Organic geochemical and mineralogical characterization of the Moroccan Rif bituminous rocks

The Bituminous rocks of the Upper Cretaceous in the Moroccan Rif were subjected to an organic geochemical study which was in the valuation framework of these rocks. In order to determine hydrocarbon potential of the unit, an organic geochemical analysis technique was performed. According to Rock-Eval pyrolysis results (TOC, GP) for four samples (in different sites), the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) contents vary from 0.45 to 4.47 %, and total hydrocarbon generation potential (GP) values are between 0.49 to 13.1 mgHC/g rock. Hydrogen index (HI) values range from 37 to 282 mgHC/gTOC, suggesting Types II, III and IV kerogen. The analysis by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry has proved that the bituminous rocks samples consist mainly of quartz (SiO2) (70.04 – 84.46 wt.%), and lower proportions of other mineralogical components. The FTIR spectra are compatible with Rock-Eval pyrolysis results and X-ray fluorescence analysis results.