The late Paleozoic oxygen pulse and accumulations of petroleum source rocks and coal

Abstract

Recent geophysical and geochemical data and theoretical modeling indicate high levels of atmospheric O2 (up to 35%) during the Carboniferous-Permian. I suggest that this O2 pulse had a substantial impact on global accumulations of petroleum source rocks and coal during this geological period.

Keywords

• oxygen
• petroleum source rocks
• coal
• Carboniferous-Permian