1.5 million tons and prospective reserves of more than 2 million tons. Preliminary studies on the occurrence state of vanadium(V) in this deposit have been conducted by artificial heavy minerals concentrates, leaching experiments, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction.These experiments have revealed no independent vanadium mineral occurrences in the Shangling vanadium deposit and the percentages of water-soluble vanadium, hydrochloric acid soluble vanadium and HF soluble vanadium were1.93 %, 21.42 % and 76.47 %, respectively. Based on our data and earlier research, we estimate that the valences state of V absorbed onto the surface of organic matter or clastic particles are +5 and +4, accounting for 10.00 % and13.35 % of the total amount of V, respectively and the valences state of V that exist in the octahedral crystal lattice of authigenic illite include +3 and +4, accounting for71.64 % and 4.83 % of the total amount of V, respectively.By calculating the correlation between the total organic carbon and V, we infer that after deposition and before entering the crystal lattice of illite, V occurs in the form of humate complex or is adsorbed by organic matter. About4.24 % of the Al is in the octahedral crystal lattice of illite,which was replaced by the vanadium under the metallogenic environments of Shanglin.     

Carbon,oxygen and boron isotopic studies of Huangbai-shuwan witherite deposit at Ziyang and Wenyuhe witherite deposit at Zhushan

Since the 1980抯, with the improvement and sophistication of the methods of boron isotopic analysis, boron isotopes have been widely applied in the study of ore deposits. The research re-sults available have shown that boron isotopes are of great signific…     

Classification and origin of natural gases from Lishui Sag,the East China Sea Basin

Natural gases discovered up to now in Lishui Sag, the East China Sea Basin, differ greatly in gaseous compositions, of which hydrocarbon gases amount to 2%–94% while non-hydrocarbon gases are dominated by CO₂. Their hydrocarbon gases, without exception, contain less than 90% of methane and over 10% of C₂ ⁺ heavier hydrocarbons, indicating a wet gas. Carbon isotopic analyses on these hydrocarbon gases showed that δ ¹³C₁, δ ¹³C₂ and δ ¹³C₃ are basically lighter than −44‰, −29‰ and −26‰, respectively. The difference in carbon isotopic values between methane and ethane is great, suggesting a biogenic oil-type gas produced by the mixed organic matter at peak generation. δ ¹³ \( C_{CO_2 } \) values of nonhydrocarbon gases are all heavier than −10‰, indicating a typical abiogenic gas. The simulation experiment on hydrocarbon generation of organic matter in a closed gold-tube system showed that the proportion of methane in natural gases produced by terrigenous organic matter in the Lingfeng Formation marine deposit is obviously higher than that in natural gases derived from the aquatic and terrigenous mixed organic matter in the Yueguifeng Formation lacustrine deposit, consequently the proportion of heavier hydrocarbons of the former is remarkably lower than that of the latter. Moreover, δ ¹³C₁ values of natural gases produced by terrigenous organic matter in the Lingfeng Formation marine deposit are about 5‰ heavier than those of natural gases derived from the aquatic and terrigenous mixed organic matter in the Yueguifeng Formation lacustrine deposit while δ ¹³C₂ and δ ¹³C₃ values of the former are over 9‰ heavier than those of the latter. Currently the LS36-1 oil-gas pool is the only commercial oil-gas reservoir in Lishui Sag, where carbon isotopic compositions of various hydrocarbon components differ greatly from those of natural gases produced by the Lingfeng Formation organic matter but are very similar to those of natural gases derived from the Yueguifeng Formation organic matter, therefore, natural gases in the LS36-1 oil-gas pool are mainly derived from the Yueguifeng Formation lacustrine source rock rather than the Lingfeng Formation marine or Mingyuefeng Formation coal-measures source rocks.

     

Classification and origin of natural gases from Lishui Sag,the East China Sea Basin

