Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) distributions in an Upper Jurassic succession from offshore Korea Bay Basin were consistent with a pyrolytic source, being dominated by non-alkylated species. Levels of these PAHs were significantly higher in samples containing abundant fusinite macerals, which are believed by some to be the product combustion. The data were consistent with a PAH origin from periodic conflagration throughout the Upper Jurassic of vegetation adjacent to a tectonically formed lake. Distribution of PAHs exhibited some differences from those of combustion origin in Recent and some ancient sediments, and were characterized by the dominance of the highly peri-condensed compounds benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene and coronene. This characteristics reflects either preferential formation, or preferential preservation under the prevailing sedimentary conditons, of the highly peri-condensed structures.