Bituminological parameters of sediments from the Central Indian Ocean

It is shown that relatively high concentrations of hydrocarbons enriched in aromatic structures (above 60%) were detected in bitumoids from the region of extensive tectonic deformations of the sedimentary cover. The main molecular structures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are homologues of naphtylene (40-60% rlt.), and phenanthrene (15-40% rlt.), biphenyl (19-30% rlt.) and benzfluorene homologues (up to 13% rlt.).

Pyrene, 1.12-benzperylene, and chrysene homologues are found in minor amounts. Such distribution of PAH is close to that in carbonic matter of high-temperature hydrothermal associations. It is shown that sediments from fracture zones and from boundaries of deformed blocks contain organic components of deep high-temperature origin.