Abstract
In this work, the organic matter content present in core samples from the Mahogany Zone of the Green River Formation was examined in order to better understand the sources of organic matter, thermal maturity, and environmental conditions of deposition. The preserved organic matter is rich in n-alkanes, especially long odd carbon chain n-alkanes (≥ C25), which is derived from terrestrial sources and some algae. Contributions from an aquatic source were also identified during certain periods. This is aligned with records that showed that Green River Formation was formed during climate changes during the Eocene, with alternating periods of intense rain fall and drought periods, resulting in different organic matter sources. The n-alkanes detected ranged from n-C14 to n-C37, with n-C31 and n-C29 prevailing. Typical proxies, such as carbon preference index (CPI) and n-C17/n-C31, were applied in order to assure that the main sources of organic matter were terrestrial and aquatic sources alternated. Types of kerogen were identified using the occurrence of pristane and phytane, which indicates that kerogen type III predominates. The same compounds indicate alternating periods of anoxic and oxic deposition of organic matter. The maturity was assessed by proxies involving selected individual hopanes and steranes. The results indicate that most of sections of core are composed of mature organic matter. Finally, the deposition occurred under mostly anoxic conditions. The stages of lake formation may have controlled deposition as well as the organic matter source.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adegoke AK, Hasiah W, Mohammed A, Hakimi H, Yandoka MS (2015) Geochemical characterisation and organic matter enrichment of Upper Cretaceous Gongila shales from Chad (Bornu) Basin, northeastern Nigeria: Bioproductivity versus anoxia conditions. J Petrol Sci Eng 135:73–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2015.08.012
Anders DE, Robinson WE (1971) Cycloalkane constituents of the bitumen from Green River Shale. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 35:661–678
Anders DE (1973) Geochemical aspects of the saturated hydrocarbon constituents of Green River oil shale-Colorado No. 1 Core, Bureau Of Mines Report of Investigations - 1973 RI 7737, 26
Aquino Neto FR, Restle A, Connan J, Albrecht P, Ourisson G (1982) Noved tricyclic terpanes (C19, C20) in sediments and petroleums. Tetrahedron Lett 23:2027–2030. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(00)87251-2
Bata T, Parnell J, Bowden S, Boyce A (2016) Origin of heavy oil in Cretaceous petroleum reservoirs. Bull Can Pet Geol 64(2):106–118. https://doi.org/10.2113/gscpgbull.64.2.106
Bohacs KM, Grabowski GJ, Carroll AR, Mankiewicz PJ, Miskell-Gerhardt KJ, Schwalbach JR, Wegner MB, Simo JA (2005) Production, destruction, and dilution - the many paths to source-rock development, in Harris, N.B., ed., The deposition of organic-carbon-rich sediments: models, mechanisms and consequences, SEPM Special. Publication 82:61–102
Bohacs KM, Lazar OR (2010) Sequence stratigraphy in fine-grained rocks, in Schieber, J., Lazar, O.R., and Bohacs, K.M., eds., Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of Shales: Expressions and Correlation of Depositional Sequences in the Devonian of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana, AAPG 2010 Annual Convention, Field Guide for SEPM Field Trip 10
Bradley WH (1931) Origin and microfossils of the oil shale of the Green River formation of Colorado and Utah U.S. Geol Surv Prof Pap. 168:58. https://doi.org/10.3133/pp168
Bradley WH (1970) Green River oil shale–concept of origin extended: an interdisciplinary problem being attacked from both ends. Geol Soc Am Bull 81:985–1000
Bradley WH, Eugster HP (1969) Geochemistry and paleolimnology of the trona deposits and associated authigenic minerals of the Green River Formation of Wyoming. U.S. Govt. Print. Off. https://doi.org/10.3133/pp496B
Bray EE, Evans ED (1961) Distribution of n-paraffins as a clue to recognition of source beds. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 22:2–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(61)90069-2
Brocks J, Summons RE (2003) Sedimentary hydrocarbons, biomarkers for early life. Treatise on Geochemistry 8:63–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-043751-6/08127-5
Castro JM, Guillen GAG, Quijano ML, Aguado R, Froehner S, Naafs DA, Pancost RD (2019) Complex and protracted environmental and ecological perturbations during OAE 1a - evidence from an expanded pelagic section from south Spain (Western Tethys). Global Planet Change 183:103030. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2019.103030
Cestari N (2015) Reservoir and source potential of Eocene microbialites, Green River Formation, USA. Dissertation of Master Science. University of Kansas. USA
Chen F, Fang N, Shi Z (2016) Using biomarkers as fingerprint properties to identify sediment sources in a small catchment. Sci Total Environ 557–558:123–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.028
