Organic geochemistry of sediments from the southern California borderland, Deep Sea Drilling Project, Leg 63.

Abstract

Selected core samples from the California Continental Borderland were analyzed to evaluate the nature and composition of the lipids and kerogens in terms of their genetic origin and geological maturity. The lipids were of a multiple origin. They were derived from primary autochthonous marine (microbial), from allochthonous terrigenous (higher plant wax), and from recycled (geologically mature organic matter) sources. The kerogens were composed of principally marine microbial detritus with a minor input of allochthonous terrestrial material. For the most part, the samples had undergone a thermal maturation according to a normal geothermal graident.-from Authors