This study conducted organic geochemical analyses of oil inclusions in quartz samples collected from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Samples from both countries contained large amounts of n-alkanes; however, sterane, triterpane, and isoprenoid hydrocarbons were not detected. Small amounts of iso- and anteiso-alkanes as well as alkylcyclohexanes were identified. The individual carbon isotope compositions of n-alkanes showed different trends between the two sample sets. The fluorescent compounds were separated into the polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fraction. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that alkylbenzenes, particularly ethylbenzene, were the major components in the PAH fraction. The fluorescence observed in the oil-bearing quartz was attributed to the presence of alkylbenzenes.
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