Organic compounds from Cretaceous coals of Nûgssuaq, West Greenland

Abstract

Bituminous coals from the Lower Cretaceous Korne Formation and the Upper Cretaceous Atane Formation of Nûgssuaq have been analyzed for organic compounds. In the Atane Formation n-C₁₂- to n-C₃₁-alkanes, C₁₉- and C₂₀-isoprenoids (pristane and phytane) and possibly C₁₄-, C₁₅-, and C₁₆-isoprenoids are present. n-C₉- to n-C₂₈-acids, norphytanic acid and phytanic acid have also been detected. In the Korne Formation n-C₁₄- to n-C₂₇-alkanes, C₁₉- and Czoisoprenoids and possibly C₁₄- and C₁₅-isoprenoids are present. n-C₈- to n-C₂₆ -acids, in addition C₈- to C₂₀-α, ω-diacids could be detected. The difference between the Korne flora (predominantly gymnosperms and ferns) and the Atane flora (dominated by angiosperms) is not apparent in the organic chemistry. Comparisons are made with extracts from Rhaetic-Liassic coal from the Kap Stewart Formation of East Greenland where only C₁₄- and C₁₆-acids and aromatic acids were detected.