Chemistry and mineralogy of natural bitumens and heavy oils and their reservoir rocks from the United States, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela

The U.S. Geological Survey is undertaking a program to analyze the reservoir rock mineralogy and hydrocarbon chemistry of samples from natural bitumen and heavy oil deposits of the world. Results from the first phase are reported. Twenty-one samples from seven states of the United States and six samples from outside the United States from the basis of this initial study. Minerals in the reservoir rock were determined by x-ray diffraction, the hydrocarbon components were determined by chromatography, and the trace-element contents were determined in the reservoir rock samples, in the sediment residue remaining after the hydrocarbons were removed, and in the extracted hydrocarbons.