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Biochemical indicators of diagenetic alteration in natural organic matter mixtures

Nature volume 369, pages 304–307 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

THE extent of degradation of natural organic mixtures largely determines their utility as records of depositional history, and their potential to act as nutritional substrates and fossil fuel sources. The degree of decomposition is usually inferred from the physical setting of the deposits1 or from bulk chemical composition2, but in both these cases the interpretation can be obscured by several factors3. We report here a study of aldoses and amino acids in samples collected from a variety of marine depositional environ-ments and representing widely different stages of alteration. We identify consistent trends in three compositional characteristics: the percentage of organic carbon in the form of aldoses and protein amino acids, the percentage of total nitrogen present as protein amino acids, and the percentage of total amino acids present as β-alanine and γ-aminobutyric acid. Each of these parameters is sensitive to a different stage of alteration, and they appear to be uncompromised by source variations. Applied together, they offer concordant information on the relative diagenetic stage and reaction potential of natural organic mixtures under both aerobic and anaerobic depositional conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Gregory L. Cowie

  2. School of Oceanography, University of Washington, WB-10, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

    John I. Hedges

Authors
  1. Gregory L. Cowie
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  2. John I. Hedges
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Cowie, G., Hedges, J. Biochemical indicators of diagenetic alteration in natural organic matter mixtures. Nature 369, 304–307 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/369304a0

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