The palaeobiology and geochemistry of Precambrian hydrocarbon source rocks

Craig, Jonathan; Biffi, Ulderico; Galimberti, R.; Ghori, K. A. R.; Gorter, John D.; Hakhoo, Naveen; Heron, Daniel Paul Le; Thurow, Juergen W; Vecoli, Marco

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.09.011

Cited by 118 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 238 publications

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“…10a). This is not unusual as Precambrian fine grained rocks are likely to contain OM derived almost exclusively from microbial mat grounds (Craig et al, 2013). Furthermore, the distribution showed no evidence for biodegradation, as 25-norhopanes, which can be formed during biodegradation (Bennett et al, 2006), were absent from the Walton-2 slices.…”

Section: Biomarkersmentioning

confidence: 87%

Assessing the syngeneity and indigeneity of hydrocarbons in the ∼1.4Ga Velkerri Formation, McArthur Basin, using slice experiments

Flannery

George

2014

Organic Geochemistry

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Section: Biomarkersmentioning

confidence: 87%

Assessing the syngeneity and indigeneity of hydrocarbons in the ∼1.4Ga Velkerri Formation, McArthur Basin, using slice experiments

Flannery

George

2014

Organic Geochemistry

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“…In source rocks, the UCM is commonly attributed to either reworking of the organic matter by heterotrophic micro-organisms either in the water column, or within a microbial mat (e.g., Craig et al 2013;Li, Cao, Hu, & Luo, 2015). Similar modern environments with microbially derived UCMs include sediments from Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia and St Croix, US Virgin Islands (Reitner et al 2000), and iron-rich biofilms in Sweden (Heim, Quéric, Ionescu, Schäfer, & Reitner, 2017).…”

Section: Saturated Steranes Are Below Detection Limits In All Velkerrimentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial assemblage and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the 1.38 Ga Velkerri Formation, McArthur Basin, northern Australia

et al. 2019

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The ca . 1.38 billion years (Ga) old Roper Group of the McArthur Basin, northern Australia, is one of the most extensive Proterozoic hydrocarbon‐bearing units. Organic‐rich black siltstones from the Velkerri Formation were deposited in a deep‐water sequence and were analysed to determine their organic geochemical (biomarker) signatures, which were used to interpret the microbial diversity and palaeoenvironment of the Roper Seaway. The indigenous hydrocarbon biomarker assemblages describe a water column dominated by bacteria with large‐scale heterotrophic reworking of the organic matter in the water column or bottom sediment. Possible evidence for microbial reworking includes a large unresolved complex mixture ( UCM ), high ratios of mid‐chained and terminally branched monomethyl alkanes relative to n ‐alkanes—features characteristic of indigenous Proterozoic bitumen. Steranes, biomarkers for single‐celled and multicellular eukaryotes, were below detection limits in all extracts analysed, despite eukaryotic microfossils having been previously identified in the Roper Group, albeit largely in organically lean shallower water facies. These data suggest that eukaryotes, while present in the Roper Seaway, were ecologically restricted and contributed little to export production. The 2,3,4‐ and 2,3,6‐trimethyl aryl isoprenoids ( TMAI ) were absent or in very low concentration in the Velkerri Formation. The low abundance is primary and not caused by thermal destruction. The combination of increased dibenzothiophene in the Amungee Member of the Velkerri Formation and trace metal redox geochemistry suggests that degradation of carotenoids occurred during intermittent oxygen exposure at the sediment–water interface and/or the water column was rarely euxinic in the photic zone and likely only transiently euxinic at depth. A comparison of this work with recently published biomarker and trace elemental studies from other mid‐Proterozoic basins demonstrates that microbial environments, water column geochemistry and basin redox were heterogeneous.

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“…Not all of the workshop discussion time was taken up with academic research objectives. The research community is well aware of the resource potential of many Neoproterozoic successions, particularly hydrocarbons (Craig et al, 2013), and strata-bound mineral deposits (these are numerous but examples include economic deposits of Au, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and P). The great transgressive sequences above the Neoproterozoic glacial deposits are particularly attractive hydrocarbon targets, and the rift basins that formed during the breakup of Rodinia are very rich in sedimentary exhalative mineral deposits.…”

Section: Beyond a Scientific Drilling Initiativementioning

confidence: 99%