Curtisite,idrialite and pendletonite,polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon minerals: Their composition and origin

The rare polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon minerals curtisite, pendletonite and idrialite have been analyzed by chromatography, and ultraviolet and mass spectrometry. Pendletonite is nearly pure coronene; the other minerals contain over 30 homologous series of CH, CHS and CHN compounds, with the total number of chemical components well above one hundred. The chemistry of the contributing compounds reflects the origin of the minerals in medium-temperature pyrolysis of organic matter. The components were further modified by extended equilibration at elevated temperatures in the subsurface and by recrystallization during migration. In this last step the high-melting pendletonite achieved its exceptional purity.