Natural gases discovered up to now in Lishui Sag, the East China Sea Basin, differ greatly in gaseous compositions, of which hydrocarbon gases amount to 2%–94% while non-hydrocarbon gases are dominated by CO₂. Their hydrocarbon gases, without exception, contain less than 90% of methane and over 10% of C₂ ⁺ heavier hydrocarbons, indicating a wet gas. Carbon isotopic analyses on these hydrocarbon gases showed that δ ¹³C₁, δ ¹³C₂ and δ ¹³C₃ are basically lighter than ?44‰, ?29‰ and ?26‰, respectively. The difference in carbon isotopic values between methane and ethane is great, suggesting a biogenic oil-type gas produced by the mixed organic matter at peak generation. δ ¹³ \(C_{CO_2 } \) values of nonhydrocarbon gases are all heavier than ?10‰, indicating a typical abiogenic gas. The simulation experiment on hydrocarbon generation of organic matter in a closed gold-tube system showed that the proportion of methane in natural gases produced by terrigenous organic matter in the Lingfeng Formation marine deposit is obviously higher than that in natural gases derived from the aquatic and terrigenous mixed organic matter in the Yueguifeng Formation lacustrine deposit, consequently the proportion of heavier hydrocarbons of the former is remarkably lower than that of the latter. Moreover, δ ¹³C₁ values of natural gases produced by terrigenous organic matter in the Lingfeng Formation marine deposit are about 5‰ heavier than those of natural gases derived from the aquatic and terrigenous mixed organic matter in the Yueguifeng Formation lacustrine deposit while δ ¹³C₂ and δ ¹³C₃ values of the former are over 9‰ heavier than those of the latter. Currently the LS36-1 oil-gas pool is the only commercial oil-gas reservoir in Lishui Sag, where carbon isotopic compositions of various hydrocarbon components differ greatly from those of natural gases produced by the Lingfeng Formation organic matter but are very similar to those of natural gases derived from the Yueguifeng Formation organic matter, therefore, natural gases in the LS36-1 oil-gas pool are mainly derived from the Yueguifeng Formation lacustrine source rock rather than the Lingfeng Formation marine or Mingyuefeng Formation coal-measures source rocks.     

Preservation of reactive organic matter in marine sediments

It is generally assumed that the reactivity of organic matter and the amount preserved in sedimentary deposits necessarily increases with total sedimentation rate. In some environments, such as deltas, where supply of unreactive terrigenous debris may vary independently of reactive organic matter input, the amount of reactive organic material preserved can in fact theoretically correlate either directly or inversely with sedimentation rate. The amount preserved can be shown quantitatively by transport-reaction models to depend on (1) the relative importance of electron acceptor concentration in the overlying water, (2) advection during sedimentation, (3) dilution by sedimentation, (4) solute diffusion, (5) initial flux of organic matter, and (6) the magnitudes of reaction rate constants. Both single reaction rate constant and multiple reaction rate constant models suggest that, at steady state, maximum preservation with respect to a given oxidant occurs when D_sk = w², where D_s = whole sediment diffusion coefficient of the electron acceptor, k = first-order rate constant of the dominant organic fraction, and w = sedimentation rate. This is the likely basis for the reported correlation between average reactivity, k, of carbon in a deposit, percent carbon preservation, and w^1.5–w². Because of the variety of factors which determine these relationships, such correlations are probably valid only within specific classes of depositional environments.     

Effect of a Flood in the Amur River on Organic Matter Dynamics in Groundwater

The space and time dynamics of organic matter concentration in groundwater in the Tungusskoe deposit during the historical 2013 flood in the Amur River is discussed. For comparison analysis, several methods for determining the quantitative characteristics of organic matter (spectrophotometry, gas-chromatographic mass spectrometry, and high-performance liquid chromatography) were applied to different layers of an aquifer at different distances from the shore line. The genesis of many organic substances is due to the inflow of river filtrate and surface water from the inundated floodplain. In the post-flood 2014, groundwater showed a decrease in the total amount of organic components and the presence of low-molecular hydrocarbons, diphenylamine, cosanes, phenanthrene, naphthalene, and derivatives of stearic and palmitic acids. Toxic methyl benzene was identified in most wells.     

Geochemical characteristics of crude oils from the Sagara oil field, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

Abstract   Six oil samples collected from the Sagara oil field, Shizuoka Prefecture, were geochemically analyzed. Unlike the Niigata oils, the Sagara oils: (i) are low-sulphur light oils dominated by gasoline and kerosene fractions; (ii) have low values of environment index in light hydrocarbon compositions; (iii) have high Pr/ n -C₁₇ and low Ph/ n -C₁₈ ratios and high oleanane/hopane ratios; (iv) have high relative abundance of C₂₉ and low relative abundance of C₂₈ regular steranes; and (v) have 'light' stable carbon isotope compositions. These characteristics show that the source rocks of the Sagara oils contain mainly marine organic matter, but with more input of terrigenous organic matter deposited under more oxic conditions compared to those of the Niigata oils. The light carbon isotope compositions and the low relative abundance of C₂₈ regular steranes of the Sagara oils suggest that their source rock is not Miocene, but probably Paleogene in age. The Sagara oils probably migrated along faults from deeper parts of the basin.     

