Abstract
The geochemistry data show that the total organic carbon (TOC) contents are high in the surface sediments in the eastern part of the Moknine’s Sebkha. Low decreasing of organic matter (OM) with increasing depth indicates the good preservation of OM in modern sediments. “Lignite levels” inserted in the sand sequence and deposited at the edge and in the intermediate zone are considered as lithologic and organic markers. It is characterized by high TOC and poor hydrogen index (HI), indicating a higher plant origin and good preservation of OM in thin beds under anoxic condition.
In all samples low values of HI are typical for strong terrigenous input in the Sebkha. Gas chromatography (GC) of saturate fraction showed that OM in the border zone is provided from plants but in the central zone OM is a mixture of terrestrial fraction and little fraction from microalgae. The study of free lipids indicated that this environment was influenced by intense bacterial and microbial activities, as evidenced by the abundance of n-alkanes and nC18-nC22.
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Chairi, R., El Asmi Djellouli, Z. Characterization of organic matter deposited in the oriental zone from Moknine hypersaline environment, oriental Tunisia. Chin. J. Geochem. 24, 345–351 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02873797
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02873797