ACCUMULATION DYNAMICS OF DISPERSED ORGANIC MATTER IN MARINE SEDIMENTS AND VARIATIONS IN DISPLACEMENT VELOCITIES OF CRUSTAL PLATES

Abstract

The contents of dispersed organic matter vary widely in sedimentary sections at continental margins, and show a wide variation, in particular a cyclicity, which coincides with the periodicity in the occurrence of oil not only in specific shelf regions but also as averaged over all the oceans. The Phanerozoic curves for the distribution of dispersed organic matter in continental basins is approximately the same as the global curve for extractable oil reserves. The evident reason for this is similarity in the facts responsible for accumulation of dispersed organic matter and for generation, migration, and accumulation of oil. The distribution of dispersed organic matter in time and space is a major aspect of the geochemistry and petroleum geology. While the zones of varying concentrations of dispersed organic matter in the oceans and continents are determined in the main by geomorphology, facies, and biocenoses, the nature of the age-dependent variations in average levels of dispersed organic matter has not been adequately elucidated, nor has the global character of the variations. The present study attempts to elucidate these phenomena from the viewpoint of plate tectonics. 12 references.