Detailed analysis of the organic carbon content in sediment cores M0002 and M0004

The lower half of this sequence is composed of organic-carbon-rich (black shale-type) sediments with total organic carbon contents of about 1–14%. Significant amounts of the organic matter preserved in these sediments is of algae-type origin and accumulated under anoxic/euxinic conditions.

Here, for the first time detailed data on the source-rock potential of these black shales are presented, indicating that most of the Eocene sediments have a (fair to) good source-rock potential, prone to generate a gas/oil mixture. The source-rock potential of the Campanian and upper Paleocene sediments, on the other hand, is rather low. The presence of oil or gas already generated in situ, however, can be ruled out due to the immaturity of the ACEX sediments.