Changes

  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps

  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps

  | chapter = Applied paleontology

  | chapter = Applied paleontology

  | frompg  = 17-1

  | frompg  = 17-54

  | topg    = 17-65

  | topg    = 17-55

  | author  = Robert L. Fleisher, H. Richard Lane

  | author  = Robert L. Fleisher, H. Richard Lane

  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch17/ch17.htm

  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch17/ch17.htm

==Recognition of biotic antecedent==

==Recognition of biotic antecedent==

Extracting high abundances of specific molecular fossils from source rocks dominated by a single type of organism is a reliable means of demonstrating connection.<ref name=ch17r6>Azevedo, D., Aquino Mato, F., Simoneit, B., Pinto, A., 1992, Novel series of tricyclic aromatic terpanes characterized in Tasmanian tasmanite: Organic Geochemistry, v. 18, p. 9–16, DOI: [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/014663809290138N 10.1016/0146-6380(92)90138-N].</ref> A less certain approach, apparently valid in select cases, is based on analogy: we can infer a molecular fossil in a modern organism, identical to a compound from ancient strata, was derived from a closely related ancient organism.

Extracting high abundances of specific molecular fossils from source rocks dominated by a single type of organism is a reliable means of demonstrating connection.<ref name=ch17r6>Azevedo, D., F. Aquino Mato, B. Simoneit, and A. Pinto, 1992, Novel series of tricyclic aromatic terpanes characterized in Tasmanian tasmanite: Organic Geochemistry, v. 18, p. 9–16, DOI: [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/014663809290138N 10.1016/0146-6380(92)90138-N].</ref> A less certain approach, apparently valid in select cases, is based on analogy: we can infer a molecular fossil in a modern organism, identical to a compound from ancient strata, was derived from a closely related ancient organism.

==Limitations==

==Limitations==

* Only a few molecular fossils can be correlated to biotic antecedents confined to a narrow range of environments.

* Only a few molecular fossils can be correlated to biotic antecedents confined to a narrow range of environments.

Thus, Treibs'<ref name=ch17r89>Treibs, A., 1934, On the occurrence of chlorophyll derivates in an oil shale of the Upper Triassic Period: Annales Chimie 509, p. 103–114.</ref> discovery that derivatives of chlorophyll are widespread in oils is not useful in defining paleoenvironments because chlorophyll is environmentally ubiquitous. Volkman<ref name=ch17r93>Volkman, J., K., 1986, A review of sterol markers for marine and terrigenous organic matter: Organic Geochemistry, vol. 9, p. 83–99, DOI: [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0146638086900896 10.1016/0146-6380(86)90089-6].</ref> dispells an earlier concept that an abundance of C₂₉ sterols is evidence of terrigenous organic matter by finding abundant C₂₉ sterols in lacustrine environments.

Thus, Treibs'<ref name=ch17r89>Treibs, A., 1934, On the occurrence of chlorophyll derivates in an oil shale of the Upper Triassic Period: Annales Chimie 509, p. 103–114.</ref> discovery that derivatives of chlorophyll are widespread in oils is not useful in defining paleoenvironments because chlorophyll is environmentally ubiquitous. Volkman<ref name=ch17r93>Volkman, J. K., 1986, A review of sterol markers for marine and terrigenous organic matter: Organic Geochemistry, vol. 9, p. 83–99, DOI: [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0146638086900896 10.1016/0146-6380(86)90089-6].</ref> dispells an earlier concept that an abundance of C₂₉ sterols is evidence of terrigenous organic matter by finding abundant C₂₉ sterols in lacustrine environments.

==Methodology==

==Methodology==

[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  

[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  

[[Category:Applied paleontology]]

[[Category:Applied paleontology]]