Effects of the closure of a major sewage outfall on sublittoral, soft sediment benthic communities

The present study examines the benthos within western inner Swansea Bay (Wales, UK), for the period before, during and immediately after the cessation of a major, sewage discharge from Mumbles Head. There have been significant improvements in seawater quality and changes in the species composition of the benthic communities following the cessation of the sewage discharge. There has been an increase in the diversity of deposit feeders, especially the amphipods, and a decrease in the diversity of the filter feeders, especially the polychaetes. Changes are not attributable either to sediment organic matter content or to gross changes in sediment type, but are related to the significant reduction in suspended particulate organic material and sewage contaminants discharged to the Bay. A recovery model has been proposed to describe how soft sediment benthic communities in a shallow, sublittoral, high tidal energy environment respond to the abrupt cessation of a major sewage discharge.     

Non-steady state diagenetic record in eastern equatorial Atlantic sediments

The radiocarbon age profile of a sediment core from the eastern equatorial Atlantic shows a marked decrease in both clay and carbonate accumulation rates at the end of the last glacial period, with overall rates of 3.2 and 8.1 cm/kyr for the Holocene and late glacial respectively. The transition from glacial to postglacial conditions recorded in the sediments at 39 cm is above the visual Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox boundary at 48 cm which has been used in the past to identify the glacial section, and even further above the increase in preserved organic carbon content at 55 cm. It is concluded from the present organic carbon profile, and recent observations in this area and elsewhere, that organic diagenesis in these sediments is not steady state. Instead it is suggested that the uppermost glacial sediments lost carbon through oxic remineralisation at the change to postglacial conditions, and that this process is now continued with nitrate as the electron acceptor. These observations suggest that the double MnO_x solid phase peak which occurs in these and similar sediments is a direct consequence of an adjustment of the oxic layer depth following the decrease in carbon flux at the onset of the Holocene.     

Biodegradation of Nonylphenol Ethoxylate Surfactants in Biofilm Reactors

The primary degradation of a technical nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactant with an average chain length of 10 ethoxylate units (NPEO‐10) was studied in a flow‐through system by means of miniaturized biofilm reactors (mBFR) with bacteria from an activated sludge plant. 5 mg/L of the test compound (total EO concentration) were spiked in synthetic wastewater (SWW) and fed to the reactors continuously for 64 days. Compound removal and the formation of degradation products (DP) were monitored under both oxic and anoxic conditions. Solid‐phase extraction and RP‐HPLC with fluorescence detection were employed for sample preparation and analysis. Better removal of the parent compound was seen with the oxic reactors (50 to 70%) than with the anoxic reactors (30 to 50%). Compared to SWW organic matter, the test compound proved to be of refractory nature. The appearance of degradation products in the effluent was earlier with anoxic reactors despite their lower elimination efficiency. After extraction of biomass only minor amounts of NPEO‐10 and metabolites were found, indicating that small amounts were present in adsorbed or intracellular form. Ultimate biodegradation of NPEO‐10 and of octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEO‐9.5; average chain length of 9.5 EO units) was tested by means of manometric respirometry at a theoretical oxygen demand (ThOD) of 100 mg/L. Whereas NPEO‐10 was biodegraded by only 26%, at best, in 28 days, OPEO‐9.5 degradation amounted to (40 ± 5)%.     

Source,depositional environment and maturity levels of some crude oils in southwest Niger Delta,Nigeria

A suite of crude oil samples,that had not been previously characterized geochemically,was collected from two oil fields in the southwest Niger Delta Nigeria.The saturate biomarkers were used to evaluate geochemical characteristics such as depositional environments,sources of organic matter and extent of biodegradation using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.Distribution of n-alkanes(Pr/Ph,and isoprenoide/n-alkanes ratios),the abundance of hopanes,oleanane skeleton and C27-C29 steranes in the oils indicate that they were formed from mixed sources(marine and terrestrial kerogen) deposited in an oxic paleoenvironment with no particular maturity trend.These parameters also permit the source grouping of the oils into two families.     

Crude oil as carrier of gold: petrological and geochemical evidence from Lannigou gold deposit in southwestern Guizhou, China

Organic matter is related closely to mineralization of Lannigou gold deposit in southwestern Guizhou, China. Regionally, the distribution of organic carbon agrees well with that of faults within which gold deposits are hosted. Studies on organic petrology show that pyrobitumen, which is related most closely to mineralization, adheres to quartz vein or fills quartz veinlet. Proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis shows an evident abundance of Au in pyrobitumen. Pyrobitumen paragenetically associates with pyrite and arsenopyrite which are the main carrier minerals of Au. The thermal simulation experiment indicates that about 99% of Au will be concentrated in oil phase in the coexisting system of oil and brine and rock. The role of crude oil in ore-forming process is: as carrier of Au, crude oil moves upwards, and undergoes thermal decomposition and thermochemical reduction when it encounters the oxidizing fluid within the Trassic turbidity; Au is thus released from crude oil, reduced and precipitated. Project supported by the Climbing Project (No. PA30) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49673190).     

