Organic geochemistry, visual composition, atomic ratios, and reflectance at DSDP Site 87-582, 87-583 and 87-584

The vitrinite-huminite reflectances of indigenous materials for these sites are less than 0.3% indicating the immature nature of the sediments.

The sediments, however, contain remarkable amounts of recycled organic materials. The Quaternary sediments from Sites 582 and 583 contain small amounts of amorphous organic matter (less than 0.75 wt.% organic carbon and 66-90% amorphous debris), which is composed of predominantly recycled, oxidized, and over-matured (or matured) Type III material. The amount of hydrocarbon yield indicates that those sediments have lean-source potential for commercial hydrocarbon generation.