FILLEY, TIMOTHY R., and PATRICK G. HATCHER, Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvannia State University, University Park, PA

ABSTRACT: Early Diagenesis of Organic Sulfur Compounds in a Freshwater Lacustrine Environment, Mud Lake, Florida

The study of sulfur incorporation into organic sediments during early diagenesis provides valuable information about the chemistry and preservation of organic sulfur species in the geologic record. A novel analytical protocol has been developed which allows for the selective chemolysis and analysis of polysulfide linkages in the presence of morelabile functionalities such as esters. Molecular contributions of both polysulfides and ester linkages to the kerogen and bitumen were subsequently determined utilizing a variety of analytical techniques. The value of this analytical scheme was established in the analysis of sediments from Mud Lake, Florida; a fresh water, sulfate reducing environment. Mud lake provides the ideal setting for an analysis of this type because the sediments contai a high organic sulfur content and a significant amount of organic sulfur is being incorporated into the macromolecular kerogen fraction early in deposition. Upon investigation, the kerogen was shown to contain moieties bound simultaneously via polysulfide and ester linkages. This study investigates the diagenetic role of polysulfides and esters in the development of macromolecular kerogen.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90987©1993 AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25-28, 1993.