Chevalier N, Savoye N, Dubois S, Lama L (2015) Precise índices based on n-alkane distribution for quantifying sources of sedimentary organic matter in coastal systems. Org Geochem 88:69–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2015.07.006
Collister JW, Lichtfouse E, Hieshima G, Hayes JM (1994) Partial resolution of sources of n-alkanes in the saline portion of the Parachute Creek Member, Green River Formation (Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado). Org Geochem 21:645–659. https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(94)90010-8
Cooper JE, Bray EE (1963) A postulated role of fatty acids in petroleum formation. Oeochimica Et Cosmochimica Acts 27:1113–1127
De Grande SMB, Aquino Neto FR, Mello MR (1993) Extended tricyclic terpanes in sediments and petroleum. Org Geochem 20:1039–1047. https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(93)90112-O
Desborough GA (1978) A biogenic chemical stratified lake model for the origin of oil shale of the Green River Formation: an alternative to the Playa Lake Model. Geol Soc Am Bull 89(7):961–971. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1978)89%3c961:ABSLMF%3e2.0.CO;2
Didyk BM, Simoneit BRT, Brassel SC, Eglington G (1978) Organic geochemical indicators of palaeoenvironmental conditions of sedimentation. Nature 272:216–222. https://doi.org/10.1038/272216a0
Djuricic M, Murphy RC, Vitorovic D, Biemann K (1971) Organic acids obtained by alkaline permanganate oxidation of kerogen from the Green River (Colorado) shale. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 35:1201–1207. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(71)90111-6
Eglington TI, Eglington G (2008) Molecular proxies for paleoclimatology. Earth Planetary Science Letters 275:1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.Epsl.2008.07.012
Eglington G, Hamilton RJ (1967) Leaf epicutiliar waxes. Science 156:1322–1335. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.156.3780.1322
Eugster HP, Surdam RC (1973) Depositional environment of the Green River Formation of Wyoming, a preliminary report. Geol Soc Am Bull 84(4):1115–1120. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1973)84%3c1115:DEOTGR%3e2.0.CO;2
Fazeela T, Asif M, Jalees MI, Saleem A, Nazir A, Saleem H, Nasir S, Nadeem S (2011) Source correlation between biodegraded oil seeps and a commercial crude oil from the Punjab Basin, Pakistan. Journal Petroleum Science Engineering 77:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2011.01.003
Feng J (2011) Source rock characterization of the Green River oil shale, Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado. Thesis of Master Science. University of Colorado
Fregatto MM (2017) Mahogany Zone: chemostratigraphic characteristic. Novas Edições Acadêmicas. São Paulo
French KL, Birdwell JE, Lewan MD (2020) Trends in thermal maturity indicators for the organic sulfur-rich Eagle Ford Shale. Mar Pet Geol 118:104459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104459
Gao Y, Han Y, Xia J, Tan J, Wang Y, Wang S (2021) Composition and distribution of aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds and biomarkers in seafloor sediments from offshore of the Leizhou Peninsula (South China). American Chemical Society Omega 6:34286–34293. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c03529
Gelpi E, Oró J, Schneider HJ, Bennett EO (1968) Olefins of high molecular weight in two microscopic algae. Science 161:700–702
Gelpi E, Schneider H, Mann J, Oro J (1970) Hydrocarbons of geochemical significance in microscopic algae. Phytochemistry 9:603–612
Hasiotis ST, Honey JG (2000) Paleohydrologic and stratigraphic significance of crayfish burrows in continental deposits: examples from several Paleocene Laramide basins in the Rocky Mountains. J Sediment Res 70:127–139. https://doi.org/10.1306/2DC40904-0E47-11D7-8643000102C1865D
Hayes JM, Takigiku R, Ocampo R, Callot HJ, Albrecht P (1987) Isotopic compositions and probable origins of organic molecules in the Eocene Messel shale. Nature 329:48–53. https://doi.org/10.1038/329048a0
Herrera-Herrera A, Leierer L, Jambrina-Enriquez M, Connolly R, Mallol C (2020) Evaluating different methods for calculating the carbon preference index (CPI): implications for palaeoecological and archaeological research. Org Geochem 156:104056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2020.104056
Hills IR, Whitehead EV, Anders DE, Cummins JJ, Robinson WE (1966) An optically active triterpane, gammacerane, in Green River Colorado oil shale bitumen. Chem Comm 20:752–754
Horsfield B, Curry DJ, Bohacs K, Littke R, Rullkotter J, Schenk HJ, Radke M, Schaefer RG, Carroll AR, Isaksen G, Witte EG (1994) Organic geochemistry of freshwater and alkaline lacustrine sediments in the Green River Formation of the Washakie Basin, Wyoming, U.S.A. Org Geochem 22:415–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(94)90117-1
Hou H, Shao L, Li Y, Liu L, Liang G, Zhang W, Wang X, Wang W (2022) Effect of paleoclimate and paleoenvironment on organic matter accumulation in lacustrine shale: constraints from lithofacies and element geochemistry in the northern Qaidam Basin, NW China. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. 208(A):109350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.109350
