NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
An isotopic biogeochemical study of the Green River oil shaleThirty-five different samples from three different sulfur cycles were examined in this stratigraphically oriented study of the Shell 22x-l well (U.S.G.S. C177 core) in the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Carbon isotopic compositions of constituents of Green River bitumens indicate mixing of three main components: products of primary photoautotrophs and their immediate consumers (delta approximately -30% vs PDB), products of methanotrophic bacteria (delta approximately -85%), and products of unknown bacteria (delta approximately -40%). For individual compounds synthesized by primary producers, delta-values ranged from -28 to -32%. 13C contents of individual primary products (beta-carotane, steranes, acyclic isoprenoids, tricyclic triterpenoids) were not closely correlated, suggesting diverse origins for these materials. 13C contents of numerous hopanoids were inversely related to sulfur abundance, indicating that they derived both from methanotrophs and from other bacteria, with abundances of methanotrophs depressed when sulfur was plentiful in the paleoenvironment. gamma-Cerane coeluted with 3 beta(CH3),17 alpha(H),21 beta(H)-hopane, but delta-values could be determined after deconvolution. gamma-Cerane (delta approximately -25%) probably derives from a eukaryotic heterotroph grazing on primary materials, the latter compound (delta approximately -90%) must derive from methanotrophic organisms. 13C contents of n-alkanes in bitumen differed markedly from those of paraffins generated pyrolytically. Isotopic and quantitative relationships suggest that alkanes released by pyrolysis derived from a resistant biopolymer of eukaryotic origin and that this was a dominant constituent of total organic carbon.
Document ID
20040089515
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Collister, J. W.
(Indiana University Bloomington 47405)
Summons, R. E.
Lichtfouse, E.
Hayes, J. M.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Organic geochemistry
Volume: 19
Issue: 3-Jan
ISSN: 0146-6380
Subject Category
Exobiology
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: DE-FG02-88ER13978
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1940
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Program Exobiology
NASA Discipline Exobiology
NASA Discipline Number 52-30

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available