Possible Significance of the Relative Concentrations of Terpanes, Terpenes, Steranes, and Cadalene in Six United States Coals

1 March 1981

journal article
Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Chromatographic Science

Vol. 19 (3) , 156-160
https://doi.org/10.1093/chromsci/19.3.156

Abstract

The relative concentration of terpanes, terpenes, steranes, and cadalene in three pairs of United States coal samples of different ages was studied using the technique of pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/computer. A decrease in concentrations of the C₂₉ and C₃₀ 17β(H), 21α(H) moretanes, the C₂₇, C₂₉, and C₃₀ 17β(H), and 21β(H) hopanes, and the C₂₇, C₂₉, and C₃₀ hop-17(21)-enes is observed relative to that of the C₂₇, C₂₉, and C₃₀ 17α(H), 21β(H) hopanes with increased maturity of the coal. Generally, there is a decrease in total concentration of triterpanes, triterpenes, sesquiterpanes, steranes, and cadalene with increased maturity of the coal pairs. Although most of the variation in the composition of the biological markers can be explained on the basis of maturation, certain abrupt appearance or disappearance of specific “biomarkers” noted in samples at different maturation stages suggest that this may be a reflection of indigenous changes in flora during sedimentation.

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