William Lando Balsam

US Patent:

51555468, Oct 13, 1992

Filed:

Jun 3, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/709598

Inventors:

William L. Balsam - Arlington TX
Bobby C. Deaton - Forth Worth TX

Assignee:

Texas Wesleyan University, Inc. - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

G01J 300

US Classification:

356300

Abstract:

A method for quantitatively determining the total organic carbon and vitrinite reflectance of rocks and sediments utilizes the entire visible light spectrum. A sample is prepared and placed in a spectrophotometer. The spectrophotometer has a light source that produces the entire visible light spectrum. A monochromator passes narrow wavelength bands of the source light therethrough to illuminate the sample. The total diffuse reflectance spectrum is obtained from the sample using the spectrophotometer. The reflectance spectral data are processed by determining the first derivative and by comparing it to calibration data of known total organic carbon and vitrinite reflectance.