Distribution of biomarkers in highly weathered petroleum residue from Mediterranean waters

The aliphatic and aromatic fractions of a beach tar sample from the Mediter ranean coast of Sidi Kreir, 37Km west of the city of Alexandria was analyze d by GC and GC/MS techniques. A complete analysis was carried out to invest igate chemical composition changes, fate of weathered oil residue and possi ble source identification. The distribution of sterane, hopane, mono-and tr iaromatic steroids, C-2 - and C-3 - phenanthrenes and dibenzothiophenes and chrysenes, however, had remained unaltered by weathering. The beach tar po ssessed geochemical features consistent with a marine carbonate or evaporit e source depositional environment under normal saline, reducing conditions. The GC fingerprints pointed to heavy fuel oil as a possible source for the tar sample.