Changes

Thermal maturity is the extent of heat-driven reactions that alter the composition of organic matter (e.g., conversion of sedimentary organic matter to [[petroleum]] or [[cracking]] of oil to [[gas]].) Different geochemical scales, such as [[vitrinite reflectance]], [[pyrolysis]] T_max, and [[biomarker]] maturity ratios can be used to indicate the level of thermal maturity of organic matter.<ref name=Petersetal_2012>Peters, Kenneth E., David J. Curry, and Marek Kacewicz, 2012, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/hedberg4/INTRODUCTION/INTRODUCTION.HTM An overview of basin and petroleum system modeling: Definitions and concepts], ''in'' Peters, Kenneth E., David J. Curry, and Marek Kacewicz, eds., Basin modeling: New horizons in research and applications: [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=1106 AAPG Hedberg Series no. 4], p. 1-16.</ref>

Thermal maturity is the extent of heat-driven reactions that alter the composition of organic matter (e.g., conversion of sedimentary organic matter to [[petroleum]] or [[cracking]] of oil to [[gas]].) Different geochemical scales, such as [[vitrinite reflectance]], [[pyrolysis]] T_max, and [[biomarker]] maturity ratios can be used to indicate the level of thermal maturity of organic matter.<ref name=Petersetal_2012>Peters, Kenneth E., David J. Curry, and Marek Kacewicz, 2012, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/hedberg4/INTRODUCTION/INTRODUCTION.HTM An overview of basin and petroleum system modeling: Definitions and concepts], ''in'' Peters, Kenneth E., David J. Curry, and Marek Kacewicz, eds., Basin modeling: New horizons in research and applications: [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=1106 AAPG Hedberg Series no. 4], p. 1-16.</ref>

Many of the elements of basin modeling programs—maturation of source rocks, reservoir diagenesis, and [[porosity]] evolution—are affected by thermal and burial history.<ref name=ch17r91>van Gizjel, P., 1980, Characterization and identification of kerogen and bitumen and determination of thermal maturation by means of qualitative and quantitative microscopical techniques, in How to Assess Maturation and Paleotemperatures: SEPM Short Course Notes, p. 1–56.</ref><ref name=ch17r70>Pradier, B., Bertrand, P., Martinez, L., Laggoun-Defarge, F., 1991, Fluorescence of organic matter and thermal maturity assessment: Organic Geochemistry, vol. 17, no. 4, p. 511–524, DOI: 10.1016/0146-6380(91)90115-Z.</ref> Thermal maturation data used to model these parameters are usually derived from fossils.

Many of the elements of basin modeling programs—maturation of source rocks, reservoir [[diagenesis]], and [[porosity]] evolution—are affected by thermal and burial history.<ref name=ch17r91>van Gizjel, P., 1980, Characterization and identification of kerogen and bitumen and determination of thermal maturation by means of qualitative and quantitative microscopical techniques, in How to Assess Maturation and Paleotemperatures: SEPM Short Course Notes, p. 1–56.</ref><ref name=ch17r70>Pradier, B., Bertrand, P., Martinez, L., Laggoun-Defarge, F., 1991, Fluorescence of organic matter and thermal maturity assessment: Organic Geochemistry, vol. 17, no. 4, p. 511–524, DOI: 10.1016/0146-6380(91)90115-Z.</ref> Thermal maturation data used to model these parameters are usually derived from fossils.

The following table shows which fossil material changes appearance due to thermal stress and therefore can be used as organic geothermometers.

The following table shows which fossil material changes appearance due to thermal stress and therefore can be used as organic geothermometers.