Sterane and triterpane biomarkers in the Precambrian Nonesuch Formation, North American Midcontinent Rift

Lisa M. Pratt; Roger E. Summons; Glenn B. Hieshima

doi:10.1016/0016-7037(91)90351-5

Sterane and triterpane biomarkers in the Precambrian Nonesuch Formation, North American Midcontinent Rift

Lisa M. Pratt^*, Roger E. Summons, Glenn B. Hieshima

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

73 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Molecular fossils and organic matter from microbial communities living around 1.1 Ga ago are well preserved in the Nonesuch Formation of the US Midcontinent Rift System. Although some compound classes of biological markers have been recognized repeatedly in previous studies of Nonesuch rocks and associated petroleums, steranes and triterpanes have not been detected. Failure to detect these compounds was due primarily to instrumental limitations and the relatively high thermal maturity of samples collected within zones of copper mineralization. Our analyses of Nonesuch samples from the White Pine Mine and nonmineralized localities in Michigan and Wisconsin reveal suites of C₂₆-C₃₀ steranes and C₂₇-C₃₅ pentacyclic triterpanes similar to those found in Phanerozoic oils and sedimentary rocks of marine origin. Stereoisomeric distributions in the Nonesuch samples are consistent with moderate thermal maturity except in the mineralized zone near White Pine.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	911-916
Number of pages	6
Journal	Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Volume	55
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(91)90351-5
Publication status	Published - 1991

Access to Document

10.1016/0016-7037(91)90351-5

Cite this

@article{36a47036bd6f4fd089dd86e40b05ec81,

title = "Sterane and triterpane biomarkers in the Precambrian Nonesuch Formation, North American Midcontinent Rift",

abstract = "Molecular fossils and organic matter from microbial communities living around 1.1 Ga ago are well preserved in the Nonesuch Formation of the US Midcontinent Rift System. Although some compound classes of biological markers have been recognized repeatedly in previous studies of Nonesuch rocks and associated petroleums, steranes and triterpanes have not been detected. Failure to detect these compounds was due primarily to instrumental limitations and the relatively high thermal maturity of samples collected within zones of copper mineralization. Our analyses of Nonesuch samples from the White Pine Mine and nonmineralized localities in Michigan and Wisconsin reveal suites of C26-C30 steranes and C27-C35 pentacyclic triterpanes similar to those found in Phanerozoic oils and sedimentary rocks of marine origin. Stereoisomeric distributions in the Nonesuch samples are consistent with moderate thermal maturity except in the mineralized zone near White Pine.",

author = "Pratt, {Lisa M.} and Summons, {Roger E.} and Hieshima, {Glenn B.}",

year = "1991",

doi = "10.1016/0016-7037(91)90351-5",

language = "English",

volume = "55",

pages = "911--916",

journal = "Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta",

issn = "0016-7037",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Sterane and triterpane biomarkers in the Precambrian Nonesuch Formation, North American Midcontinent Rift

AU - Pratt, Lisa M.

AU - Summons, Roger E.

AU - Hieshima, Glenn B.

PY - 1991

Y1 - 1991

N2 - Molecular fossils and organic matter from microbial communities living around 1.1 Ga ago are well preserved in the Nonesuch Formation of the US Midcontinent Rift System. Although some compound classes of biological markers have been recognized repeatedly in previous studies of Nonesuch rocks and associated petroleums, steranes and triterpanes have not been detected. Failure to detect these compounds was due primarily to instrumental limitations and the relatively high thermal maturity of samples collected within zones of copper mineralization. Our analyses of Nonesuch samples from the White Pine Mine and nonmineralized localities in Michigan and Wisconsin reveal suites of C26-C30 steranes and C27-C35 pentacyclic triterpanes similar to those found in Phanerozoic oils and sedimentary rocks of marine origin. Stereoisomeric distributions in the Nonesuch samples are consistent with moderate thermal maturity except in the mineralized zone near White Pine.

AB - Molecular fossils and organic matter from microbial communities living around 1.1 Ga ago are well preserved in the Nonesuch Formation of the US Midcontinent Rift System. Although some compound classes of biological markers have been recognized repeatedly in previous studies of Nonesuch rocks and associated petroleums, steranes and triterpanes have not been detected. Failure to detect these compounds was due primarily to instrumental limitations and the relatively high thermal maturity of samples collected within zones of copper mineralization. Our analyses of Nonesuch samples from the White Pine Mine and nonmineralized localities in Michigan and Wisconsin reveal suites of C26-C30 steranes and C27-C35 pentacyclic triterpanes similar to those found in Phanerozoic oils and sedimentary rocks of marine origin. Stereoisomeric distributions in the Nonesuch samples are consistent with moderate thermal maturity except in the mineralized zone near White Pine.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0025956072&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/0016-7037(91)90351-5

DO - 10.1016/0016-7037(91)90351-5

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0025956072

SN - 0016-7037

VL - 55

SP - 911

EP - 916

JO - Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

JF - Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

IS - 3

ER -

Sterane and triterpane biomarkers in the Precambrian Nonesuch Formation, North American Midcontinent Rift

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this