| Abstract: | A bedrock dredging program by the R/V Sea Sounder in 1977 and 1978 along the continental slope in the eastern Gulf of Alaska revealed a previously unknown Eocene sedimentary sequence that includes argillaceous rocks with favorable petroleum source rock characteristics. Seven of 36 dredge hauls that sampled outcrop contain argillaceous rocks with more than l percent and as much as 1.64 percent organic carbon. Some of the rocks in samples of probable early Eocene age have undergone a thermal history that has resulted in generation of hydrocarbons. The organic matter appears to be hydrogen deficient, however, which could indicate that the rocks are more likely to be a source of gas rather than liquid hydrocarbon, unless the hydrogen loss is due to weathering.
The Eocene rocks are associated with sandstone and conglomerate on the continental slope. They dip northward beneath younger Tertiary strata in the outer continental shelf where they could be an important petroleum source and exploratory target. |
| Genre: | USGS Numbered Series |
| ProdID: | 10702 |
| Citation Author: | Plafker, George; Claypool, George Edwin |
| Citation Contributing Office: | |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | - |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | |
| Citation Issue: | |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | ENGLISH |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | 20 p. :ill., map ;28 cm. |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey, |
| Citation Series: | Open-File Report |
| Citation Series Code: | OFR |
| Citation Series Number: | 79-295 |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Petroleum source potential of rocks dredged from the continental slope in the eastern Gulf of Alaska; 1979; OFR; 79-295; Plafker, George; Claypool, George Edwin |
| Citation Start Page: | |
| Citation Volume: | |
| Citation Year: | 1979 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Petroleum source potential of rocks dredged from the continental slope in the eastern Gulf of Alaska; 1979; OFR; 79-295; Plafker, George; Claypool, George Edwin |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1979/0295/report-thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1979/0295/report.pdf |
| Date Other: | Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey, |
