Application of oxyreactive thermal analysis to the examination of organic matter associated with rocks

Organic matter associated with rocks was examined by means of thermal analysis using a new methodology in oxidising conditions. This procedure has been named ''Oxyreactive Thermal Analysis'' (OTA). The OTA results presented in this study characterise samples from sedimentary rock complexes in terms of their age, and of variations in the associated organic matter arising from different precursors and degree of severity of subsequent transformation processes to which it has been subjected. The results of the OTA method make it possible to estimate the temperature of maturation, to describe the process of evolution of the organic matter, and to distinguish genetic features of its carbonised and metamorphosed products.