Chromatographic study of the organic matter from Moroccan Rif bituminous rocks

The bituminous rocks of the Upper Cretaceous in the Moroccan Rif have been assessed and characterized in detail using organic geochemical techniques and a variety of organic geochemical parameters. The organic matter from 4 sites was studied in order to determine its thermal maturity and its depositional environments. The organic extracts (bitumens) were fractionated on silica-potassium hydroxide column according to the aliphatic hydrocarbons, acid compounds and polar compounds. Aliphatic hydrocarbons were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS).