Patrick G. Hatcher Elliott C. Spiker 1984 <p><span>Study of an algal, sapropelic sediment from Mangrove Lake, Bermuda shows that the mass balance of carbon and stable carbon isotopes in the major organic constituents is accounted for by a relatively straightforward model of selective preservation during diagenesis. The loss of&nbsp;</span>¹³<span>C-enriched carbohydrates is the principal factor controlling the intermolecular mass balance of&nbsp;</span>¹³<span>C in the sapropel. Results indicate that labile components are decomposed leaving as a residual concentrate in the sediment an insoluble humic substance that may be an original biochemical component of algae and associated bacteria. An overall decrease of up to about 4‰ in the δ&nbsp;</span>¹³<span>C values of the organic matter is observed as a result of early diagenesis.</span></p> application/pdf 10.1016/0146-6380(84)90016-0 en Elsevier Carbon isotope fractionation of sapropelic organic matter during early diagenesis article