Terpenoids in resinites from middle Cretaceous karst infillings in the Rhenish Massif (Rhineland, Germany): botanical source and preservation

Resinites from middle Cretaceous infillings of karst structures exposed in two limestone quarries in the Rhenish Massif, Germany, were analyzed for their terpenoid biomarker signatures using GC–MS to infer their original plant sources and depositional history. The total solvent extracts of the resinites were composed mostly of mono-, sesqui- and diterpenoids. The predominant compounds in all resinite extracts were diterpenoids derived from the abietane, isopimarane, pimarane, and labdane classes. These resinite compositions are characteristic for conifer resins, thus interpreted as derived from such sources. Based on the mono- and diterpenoid chemistry, alteration of these resinites occurred mainly prior to transportation and final burial. The results show that these terpenoids are excellent molecular markers for the chemosystematic assignment of resinites preserved dissociated from their plant sources. Graphical abstract