Huang WY, Meinschein WG (1979) Sterols as ecological indicators. Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta 43(5):739–745. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(79)90257-6
Ingram LL, Ellis J, Crsip PT, Cook AC (1983) Comparative study of oil shales and shale oils from the Mahogany zone, Green River Formation (USA) and Kerosene Creek Seam, Rundle Formation (Australia). Chem Geol 38:185–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(83)90054-2
Jimenez Martinez AE, Froehner S, Macedo Neto D, Galoski CE (2022) Detailing the organic matter in suspended sediments as a tool to assess the impact of land occupation in water bodies: a case of Barigui Watershed (Southern Brazil). Environmental Geochemistry Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-01167-8
Johnson RC, Mercier TJ, Brownfield ME, Pantea MP, Self JG (2010) An assessment of in-place oil shale resources in the Green River Formation, Piceance Basin, Colorado- U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS–69–Y, chapter 1, 187 p. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20093012
Johnson RC, Mercier TJ, Brownfield ME (2011) Assessment of in-place oil shale resources of the Green River Formation, Greater Green River Basin in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. Oil Shale Assessment Project Fact Sheet, Fact Sheet 2011–3063. USGS. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20113063
Kang S, Shao L, Qin L, Li S, Liu J, Shen W, Chen X, Eriksson KA, Zhou Q (2020) Hydrocarbon generation potential and depositional setting of Eocene oil-prone coaly source rocks in the Xihu Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin. ACS Omega 5(50):32267–32285. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c04109
Kuo LC (1994) Lower Cretaceous lacustrine source rocks in northern Gabon: effect of organic facies and thermal maturity on crude oil quality. Org Geochem 22(2):257–273. https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(94)90173-2
Li Z, Suna Y, Niea X (2020) Biomarkers as a soil organic carbon tracer of sediment: recent advances and challenges. Earth-Sci Rev 208:103277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103277
Lu X, Li M, Wang X, Wei T, Tang W, Hong H, Wu C, Yang C, Liu Y (2021) Distribution and geochemical significance of rearranged hopanes in jurassic source rocks and related oils in the center of the Sichuan Basin, China. ACS Omega 6:13588–13600. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c00252
Mackenzie AS, Hoffmann CF, Maxwell JR (1981) Molecular parameters of maturation in the Toarcian shales, Paris Basin, France—III. Changes in aromatic steroid hydrocarbons. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 45(8):1345–1355. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(81)90227-1
Marshall AO, Cestari N (2015) Biomarker analysis of samples visually identified as microbial in the Eocene Green River Formation: an analogue for mars. Astrobiology 15(9):770–775. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2015.1339
Mazurek M, Hurford AJ, Leu W (2006) Unravelling the multi-stage burial history of the Swiss Molasse Basin: integration of apatite fission track, vitrinite reflectance and biomarker isomerisation analysis. Basin Res 18(1):27–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2117.2006.00286.x
Moldowan JM, Sundaraman P, Schoell M (1986) Sensitivity of biomarker properties to depositional environment and/or source input in the Lower Toarcian of SW-Germany. Org Geochem 10(4–6):915–926. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0146-6380(86)80029-8
Nichols PD, Palmisano AC, Rayner MS, Smith GA, White DC (1990) Occurrence of novel C30 sterols in Antarctic sea-ice diatom communities during a spring bloom. Org Geochem 15:503–508
Obermajer M, Fowler MG, Snowdon LR (1999) Depositional environment and oil generation in Ordovician source rocks from Southwestern Ontario, Canada: organic geochemical and petrological approach. AAPG Bull 83(9):1426–1453
Ourisson G, Albrecht P (1992) Hopanoids. 1. Geohopanoids: the most abundant natural products on Earth? Acc Chem Res 25:398–402. https://doi.org/10.1021/ar00021a003
Pancost RD, Boot CS (2004) The palaeoclimatic utility of terrestrial biomarkers in marine sediments. Mar Chem 92(1–4):239–261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2004.06.029
Pasley MK, Wilson EN, Abreu VS, Brandão MGP, Telles AS (1998) Lower Cretaceous stratigraphy and source rock distribution in pre-salt basins of the South Atlantic: comparison of Angola and Southern Brazil. ABGP/AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Peters KE, Moldowan JM (1991) Effects of source, thermal maturity, and biodegradation on the distribution and isomerization of homohopanes in petroleum. Org Geochem 17:47–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(91)90039-M
Peters KE, Cassa MR (1994) Applied source rock geochemistry, in The Petroleum System From Source Rock to Trap, Edited by Magoon, L.B., and W.G., Dow: AAPG Memoir 60, 93–120
Qi Z, Li Y, Wang C, Sun T, Zhang J (2017) Organic geochemistry of the paleoceneeocene oil shales of the Gongjue Formation, Nangqian basin, east-central Tibetan plateau. Oil Shale 34(1):1–14. https://doi.org/10.3176/oil.2017.1.01
