Thermal alteration of kerogen as an indicator of contact metamorphism to sedimentary rocks; ¹H-NMR T₁ and elemental composition

Abstract

Kerogen in sedimentary rocks metamorphosed by an igneous dyke intrusion was studied by ¹H-NMR and elemental analyses. The spin-lattice relaxation time (T₁) of kerogen in ¹H-NMR increases toward the contact of the dyke, and atomic ratios in H/C, N/C and O/C of kerogen decrease in the dyke proximity. ¹H-NMR T₁ of kerogen is a useful parameter for contact metamorphism.