Composition of organic matter and thermal maturity of Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary rocks in East Herzegovina (External Dinarides, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

This paper presents the first data on the organic matter and thermal maturity of Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary rocks in the East Herzegovina region of the External Dinarides. Representative, organic-rich samples from outcropping sedimentary rocks of different ages in the area (Triassic to Neogene) were selected and analysed. The organic matter was studied by Rock-Eval pyrolysis and under the microscope in reflected non-polarized light and incident blue light. The results obtained show the presence of different types of organic matter in the area and thermal maturity stages from immature (Cenozoic) to early mature (Mesozoic). Vitrinite is abundant in the samples analysed, with the exception of Cretaceous samples that contain mostly lamalginite and bituminite. While measured vitrinite reflectance in end-member samples (Triassic shale 0.78 % Rr and Neogene coal 0.34% Rr) are in good correlation with the T max parameter from Rock-Eval pyrolysis. T max generally shows lower values in most Mesozoic samples. The organic petrographic data indicate that specific kerogen in Cretaceous and some Triassic sedimentary rocks is a probable reason for the significantly lower T max values. In addition, the results of pyrolysis documented before and after extraction revealed that free hydrocarbons (bitumen) in the surface samples analysed suppress the T max values.