Geochemical studies on ozokerite from the Dead Sea area

Ozokerite, a natural mixture of long-chain paraffins, is found at Ein-Humar (Jordan) on the eastern escarpment of the Dead Sea. The Ein-Humar ozokerite is mainly composed of saturated n-paraffins from C₃₀ to presumably well into the C_50′s with a maximum at C₃₈. IR, NMR and chromatographic data indicate the absence of cycloparaffinic and aromatic molecules. The ozokerite is assumed to be related to the heavy asphalts and oils in the Dead Sea area. It probably forms by separation of high-molecular paraffins from non-paraffinaceous heavy oils or asphalts by geothermal heat and precipitation in the conduits due to lowering of temperature.