Biomarker Assemblages of Resin-Genetic Immature Source Rocks and Their Geological Significance

In view of the exploration cases of immature coal-associated hydrocarbons in the world, it can be seen that resinite and exudatinite are important macerals in Huangxian and Baise brown coals on the basis of a random sampling investigation from twelve Chinese Tertiary coal-bearing basins, and resin-genetlc compounds, i.e. isopimarane, abietane, simonellite, retene, etc., account for 60% and more of total hydrocarbon fractions in the soluble parts of both the brown coals. Owing to the effect of redox environmental factors during sedimentary and diagenetic phases, the aromaticity of resin-genetic compounds is apparently different in both kinds of brown coals, it probably is one of the important reasons why naphthenic base or aromatic base oils have resulted.