PALEOENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIC INDICATORS IN EOCENE PALEOSOLS FROM ARCTIC CANADA

The analytical potential of the combination of solid state NMR and soft ionization mass spectrometry for direct investigations of complex organic matter in soils without chemical pretreatment is demonstrated. The results show that the Oh horizon of a Gleysolic paleosol (±45 Ma) from the Canadian Arctic consists mainly of components of cuticular waxes which include 10-nonacosanol, C15-C36 n-fatty acids, C44-C75 n-alkyl monoesters and C60-C76 diesters. It is likely that these waxes originated from the coniferous and deciduous vegetation which dominated this area when these soils were formed and that the climate was warm and moist. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.