Abstract
The Ocean Anoxic Event 1 (OAE-1) in central sites of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin exhibits very reducing depositional conditions of sedimentation. These sedimentation events have left a distinct mixture of hydrocarbons that are represented by C22–C30 n-alkanes with a predominance of the even-carbon-number homologues, high relative proportions of squalane and C16–C24 n-alkylcyclopentanes predominated by n-undecyl-, n-tridecyl- and n-pentadecylcyclopentane. Other minor compounds encompass a series of C18–C21 n-alkylcyclohexanes and C18–C24 dimethyl n-alkylcyclohexanes maximized by the even-carbon-number homologues as well as iso- and anteiso-alkanes. This unusual distribution of n-alkanes in this environment provides a new case for comparison with previously reported hypersaline and phosphorite sedimentary deposits where the occurrence of similar n-alkane distributions was reported. In the present case, these major n-alkanes and squalane are indicative of transformation under strong reducing conditions. In contrast, the occurrence of the alkylcyclopentanes, irrespective of the presence of even-carbon-number n-alkanes or squalane, suggests that reductive cyclization of fatty acids is less dependent on strong reducing conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brassell SC, Wardroper AMK, Thomson ID, Maxwell JR, Eglinton G (1981) Specific acyclic isoprenoids as biological markers of methanogenic bacteria in marine sediments. Nature 290:693–696
Debyser Y, Pelet R, Dastillung M (1977) Géochimie organique des sédiments marins récents: Mer Noire, Baltique, Atlantique (Mauritanie). In: Campos R, Goñi J (eds) Advances in organic geochemistry 1975. Enadimsa, Madrid, pp 289–320
Dong J-Z, Vorkink WP, Milton LL (1993) Origin of long-chain alkylcyclohexanes and alkylbenzenes in a coal-bed wax. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 57:837–849
Einsele G (1992) Sedimentary basins. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
García-Mondéjar J, Agirrezabala LM, Aramburu A, Fernandez-Mendiola PA, Gomez-Perez I, Lopez-Horgue M, Rosales I (1996) The Aptian-Albian tectonic pattern of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin (northern Spain). Geol J 31:13–45
Grimalt J, Albaigés J (1987) Sources and occurrence of C12–C22 n-alkane distribution with even carbon-number preference in sedimentary environment. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 51:1379–1384
Grimalt J, Albaigés J, Al-Saad HT, Douabul AAZ (1985) n-Alkane distributions in surface sediments from the Arabian Gulf. Naturwissenschaften 72:35–37
Grimalt JO, Albaigés J, Alexander G, Hazai I (1986) Predominance of even carbon numbered n-alkanes in coal seam of Nograd Basin. Naturwissenschaften 73:729–731
Holzer G, Oro J, Tornabene TG (1979) Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of neutral lipids from methanogenic and thermoacidophilic bacteria. J Chromatogr 186:795–800
Jenkyns HC (1980) Cretaceous anoxic events: from continents to oceans. J Geol Soc Lond 137:171–188
Kennicutt MC II, Brooks JM (1990) Unusual normal alkane distributions in offshore New Zealand sediments. Org Geochem 15:193–197
Kvenvolden K (1970) Evidence for transformation of normal fatty acids in sediments. In: Hobson GD, Spears GC (eds) Advances in organic geochemistry 1966. Pergamon, Oxford, pp 335–366
Nishimura M, Baker EW (1986) Possible origin of n-alkanes with a remarkable even-to-odd predominance in recent marine sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 50:299–305
Ogihara S, Ishiwatari R (1998) Unusual distribution of hydrocarbons in a hydrothermally altered phosphorite nodule from Kusu Basin, northern Kyushu, Japan. Org Geochem 29:155–161
Rubinstein I, Strausz OP (1979) Geochemistry of the thiourea adduct fraction from an Alberta petroleum. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 43:1387–1392
ten Haven HL, de Leeuw JW, Sinninghe Damste JS, Schenck PA, Palmer SE, Zumberge JE (1988) Application of biological markers in the recognition of palaeohypersaline environments. In: Fleets AJ, Kelts K, Talbot MR (eds) Lacustrine petroleum source rocks. Geological Society special publication no. 40. Geological Society, pp 123–130
Tissot B, Pelet R, Roucache J, Combaz A (1977) Alkanes as geochemical fossil indicators of geological environments. In: Campos R, Goñi J (eds) Advances in organic geochemistry 1975. Enadimsa, Madrid, pp 117–154
Volkman JK, Johns RB, Gillan FT, Perry GJ, Bavor HJ (1980) Microbial liquids of an intertidal sediment – I. Fatty acids and hydrocarbons. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 44:1133–1143
Welte DH, Waples DW (1973) Uber die Bevorzugung geradzahlinger n-alkane in sedimentgesteinen. Naturwissenschaften 60:516–517
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chaler, R., Dorronsoro, C., Grimalt, J.O. et al. Distributions of C22–C30 even-carbon-number n-alkanes in Ocean Anoxic Event 1 samples from the Basque-Cantabrian Basin. Naturwissenschaften 92, 221–225 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-005-0616-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-005-0616-2