Deposition of Organic Facies

A great variety of organic-bearing sediments are acting as source rocks for the economic accumulations of hydrocarbons trapped in the subsurface. The occurrence of organic-rich intervals; their place in the stratigraphic column, their lateral extent, and the variation in their quality both stratigraphically and laterally are key parameters to be considered if one wants to evaluate the petroleum potential of a sedimentary basin. The purpose of this volume is to present recent advances in organic sedimentology. The 14 papers herein discuss a wide range of aspects of this field of research. The diverse nature of these papers includes modern environments, considered as present-day analogs of source rock formation; numerical modeling of paleoproductivity; and studies related to specific time periods during which organic matter accumulation has been particularly impressive.