太湖湖区有机物流失模拟

研究了１９９２－１９９４年女山湖大面积围栏养蟹利用与保护沉水植物资源的效果结果表明：围栏内河蟹的食物组成中,主要有菹草、苦草、金鱼藻、马来眼子菜、黄丝草和黑藻等沉水植物．其中菹草、黑藻的出现频率和概念生物量,分别在４、６、７、８和９月为最高;围栏内沉水植物的种类和生物量的变化与河蟹的放养密度关系密切,当河蟹的放养密度不超过３０只·ｈｍ~（－２）时,围栏内沉水植物的生物量与对照组均有明显的增加趋势,由此可证,女山湖大面积的围栏养蟹和适宜的放养密度,有效地利用和保护了围栏区内的沉水植物资源     

鲂胚胎的发育

太湖湖区暴雨径流携带有大量的泥沙和土壤有机物质,对河湖水质造成污染,为了定量分析有机污染对太湖水体的影响,分水田和旱地两种土地利用条件,采用数学模型模拟了湖区丰。平,枯典型年的产流,土壤侵蚀和有机物流失过程及年总量。结果表明,湖区土壤侵蚀量和有机物流失量随地表排水强度的增加呈指数形式增大,尤其是每年暴雨期,湖区地表排水中有机物含量显著增大,建议在太湖流域水质规划和治理中加以重视并采取必要防治措施。     

Late Cretaceous paleoenvironment and lake level fluctuation in the Songliao Basin,northeastern China

Study of Late Cretaceous lacustrine sedimentary strata in the eastern Songliao Basin, China revealed that the paleoclimate was relatively arid and hot during sedimentation of the upper Santonian of the Yaojia Formation, but became relatively humid and warm during deposition of the lower Campanian Nenjiang Formation. The upper Yaojia Formation was deposited in a freshwater lake environment, while the lower Nenjiang Formation was deposited in a slightly brackish to brackish environment. The average total organic carbon content in the upper Yaojia Formation is 0.15%, while the hydrogen index is 36 mg_HC/g_TOC, implying poor source rock for oil generation and the organic matter comprised of a mixture of woody and herbaceous organic matter. In contrast, the hydrogen index of oil shale and black shale of the lower Nenjiang Formation is 619 mg_HC/g_TOC, and total organic carbon content on average is 3.37%, indicating a mixed algae and herbaceous source of kerogen and an increase in aquatic bioproductivity. The black shale and oil shale have low Pristane/Phytane and C₂₉ 5α,14α,17α(H) ? stigmastane 20R/(20R + 20S) ratios, with maximum concentration of n‐alkanes at n‐C₂₃, implying an anoxic depositional environment with algae, bacteria and higher plants providing most of the organic matter. Relatively abundant gammacerane and a higher Sr/Ba ratio in the oil shales suggest the presence of brackish water and development of salinity stratification in the lake. During sedimentation of the upper Yaojia through the lower Nenjiang Formations, the level of Songliao lake increased and a deep‐lake environment was formed with bottom waters being oxygen depleted. Concomitantly, as the lake deepened bottom conditions were changing from oxic to anoxic, and the input of organic matter changed from predominantly higher plants to a mixture of bacteria, algae and higher plants providing favorable conditions for oil source rock accumulation.     

Towards a classification of organic enrichment in marine sediments based on biogeochemical indicators

A nomogram is developed to show that pH, redox potentials (Eh_NHE) and measures of dissolved sulfides (H₂S + HS⁻ + S²⁻)(total free S²⁻) can be used to classify organic enrichment impacts in marine sediments. The biogeochemical cycle of sulfur in marine sediments is described to show that changes in macrobenthic infauna community structure associated with high levels of organic matter supply result from stress due to oxygen deficiency (hypoxia and anoxia) and toxic effects of S²⁻. The changes reflect enhancement of microbial sulfate reduction under conditions of high organic matter sedimentation and the progressive formation of hypoxic–anoxic conditions measured by decreased Eh_NHE and increased concentrations of S²⁻. The nomogram provides a basis for classification of the oxic status of marine sediments based on changes in inter-related biological and biogeochemical variables along an organic enrichment gradient.     

