LOSS OF CONCENTRATED ORGANIC MATTER BY ROCKS DURING CATAGENESIS: A FACTOR OF GEODYNAMIC DESTABILIZATION

Abstract

Rocks with concentrated organic matter can be exemplified by oil shales, where solid organic matter (OM) is one of the rock-forming components. Sapropel oil shales with OM content of 20% and higher are widespread in the Precambrian–Holocene sections and characterized by very large reserves.