Hay, W. W. (1995) Paleoceanography of Marine Organic-Carbon-Rich Sediments. In: Paleogeography, Paleoclimate, and Source Rocks. , ed. by Huc, Alain-Yves. Studies in Geology, 40 . American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, pp. 21-59. ISBN 0-89181-048-X

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Abstract

Marine organic-carbon-rich deposits occur where there is an ample rain of organic particulate material to the sea floor and conditions favorable to its preservation. It was originally thought that the accumulation of organic carbon (Corg) was dependent mostly on anoxic conditions at the site of deposition; two such environments, the stagnant basin and the O2 minimum, were often cited as models. High productivity in the overlying waters has become recognized to be of greater importance. In an overall evaluation of burial of Corg in marine sediments, it is apparent that terrigenous input of organic matter is the largest source, followed by marine organic matter fixed in highly productive coastal areas receiving nutrients from land. In terms of rich accumulations of marine organic matter most likely to generate petroleum, areas of ocean upwelling along continental margins are most significant.

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