Preliminary Investigation of the Effects of Thermal Maturity on Redox-Sensitive Trace Metal Concentration in the Bakken Source Rock, North Dakota, USA

[Image: see text] Samples were taken at different levels of thermal maturity in the unconventional Bakken source rock. Programmed pyrolysis derived T(max), solid bitumen reflectance, liptinite group maceral UV fluorescence, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as different thermal maturity indicators were utilized in order to compare redox-sensitive trace metal (TM) concentration to maturity variations and disclose any probable relationship. Comparing redox-sensitive TMs with total organic carbon revealed the presence of anoxic/euxinic conditions in the depositional environment of the Bakken Shale. Although some of the TMs (V and Mo) exhibit slightly positive correlations with some of the thermal maturity indices used in this study, the correlations between other redox-sensitive TMs with maturity were neutral. Collectively, this study demonstrates that thermal maturity may have an impact on some redox-sensitive TMs such as Mo and V concentrations in marine sediments. Additional samples spanning higher maturities will need to be included because there is a possibility that an increase in thermal maturity may lead to the release and liberation of some redox-sensitive TMs from the organic matter (OM) directly. Remineralization and decomposition of OM with thermal maturity advance could release sulfur as a source of thermogenic H(2)S, which could accelerate pore water/rock interaction and authigenic Fe-sulfides. This could enhance the capability of uptaking of most of the redox-sensitive TMs and increase their concentration in pore water.