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Geochemical controls of vanadium accumulation in fossil fuels

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Abstract

High vanadium contents in petroleum and other fossil fuels have been attributed to organic-matter type, organisms, volcanic emanations, diffusion of sea water, and epigenetic enrichment. However, these factors are inadequate to account for the high abundance of vanadium in some fossil fuels and the paucity in others. By examining vanadium deposits in sedimentary rocks with sparse organic matter, constraints are placed on processes controlling vanadium accumulation in organic-rich sediments. Vanadium, as vanadate (V(V)), entered some depositional basins in oxidizing waters from dry, subaerial environments. Upon contact with organic matter in anoxic waters, V(V) is reduced to vanadyl (V(IV)), which can be removed from the water column by adsorption. H2S reduces V(IV) to V(III), which hydrolyzes and precipitates. The lack of V(III) in petroleum suggests that reduction of V(IV) to V(III) is inhibited by organic complexes. In the absence of strong complexing agents, V(III) forms and is incorporated in clay minerals.

Suggested Citation

Breit, G.N., Wanty, R., 1989, Geochemical controls of vanadium accumulation in fossil fuels, in American Chemical Society, Division of Petroleum Chemistry, Preprints, v. 34, no. 1, Dallas, TX, USA, 9 April 1989 through 14 April 1989.

Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Geochemical controls of vanadium accumulation in fossil fuels
Volume 34
Issue 1
Year Published 1989
Language English
Publisher Publ by ACS
Publisher location Washington, DC, United States
Larger Work Title American Chemical Society, Division of Petroleum Chemistry, Preprints
First page 176
Conference Title Symposium on Trace Elements in Petroleum Geochemistry
Conference Location Dallas, TX, USA
Conference Date 9 April 1989 through 14 April 1989
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