0000000000744596
AUTHOR
Oluwadayo O. Sonibare
Molecular composition and chemotaxonomic aspects of Eocene amber from the Ameki Formation, Nigeria
The molecular composition of fossil resin from the Eocene Ameki Formation, southern Nigeria has been analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and thermochemolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to determine the structural class and botanical source of the resin. The pyrolysis products were dominated by bicyclic products derived from regular labdatriene structure and lacked succinic acid indicating Class Ib type amber. The biomarker compositions in the pyrolysates are dominated by sesquiterpenoids of the cadinane and bisabolane classes that are common constituents of higher plants and labdane type diterpenoids. The exclusive presence of labdane …
Terpenoid composition and origin of amber from the Cape York Peninsula, Australia
The terpenoid composition of fossil resin from the Cape York Peninsula, Australia has been analysed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) to determine its origin. The pyrolysis products were dominated by cadalene-based C15 bicyclic sesquiterpenoids including some C30–C31 bicadinanes and bicadinenes typical of Class II resin derived from angiosperm plants of Dipterocarpaceae. This observation contrasts with the Araucariaceae (Agathis sp.) source previously suggested for the resin based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses. Dipterocarpaceae are not known in Australian vegetation but grow abundantly in Southeast Asia including New Guinea, indicating that the geo…
Mineral and trace element composition of the Lokpanta oil shales in the Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria
Abstract The concentrations of minerals and trace elements in the Lokpanta oil shale from the Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria have been determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), respectively. X-ray diffraction data were evaluated using the SIROQUANT™ interactive data processing system based on Rietveld interpretation methods. A new method of trace element determination in oil shale, involving LA-ICP-MS analysis of glass beads prepared by fusing oil shale ash on an iridium strip heater was used, and the accuracy of the method was assessed by including a standard shale reference material (SGR-1b) in the analysis program. The…
Quantitative Estimation of Major and Trace Elements in Coals of the Benue Trough, Nigeria
The concentrations of major and trace elements in ash residues of coals of the Benue Trough, Nigeria have been determined by electron microprobe and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, respectively. Major and trace element determination in rocks by fusion on an iridium strip heater followed by electron microprobe and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry is extended here to coal ash, and the accuracy of the method is evaluated by including an Argonne Premium Coal reference sample in each analysis program. Si and Al are the major elements detected in the coal ashes. An assessment using worldwide concentration ranges of trace elements in coal ash…
Terpenoid composition and chemotaxonomic aspects of Miocene amber from the Koroglu Mountains, Turkey
Abstract A recently discovered fossil resin from Koroglu Mountain in Turkey has been analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to determine its structural class and botanical origin. The sesqui- and diterpenoids contained in the amber extract were used as chemosystematic markers when compared with terpenoids in extant conifers. The pyrolysis products were dominated by labdanoid derived bicyclic products together with succinic acid indicating Class Ia type amber. The biomarker compositions of the resin comprise mainly sesqui- and diterpenoids, and lack triterpenoids. This distribution suggests a gymnosperm, and more specifically a con…
Structural characterization of Nigerian coals by X-ray diffraction, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy
Abstract The structural parameters of six Nigerian coals were determined by X-ray diffraction, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. This study reveals that the coals contain crystalline carbon of turbostratic structure with some amount of highly disordered amorphous carbon. The average lateral sizes ( L a ), stacking heights ( L c ) and interlayer spacing ( d 002 ) of the crystallite structures calculated from the X-ray intensities range from 16.47 to 25.70, 8.12 to 13.25 and 3.48 to 3.58 A, respectively. The L a values derived from the Raman spectra analyses using the classical linear relationship between 1/ L a and the D/G band ratio are higher (27.53–34.67 A) than values obtained from X-ray diff…