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Molecular fossils in Cretaceous condensate from western India

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Abstract

The present study reports the biomarker distribution of condensate belonging to the early Cretaceous time frame using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The early Cretaceous palaeoenvironment was inscribed into these molecular fossils which reflected the source and conditions of deposition of the condensate. The saturate fraction of the condensate is characterized by normal alkanes ranging from n-C9 to n-C29 (CPI-1.13), cycloalkanes and C14 and C15 sesquiterpanes. The aromatic fraction comprises of naphthalene, phenanthrene, their methylated derivatives and cyclohexylbenzenes. Isohexylalkylnaphthalenes, a product of rearrangement process of terpenoids, is detected in the condensate. Several aromatic sesquiterpenoids and diterpenoids have been recorded. Dihydro-ar-curcumene, cadalene and ionene form the assemblage of sesquiterpenoids which are indicative of higher plant input. Aromatic diterpenoid fraction comprises of simonellite and retene. These compounds are also indicative of higher plants, particularly conifer source which had been a predominant flora during the Cretaceous time.

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Acknowledgements

S Dutta is thankful to Department of Science and Technology (DST), India for providing financial support to procure GC–MS under FIST Programme. University Grants Commission (UGC) is also acknowledged for giving PhD scholarship to Sharmila Bhattacharya. The authors also thank Oil India Limited, Jodhpur, India for providing condensate sample from Jaisalmer basin, Rajasthan. IIT Bombay is acknowledged for providing infrastructure for research work. The authors also thank Prof. Ken Sawada and Prof. G V R Prasad for their valuable and constructive comments that enhanced the quality of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400 076, India.

    Sharmila Bhattacharya & Suryendu Dutta

  2. Geoscience Department, Oil India Limited, Jodhpur, 342 005, Rajasthan, India.

    Ratul Dutta

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  1. Sharmila Bhattacharya
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  2. Suryendu Dutta
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  3. Ratul Dutta
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Correspondence to Sharmila Bhattacharya.

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Bhattacharya, S., Dutta, S. & Dutta, R. Molecular fossils in Cretaceous condensate from western India. J Earth Syst Sci 123, 923–934 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-014-0453-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-014-0453-9

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