Organic Facies: Palynofacies and Organic Geochemistry Approaches

The concept of organic facies, as well as the definitions and means of the different facies became a very important tool to palaeoenvironmental characterization, basin analysis and fossil fuel exploration. The application of this concept is the best way to integrate microscopy and geochemical techniques to study kerogen contained in sedimentary rocks. Thus, palynofacies analysis and bulk geochemical methods (organic facies) are used to characterize the sedimentary organic matter (kerogen and bitumen). Palynofacies analysis involves the integrated study of all aspects of the kerogen assemblage: identification of the individual particulate components, assessment of their absolute and relative proportions and preservation states. The correlation between palynofacies and geochemical data provides the organic facies models that point out the depositional environmental conditions and hydrocarbon source rock potential.