Quijano ML, Castro JM, Pancost RD, de Gea G, Najarro M, Aguado R, Rosales I, Martin-Chivelet J (2012) Organic geochemistry, stable isotopes, and facies analysis of the Early Aptian OAE—new records from Spain (Western Tethys). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 365–366:276–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.09.033
Robinson WE (1979) The origin, deposition, and alteration of the organic material in Green River shale. Org Geochem 1:205–218. https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(79)90023-8
Robinson WE, Cook GL (1971) Compositional variations of the organic material of Green River oil shale- Colorado No. 1 Core, Bureau Of Mines Report of Investigations - 1971 RI 7492, p. 36
Romero AM, Philp R (2012) Organic geochemistry of the Woodford Shale, southeastern Oklahoma: how variable can shales be? AAPG Bull 96(3):493–517. https://doi.org/10.1306/08101110194
Ruble TE, Lewan MD, Philp RP (2001) New insights on the Green River petroleum system in the Uinta basin from hydrous pyrolysis experiments. AAPG Bull 85:1333–1371. https://doi.org/10.1306/0423030137r
Seifert WK, Moldowan JM (1978) Applications of steranes, terpanes and monoaromatic in the maturation, migration and source of crude oil. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 42:77–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(78)90219-3
Seifert WK, Moldowan JM (1981) Paleoreconstruction by biological markers. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 45(6):783–794. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(81)90108-3
Simoneit BRT (1984) Hydrothermal effects on organic matter—high vs low temperature components. Org Geochem 6:857–864. https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(84)90108-6
Sinninghe Damsté JS, Kenig F, Koopmans MP, Koster J, Schouten S, Hayes JM, de Leeuw JW (1995) Evidence for gammacerane as indicator of water column stratification. Geochemistry Cosmochimica Acta 59:1895–1900. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(95)00073-9
Tänavsuu-Milkeviciene K, Sarg JF (2012) Evolution of an organic-rich lake basin – stratigraphy, climate and tectonics: Piceance Creek basin. Eocene Green River Formation Sedimentology 59(6):1735–1768. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.2012.01324.x
Tao S, Wang C, Du J, Liu L (2015) Geochemical application of tricyclic and tetracyclic terpanes biomarkers in crude oils of NW China. Mar Pet Geol 67:460–467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2015.05.030
ten Haven HL, Leew JW, Rullkotter J, Sinninghe Damsté JJ (1987) Restricted utility of pristane/phytane ratio as a palaeoenvironmental indicator. Nature 330:641–643. https://doi.org/10.1038/330641a0
Tissot B, Deroo G (1978) Geochemical study of the Uinta Basin: formation of petroleum from the Green River formation. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 48:1469–1485. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(78)90018-2
Tuo JC, Wang XB, Chen JF (1999) Distribution and evolution of tricyclic terpanes in lacustrine carbones. Org Geochem 30:1429–1435
Tuttle ML (2009) A collection of chemical, mineralogical, and stable isotopic compositional data for Green River oil shale from depositional center cores in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009–1274, 18p
Volkman JK (1986) A review of sterol markers for marine and terrigenous organic matter. Org Geochem 9:83–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(86)90089-6
Wei H, Jiang X (2019) Early Cretaceous ferruginous and its control on the lacustrine organic matter accumulation: constrained by multiple proxies from the Bayingebi Formation in the Bayingebi Basin, inner Mongolia, NW China. J Petrol Sci Eng 178:162–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2019.03.037
Young DK, Yen TF (1977) The nature of straight-chain aliphatic structures in green river kerogen. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 41:1411–1417. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(77)90247-2
Zachos J, Pagani M, Sloan L, Thomas E, Billups K (2001) Trends, rhythms, and aberrations in global climate 65 Ma to present. Science 292:686–693. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1059412
Zumberge JE (1987) Terpenoid biomarker distributions in low maturity crude oils. Org Geochem 11:479–496. https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(87)90004-0
Funding
SF wishes to thank CNPq for helping in financial support (Processo 306930/2018–8). AAS thanks CNPq/Equinor for the scholarship (Processo 440126/2019–3). SF and CM thanks CAPES-Print / RIBBBA- UFPR by financial support (88887.311742/2018–00).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Santanu Banerjee
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Froehner, S., Hungerbuhler, P., Martins, C.C. et al. The Mahogany Zone, Uinta Basin, USA: insights from the organic matter evolution of oil shale, Green River Formation source, maturity, and deposition. Arab J Geosci 15, 1378 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-10653-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-10653-x