Origin of organic sulfur compounds in sediments from the Nِrdlinger Ries (Southern Germany)

The origin of organic sulfur compounds (OSC) in Nِrdlinger Ries sediments (Southern Germany) is determined. A detailed characterization of OSC in the `aromatic hydrocarbonʹ and `neutral polarʹ fractions of three of the most sulfur-rich sediments from the Nِrdlinger Ries is presented. The results confirm that the distribution of cyclic sulfides is completely different from that of n-alkanes originally present and thereby provide further evidence for an early diagenetic sulfur incorporation into functionalized lipids. The formation of all sulfur compounds described in this study was explained by reaction of inorganic sulfur species with a double bond or an alcohol group. Ketones, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids appear to be less effective. This was concluded from the absence of terminal thiophenes in the C37/C38 series and the abundance of oxygenated functionalized precursors to which no sulfur analogs have been detected.