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Partial resolution of sources of n-alkanes in the saline portion of the Parachute Creek Member, Green River Formation (Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado)Systematic variations in the 13C contents of individual extractable n-alkanes (C16-C29) can be modelled quantitatively and interpreted as indicating contributions from at least five distinct sources. These appear to be cyanobacterial (C16-C18, delta 13C = -37% vs PDB), phytoplanktonic (C16-C23, delta = -32%), chemoautotrophic bacterial (C20-C29, delta = -38%), phytoplanktonic or heterotrophic bacterial (C20-C29, delta = -30%), and vascular plants (C23-C29, delta = -29%). Hydrous pyrolysis of related kerogens yields large quantities of additional n-alkanes with different and much more uniform delta values. The latter materials are apparently derived from the thermolysis of aliphatic biopolymers whose presence in the Green River Oil Shale has been recognized visually.
Document ID
20040089709
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Collister, J. W.
(Indiana University Bloomington 47405, United States)
Lichtfouse, E.
Hieshima, G.
Hayes, J. M.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Organic geochemistry
Volume: 21
Issue: 7-Jun
ISSN: 0146-6380
Subject Category
Exobiology
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1940
CONTRACT_GRANT: DE-FG02-88ER13978
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Exobiology

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