Digital quantification of the miospore coloration to assess the thermal maturity: Novel RGB-based measuring technique

The post depositional thermal maturity and its related chemical changes induce the sporomorphs color alteration, which is a common useful tool in the optical microscopy of the organic matters (OM) and their pre-geochemical studies. The present contribution uses the modern available opportunity of digital technology to achieve a quantifying system technique, which includes color measurements and their possible graphic presentation. The normal digital images of sporomorphs from several ages and geological settings are used to obtain color measurements in the form of digital Red, Green and Blue triple color system (RGB). These measurements were accomplished using some software programs such as Photoshop™^© or ImageJ with employing average microscope setup. The triple RGB color readings are plotted on a ternary diagram, which is divided into three fields. These fields express the maturity levels. The presented new RGB-based quantifying technique is economic and provides a simple examination for maturity, which is linked to the hydrocarbon generation. This can partially replace or walk side by side with the vitrinite reflectance microscopy.     

Depositional environment and hydrocarbon potential of marginal marine sediments of Eocene from western India: A palynofacies perspective

Palynofacies and palynological data from Eocene sediments documents a comprehensive picture of the nature (degraded, structured, non-structured, amorphous etc.) of organic matter, their distribution, and depositional setting for Matasukh lignite mines of Nagaur Basin in western India. Four Sporomorph Eco Groups (SEG) are defined based on the palynological data viz., Upland SEG, Lowland SEG, Coastal SEG and Tidally influenced SEG. Principal component analysis was used to categorize the organic matter into two palynofacies. Palynofacies-A is dominated by brown Phytoclasts (in particular cuticles) and Palynofacies-B is dominated by amorphous organic matter, mainly derived from terrestrially degraded material. In Palynofacies-B there is a reduced frequency of cuticles and high frequency of non-biostructured amorphous phytoclasts in comparison to Palynofacies-A. Further the Integration of Tidal limit index and Phytoclast preservation index suggest that the sediments were deposited in a proximal setting and were regularly influenced by brackish-marine water. The sand bed with current bedding in which the troughs are draped with lignitic clay indicate the tidal wave action. Tyson's ternary diagram indicates the deposition of these sediments in a sub-oxic to dysoxic condition, rich in Kerogen Type-II/III. Thermal alteration index (TAI) shows that the sediments of Matasukh lignite mine have attained maturation (the characteristic value reached by hydrocarbon generating sediments) to generate dry gas as majority of the organic matter is of Type-III Kerogen with few samples yielding Type-II. These sediments were deposited in deltaic plain, in particular, fluvial dominated marginal marine environment.