The bulk of living organisms is composed of high molecular weight compounds, and these biopolymers and biomacromolecules are therefore major sources for fossil organic matter. It was generally accepted, until the last few years, that kerogen formation results from a ‘depolymerization–recondensation’ process. This pathway implies the enzymatic cleavage of the classical biopolymers, like proteins and polysaccharides. Most of the resulting oligo- and monomeric units are then mineralized by heterotrophic organisms. However, a small part is thought to escape destruction owing to random condensations leading to diagenetically resistant geopolymers. Due to the extensive mineralization and to the random nature of the condensation step, the so-formed geopolymers should exhibit major morphological and chemical alterations with respect to the initial molecules.
Recent studies, however, have led to the recognition of a new, and sharply different, pathway of kerogen formation based on the existence...
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Bibliography
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Largeau, C. (1998). Biopolymers and Macromolecules . In: Geochemistry. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4496-8_32
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4496-8_32
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