Ftir spectroscopic characterization of bituminous limestone: Maganik mountain (Montenegro)

Abstract

FTIR spectroscopy has been used to detailed study of bituminous limestone samples from two different locations at Maganik Mountain (Montenegro). Bituminous limestone at Maganik Mountain occurs as carbonate sediments in three levels and belongs to the early Cretaceous. Our specimens come from the oldest sediments of this limestone belonging to Barremian age. Particular attention has been given to investigation of isolated asphaltenes and kerogens. The FTIR technique provides fine determination of various organic and inorganic functional groups, as well as aliphatic and aromatic carbon and hydrogen. Due to the structural complexity of kerogens and asphaltenes, in this study we have done correlations of particular infrared absorptions to various functional groups. The asphaltenes of studied samples show higher contribution of aromatic structures than the kerogens. Notable differences in FTIR spectra of some samples that are reflected as shift of peak locations and a variety of intensities are attributed to eventual differences in the microbial precursors and/or depositional environments, conditions of sedimentation and/or genesis.