Source and maturity of organic matter in glacial and Cretaceous sediments from Prydz Bay, Antarctica, ODP Holes 739C and 741A uri icon

abstract

  • Organic matter in Miocene glacial sediments in Hole 739C on the Antarctic Shelf represents erosional recycled contintental material. Various indications of maturity in bulk organic matter, kerogens, and extracts imply that an exposed section of mature organic carbon-rich material was present during the Miocene. Based on biomarker, n-alkane, and kerogen analysis, a massive diamictite of early Eocene/Oligocene age at Hole 739C contains immature organic matter. Siliciclastic fluviatile sediments of Lower Cretaceous age from Hole 741A were analyzed. The organic matter from this hole contains immature aliphatic and aromatic biomarkers as well as a suite of odd carbon number-dominated n-alkanes. Visual examination and pyrolysis analysis of the kerogen suggests that predominantly immature terrestrial organic matter is present at Hole 741A. -from Authors

published proceedings

  • Proc., scientific results, ODP, Leg 119, Kerguelen Plateau-Prydz Bay

author list (cited authors)

  • McDonald, T. J., Kennicutt, M. C., Rafalska, J. K., & Fox, R. G.

complete list of authors

  • McDonald, TJ||Kennicutt, MC||Rafalska, JK||Fox, RG

publication date

  • January 1991