The origin, deposition, and alteration of the organic material in Green River shale

Characteristics of the organic material in Green River Formation shale suggest that this material was derived from algae that grew in ancient Eocene lakes. The basin depressions for these nonmarine lakes were formed by the uplifting of the Rocky Mountain ranges. Large quantities of soluble salts flowed into these basins from the mountain streams, increasing the salinity of the lake waters until they became chemically stratified. In the upper, relatively fresh-water section of the lakes, abundant quantities of microscopic algae and other biota grew. Lesser amounts of terrestrial plant life remains were supplied in the form of wind- or water-borne spores and in the form of water-soluble organic materials entering the in-flowing waters. The lower section of the lake waters became highly reducing and stagnant because of lack of seasonal oxidative turnovers, thus providing ideal conditions for the accumulation and preservation of the organic debris from the lake biota.Precipitation of mineral carbonates and silicates from the highly saline waters provided most of the minerals that were co-deposited with the organic matter. Carbon dioxide, which evolved from the aquatic plant life, probably influenced mineral carbonate precipitation. During the life span of a few million of years the characteristics of the lake waters varied considerably and had significant effect upon the composition of both the inorganic and organic constituents of the Green River shale.Sixty to seventy-five core samples from each of three basins of the Green River Formation were analyzed for changes in both the organic and inorganic constituents. Considerable differences in the organic components of the soluble bitumen and of the insoluble kerogen were evident. Some of these differences appeared to be related to depth of burial and some to source material and the environment of the lake waters. Compositional differences relative to lithologic differences in the sediments of the three basins were found.