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Terpenoid composition and origin of amber from the Cape York Peninsula,Australia |
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| Authors: | O O Sonibare O B Agbaje D E Jacob J Faithfull T Hoffmann S F Foley |
| Institution: | 1. Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Duesbergweg 10–14, D-55128 Mainz, Germany;2. Department of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Becherweg 21, 55099 Mainz, Germany;3. Geocycles Research Centre, University of Mainz, Becherweg 21, 55099 Mainz, Germany;4. Petroleum and Environmental Geochemistry Research Group, Chemistry Department, University of Ibadan, Nigeriasonibaredayo@yahoo.com oo.sonibare@mail.ui.edu.ng;6. Petroleum and Environmental Geochemistry Research Group, Chemistry Department, University of Ibadan, Nigeria;7. Department of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Becherweg 21, 55099 Mainz, Germany;8. Hunterian-Museum, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK |
| Abstract: | The terpenoid composition of fossil resin from the Cape York Peninsula, Australia has been analysed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) to determine its origin. The pyrolysis products were dominated by cadalene-based C15 bicyclic sesquiterpenoids including some C30–C31 bicadinanes and bicadinenes typical of Class II resin derived from angiosperm plants of Dipterocarpaceae. This observation contrasts with the Araucariaceae (Agathis sp.) source previously suggested for the resin based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses. Dipterocarpaceae are not known in Australian vegetation but grow abundantly in Southeast Asia including New Guinea, indicating that the geological origin of the amber is not the Australian mainland but could be traced to Southeast Asia. |
| Keywords: | Amber Cape York Peninsula terpenoids bicadinanes dipterocarpaceae pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry |