Standardization of Solid Bitumen Reflectance to Vitrinite in Some Paleozoic Sequences of Canada

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Abstract
The reflectance (R0) of solid bitumen in Ordovician to Devonian sequences in the Quebec Appalachians and in the Mackenzie area of northern Canada is standardized to the R0 of vitrinite. The migrabitumen, having autochthonous characteristics, is the best solid bitumen type to evaluate the thermal maturation from its R0 This migrabitumen is generally found as irregular high-reflecting areas, forming part of low-reflecting organic matter frameworks, called protobitumen, and appearing as amorphous bodies in transmitted light. The R0 difference between migrabitumen and protobitumen disappears with increasing maturation. Because vitrinite is missing in pre-Devonian sequences, the R0 of solid bitumens is standardized through the R- of zooclasts. The R0 of migrabitumen increases similarly to those of zooclasts and vitrinite with maturation, but no universal calibration between the R0of migrabitumen and vitrinite can be suggested. Scales of calibration are specific for different lithologies and basins. The R0 of zooclasts does not show these limitations. Scales are independent of lithological variations and of the basin origin.

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