Composition of biomarkers of bitumen from coals and enclosing deposits in north-eastern Pechora coal basin

We have studied the composition of aliphatic and aromatic fractions of bitumen of coals and carbonaceous argillites from Permian deposits of north-eastern Pechora coal basin by gas chromatography and chromato-mass-spectrometry. The composition of normal alkanes and distribution of sterane hydrocarbons in bitumen testified to that terrigenous organic matter was the main component of Permian coals from the studied area. The identification of 19-norisopimarane and retene in the bitumen composition of the Upper Permian deposits is the evidence of the contribution of coniferous plants to the initial coal biomass composition, and their irregular distribution in the section indicated a change (changes) of the species composition of conifer fossil vegetation in the Late Permian time. The evaluation of coal rank of the studied deposits by MPI-1 and MPDF values testified the coals are high to medium volatile bituminous.