Polyfunctionalised bio- and geohopanoids in the Eocene Cobham Lignite

At this time we cannot preclude the possibility that some or all of these BHPs have been produced by more recent subsurface activity, post deposition of the lignite; however, this would not be expected to generate the observed stratigraphic variability and we suggest that unprecedented observations of a range of highly functionalised biohopanoids in samples of this age could significantly extend the window of their known occurrence.