Chromatographic fractionation of bitumen from sediments and presence of glycerol ethers in immature sediments (Table 2)

Alkanes having unusual saturated isoprenoidal and methyl-branched structures have been isolated from the bitumen of several sediments. The methanogenic biomarkers 2,6,10,15,19-pentamethyleicosane and squalane were found in sediments which also contained bacteriogenic glycerol ethers. However, in one ether-containing sediment, 2,6,10,13,17,21-hexamethyldocosane was tentatively identified and this compound was found in place of the established alkane biomarkers. Other hydrocarbons found were regular C21 and C23 isoprenoid alkanes, compounds which cannot be derived from phytol; two isoprenoids of the type 3,7,11.-polymethylalkane, previously reported only in petroleums; 8-methylheptadecane, a probable biomarker for cyanobacteria and a number of its homologs and other methyl-branched alkanes. Ubiquitous branched-chain alkylbenzenes and a homology of trimethylalkylbenzenes were also isolated. Most, or all, of the compounds reported here are probably not catagenetic products but may represent direct algal or bacterial bioinputs.

Composition of bitumen in the organic matter of Black Sea sediments from DSDP Hole 42-379B

Bituminologic analysis of sediment cores from the Black Sea (water depth up to 2000 m, drilling depth up to 625 m) has revealed all components typical for fossilized rocks, viz. hydrocarbons, resins, asphaltenes, and insoluble matter. Proportions of these components, their composition and properties do not display any dependence on depth in hole and seem to be governed by composition of organic matter and conditions and degree of its transformation at early stages of lithogenesis.