Unit handout: GEOS807: Organic geochemistry techniques (Session 2, 2016)

Unit Description

This unit provides the foundations on how to go about analysing the chemical composition of sedimentary rocks and fluids such as oils and gases, and especially the organic constituents. This unit will showcase organic geochemical techniques and will be strongly practically based. It will cover the following topics: (1) Samples and preparation. (2) Microscopy and microprobe. (3) Bulk / solids analysis, including elemental analysis, total organic carbon and pyrolysis techniques such as Rock-Eval, MSSV and laser micropyrolysis. (4) Solvent extraction of rocks and fractionation of totals extracts and oils. (5) Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, including MS-MS and GCxGC. (6) Time-of-Flight-Secondary Ion Mass spectrometry. (7) Stable C, H, N, O and S isotopes of  sedimentary rocks and fluids such as oils and gases. Experience will also be gained in the manipulation and interpretation of data generated by these techniques. Lastly, these techniques will be applied to understanding petroleum systems and to deconvolution of the early biosphere.

Undergraduates with a major in geology will likely have a basic understanding of organic geochemistry and no practical skills in this subject. Similarly, undergraduates with a major in chemistry will likely have a good understanding of analytical and organic chemistry, and some lab skills, but may not have a depth in understanding of how these skills can be applied to geological samples. This unit allows a Masters of Geoscience or Research student who has limited hand-on research experience to gain an advanced understanding of organic geochemistry, and to develop their practical skills in an organic geochemistry laboratory. They will start to develop skills related to the manipulation of raw data and the interpretation of large and complex datasets. Two practical applications of these techniques will be presented which are topical to both industry and further research.

This unit is co-taught with an elective module of GEOS791 Research Topic in Earth and Planetary Sciences 1 (Master of Research). There is only one iLearn site for both units.

Contacts and Communication

Convenor:  Professor Simon George  

simon.george@mq.edu.au         02 9850 4424 

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS), Room 2.674, 2nd Floor, The Australian Hearing Hub (AHH), 16 University Avenue, Macquarie University.

Other contact details: Lab is E7B 340. Lab phones are 02 9850 8273/8274. Mobile: 0418 428217

http://web.science.mq.edu.au/directory/listing/person.htm?id=sgeorge

EPS Admin (if Simon George is not available): Room 2.685 AHH, phone 02 9850 8426/8373

Readings and Textbook

• Peters et al. 2005, The Biomarker Guide. 2 volumes, multiple copies in library (TN271.P4 P463), and there are also two Organic Geochemistry lab copies of each volume.
• Also Vol 2 in available through library as e-book:

(Search Biomarker Guide on MU Library site, and click on “Electronic version available via EBL”)

Web pages and electronic resources

The main unit web page will be on iLearn:  https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/

iLearn is Macquarie's learning management system. Assignments, hand-outs, and reading material will be available here.

Classes

Lectures

There will be 2 lectures to introduce the unit and give you a grounding in the theory behind some of the techniques. It is important that you attend these lectures, as they include discussion sections, and also problem solving on hard copy handouts. The location will be in the AHH, to be advised. Timing also to be advised.

Practicals

The majority of the unit will be (1) practical material taught in the Organic Geochemistry lab at Macquarie University (E7B340/344) by Simon George, perhaps with assistance from other research students at times, and (2) independent research, reading, and writing of reports and assignment.

The practicals will be in the Organic Geochemistry Laboratory, E7B340/344 on either Monday, Tuesday morning, or Thursday. I will contact you before semester to confirm which day I have allocated you to. You may well spend more time in the lab in some weeks than others (block mode), and this may be partly driven by access to fume cupboards and instruments. The weeks when I would like to concentrate supervised lab effort are:

Weeks 2 and 3, 8-12^th August, and 15-19^th August

Weeks 9 to 11, 10-14^th October, 17-21^st October, and 24-28^th October

In other weeks, you will need to work on processing analytical data from the samples (in the lab), and writing up the experiments (in your own time). This will have to be coordinated between everyone doing the unit, as there are only 2 PCs for GC-MS data processing (USB key locked).

In the first week, we will concentrate on:

1. Familiarisation with the lab and lab induction (including access arrangements via swipe card (your CDX number on student card will be needed by Ron Claassens for profiling for access to E7B 340/344; ron.claassens@mq.edu.au)

2. Reading material safety data sheets (MSDS)

3. Completing risk assessments.

4. Each of you will need to have a chemical safety induction (if not done already).