Geomolecules in the Late Jurassic Claudia paleo-geothermal field: evidence of a complex geological and biological environment

TEECE, B.; GUIDO, D.; CAMPBELL, K.; VAN KRANENDONK, M.; GALAR, A.; GEORGE, S.

Conferencia; Goldschmidt Conference; 2022

Results from Claudia indicate that the distal sinter apron yields exceptional preservation of indigenous OM compared to more proximal facies. In particular, abundant, thermally immature biomarkers are preserved, consistent with the lower overall fluid temperatures of distal hot spring facies. In contrast, homohopane ratios show that the OM of the proximal apron is of mixed thermal maturity and is in low abundance. Biomarkers reveal the presence of terrigenous OM, cyanobacteria, chemotrophic bacteria, methanotrophic bacteria, and algae.