Cretaceous-Paleogenic fossil resins of Yakutia: molecular composition and thermal properties

A novel study of fossil resin from Yakutia has been conducted using infrared spectroscopy and differential thermal analysis. The resins are exclusively gedanites, although retinite may also be found. Gedanites are more oxidized than retinites. For the first time, we analyze information on coniferous plant remains within the location of the studied fossil resins. This analysis confirms that conifers from the families Cupressaceae and Taxodiaceae can really be the main botanical sources of the formation of gedanite, while the Pinaceae family — of retinite.