Premium
A NEW CLASSIFICATION FOR THE ORGANIC COMPONENTS OF KEROGEN
Author(s) -
Massoud M. S.,
Kinghorn R. R. F.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of petroleum geology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1747-5457
pISSN - 0141-6421
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-5457.1985.tb00192.x
Subject(s) - kerogen , inertinite , liptinite , vitrinite , geology , geochemistry , mineralogy , carbonate , sedimentary rock , source rock , organic chemistry , paleontology , chemistry , structural basin
A new classification is proposed for the components of kerogen, in which phytoclasts are separated into four groups: keroginite, liptinite, vitrinite and inertinite. The “keroginite group” includes the finely comminuted or structureless sapropelic material which constitutes the main organic components of hydrogen‐rich oil‐prone kerogens (types I and II). The “liptinitegroup” encompasses all structured sapropelic phytoclasts which are derived from the remains of waxy and fatty plant tissues, such as algae, spores, pollen and cuticles. When found in marine sediments, they are usually hydrogen depleted and gas prone (type III kerogen) due to their degradation during transportation from land. The “vitrinitegroup” incorporatess tructured and apparently unstructured woody tissues which correspond to first and second cycle vitrinites and form the main constituents of the gas‐prone type III kerogen. The “inertiniteg roup” comprises the charcoal‐ or graphite‐like ph ytoclasts which have undergone natural carbonization prior to incorporation into sediments, and have no convertibility to hydrocarbons.