Organic geochemical studies of the Muthurajawela peat deposit of Sri Lanka

C. B. Dissanayake, A. Senaratne, A. A.Leslie Gunatilaka

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Organic constituents present in the Muthurajawela peat deposit of Sri Lanka, have been investigated. Here, we report the variations with depth of sitosterol and sitostane (stigmastane), which were found to be major constituents of extracts and, hence, were selected to study the process of diagenesis. These two compounds were present in anomalous concentrations in the middle horizon of the depth profile. Considering the stratigraphy and sterol concentrations, it can be concluded that the middle horizon resulted from a sudden terrestrial input, which could have been due to a Pleistocene or Quaternary environmental change.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)19-26
Number of pages8
JournalOrganic Geochemistry
Volume4
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1982
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology

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