The effects of sewage organic matter on biogeochemical processes within mid-shelf sediments offshore Sydney, Australia

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted using replicate cores collected from a muddy-sand sediment facies offshore Sydney, Australia to determine what components and processes would be affected by the addition of sewage organic matter. Sewage effluent has a solid phase composition of 40% carbon (35% organic carbon), 5% nitrogen, 1% phosphorus and 5% silicate. The molecular C:N:P ratio is 92:10:1, compared to the Redfield ratio of 106:16:1 in marine phytoplankton. Sediment cores were incubated at in situ temperature in a darkened room for periods up to 95 days. Sewage organic matter was added to the cores at three different loads equivalent to 0 (T0), 65 (T1) and 130 (T2) g m⁻² of sediment. Following the addition of sewage organic matter, fluxes of oxygen (into the sediments), ammonia and phosphate (from the sediments) increased, reflecting an enhanced organic carbon supply to the sediments. Oxygen penetrated to a depth of 6 mm in the ambient cores, but the sediment oxygen content was severely depleted following the addition of the sewage-derived organic matter. Sediment porewater data, together with nutrient flux data indicate that oxygen reduction, nitrate reduction and sulphate reduction occurs within these sediments. Following the addition of sewage organic matter, increases in total nitrogen, total phosphate and total organic carbon were measured to depths of 5 cm in the sediments, suggesting that bioturbation influences nutrient and organic carbon distributions. Additionally, irrigation of the surficial sediments may play an important role in the metabolism of organic matter. These results indicate that oxygen penetration, oxygen fluxes, nitrate concentrations within porewaters, ammonia flux rates, and solid phase concentrations of total organic carbon and nutrients may be useful indicators of sediments affected by high rates of organic matter deposition onto Sydney's offshore sediments. The EPA has recently predicted maximum deposition rates of sewage particulate matter to be approximately 1 g m⁻² day⁻¹. Because of the similarities in CNP ratios of sewage organic matter and marine organic matter, the effects of sewage organic matter and marine organic matter inputs to coastal sediments may not be easily distinguishable.     

Novel C15 sesquiterpanes and their origin in different crude oils from the Pearl River Mouth Basin of China

In the saturate fractions of crude oils from the Zhu1 and Zhu2 depressions of the Pearl River Mouth Basin,two novel C_(15) sesquiterpanes have been detected except for drimanes and rearranged drimanes.By comparison with spectra and retention times in previous studies,they have been identified as 2,2,4α,7,8-pentamethyl-trans-decalin and 2,2,4α,7,8-pentamethyl-cis-decalin,respectively,which are related to the D/Eringsof18α(H)-and18β(H)-oleanane.ResultsshowthatthenovelC15sesquiterpanesarerelativelyabundantincondensateoilsthathavehighPr/PhratiosandarerichinterrigenoustriterpanessuchasoleananeandbicadinanesfromtheZhu2depression,butevidentlylowinlacustrineoilsthathavelowPr/Phratiosandarerichin4-methylsteranesfromtheZhu1depression.ThissuggeststhatthenovelC15sesquiterpanescouldberelatedtoterrigenousorganicmatterinoriginandcanhelpdistinguishtheoriginandsourceofcrudeoilsinthestudyarea.Inaddition,thereexistcompletelydifferentcorrelationsbetweentherelativeabundancesofdifferentC15sesquiterpanesthathavedifferentsourcesandthePr/Phratio,whichindicatesredoxconditionsinthecrudeoils.Forexample,thenovelC15sesquiterpanesandcadinanethatindicateterrigenousinputarepositivelycorrelatedwiththePr/Phratio,butdrimanesandrearrangeddrimaneshavingmicrobialoriginarenegativelycorrelatedwiththePr/Phratio.ThisimpliesthattheformationofthenovelC15sesquiterpanesrequiresrelativelyoxicconditions.ThenovelC15sesquiterpanesaremuchmoreabundantincarbonaceousmudstone(Pr/Ph=7.39)thanindarkmudstone(Pr/Ph=2.19)fromtheEnpingformation,althoughtheirorganicmatterishumic.However,theyarenotcommoninsapropeliclacustrinesourcerocks(Pr/Ph=2.29)fromtheWenchangFormation.Thissuggeststhatterrigenousorganicmatterisonlyasufficientcondition,butanoxicenvironmentduringdepositionanddiagenesismaybeaprerequisitefortheformationofnovelC15sesquiterpanes.