Biomarker signatures of Sinian bitumens in the Moxi-Gaoshiti bulge of Sichuan Basin, China: Geological significance for paleo-oil reservoirs: Discussion

Chen et al. (Precambrian Research 296, 1-19, 2017) presented a biomarker study on solid bitumens and associated source rock extracts from the Moxi-Gaoshiti Bulge of the Sichuan Basin, SW China. Biomarker characteristics revealed that the solid bitumens and related paleo-oils belong to the same group and are well correlated to source rocks of the Neoproterozoic Dengying and Lower Cambrian Qiongzhusi formations. The thermal maturity of solid bitumens and their migration direction have been assessed. It appears that these interpretations are internally inconsistent, and are also inconsistent with much published geochemical data, and the biomarker data are over interpreted and flawed.