Abstract
Project 157 of the International Geological Correlation Program is concerned with the timing of major events in biological history (such as the advent of bacterial sulfate reduction and the development of oxygen-releasing photosynthesis) and how these events may have been related to the formation of mineral and fossil fuel deposits. Both direct and indirect forms of microbial involvement are being investigated. Examples of direct involvement would be contributions of sulfate-reducing bacteria to the formation of certain stratiform sulfide mineral deposits and massive accumulation of microbial remains to form bog head coals and oil shales. An example of indirect involvement would be photosynthetic oxygenation of the Proterozoic atmosphere providing conditions amenable to the formation of red bed copper deposits. Two aspects of Project 157 are directly applicable to the search for petroleum reserves. One is the subproject thut deals with pre-Devonian crude oils; a major conclusion of our work in this area is that many Proterozoic sedimentary sequences have oil and gas potential and should not be neglected by explorationists. The other is the subproject that deals with organic diagenesis of modern microbial mat communities; among other things, work in this area should lead to the recognition of new biological tracer compounds that can be used for oil-to-source correlations.
Published Version
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