In this article, the results of the studies of the physicochemical properties and genesis of asphaltites from the deposits of Orenburg oblast are considered. Based on the data of a study on the distribution of hydrocarbon biomarkers ( n -alkanes, isoprenanes, steranes, and terpanes), it was found that deposit formation occurred in carbonate layers under reducing conditions. The distribution of steranes and terpanes confirmed a sufficient maturity of the asphaltite. The C 28 /C 29 sterane ratio of 0.31 corresponds to Silurian age according to Grantham or to Silurian–Devon age according to the pregnane coefficient (a ratio of the sum of C 21 –C 22 pregnanes to the sum of C 21 –C 22 pregnanes and C 27 –C 29 regular steranes) of 9.0%. Thus, it is likely that asphaltites from the Ivanovka deposit in Orenburg oblast were redeposited in Silurian/Devon source rock formations.
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Kerimov et al. (2018) studied this question.