Description / Table of Contents:
The present interest in sediments which are rich in organic matter results not only from their economic
significance as potential oil and gas source rocks, but also from the fact that their deposition is the result of
special environments. Subtle changes in the environmental conditions may result in great variations in the
geochemical and petrographical characteristics of the organic matter. Therefore, the study of organic
matter-rich sediments can provide a key to past sedimentary conditions. In addition, the elucidation of the
depositional controls is of importance for oil and gas exploration strategies, for which the knowledge of
source rock distribution and quality is critical. Furthermore, organic matter reacts extremely sensitive to
changes in temperature during burial. The result of this sensitivity is the generation of volatile products
such as carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen, oil and gas and a reorganization of the solid organic residue.
Some of these changes are quantified as maturity parameters which can be used as calibration tools in
basin modelling, i.e., in the modelling of temperature histories of sedimentary basins. The use of maturity
parameters and other organic matter characteristics as indicators for diagenetic conditions and
depositional processes is, however, restricted, if analyses are performed on outcrop samples, because
weathering also affects organic matter.
Pages:
Online-Ressource (216 Seiten)
ISBN:
9783540566618
URL:
https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0009988
Language:
English
