Raman spectroscopy and biomarker analysis reveal multiple carbon inputs to a Precambrian glacial sediment
Abstract
Extractable biomarkers can help elucidate the environment and biota of ancient glaciations, although the method must be applied with care, as glacial sediments have a potential for incorporation of older detrital carbon. In Phanerozoic glacial sediments, the distinct elemental, molecular and isotopic compositions of the terrestrial and marine biomass allow discrimination between primary marine and redeposited terrestrial organic matter. However, as the Proterozoic biosphere was largely microbial and marine, biomarker and isotopic analyses are insufficient for distinguishing primary organic matter from secondary reworked organic matter. Here, we report the combined application of Raman spectroscopy and biomarker analysis to Precambrian glacial sediments, which, together, allows discrimination between mixed pools of organic carbon and provides a promising new approach for rapidly screening Precambrian sediments for immature organic matter amenable to biomarker analysis.
Additional Information
© 2009 Elsevier Ltd. Received 22 April 2009; revised 19 August 2009; accepted 25 August 2009. Available online 29 August 2009. Associate Editor—S. Schouten. We thank the Votorantim Metais company and T.F. de Oliveira for samples and the Australian Research Council and a NSF grant (EAR0418083) for funding, as well as J. Jehlička and an anonymous reviewer for constructive comments.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 17025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2009.08.006
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20091223-095612383
- Australian Research Council
- EAR-0418083
- NSF
- Created
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2010-01-05Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-08Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Caltech groups
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences