Organic geochemical features of the Upper Miocene successions of Lefkas and Cephalonia islands, Ionian Sea, Greece: an integrated geochemical and statistical approach

Fifty-one mudstone samples were collected from the Miocene successions in Lefkas and Cephalonia Islands in Western Greece and were studied in terms of their organic geochemical features using Rock-Eval 6 pyrolysis. The obtained data were further analyzed with the application of advanced statistical methods, such as factor analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. The obtained data present sample groups with poor to fair hydrocarbon generation potential. The TOC values range from 0.08 to 2.29%, with a general type III kerogen present. In the majority of the samples, the kerogen is immature as evidenced by Tmax and production index values. The present study offers an opportunity to further investigate hydrocarbon prospectivity in the Hellenic Fold and Thrust Belt, a region with crucial economic and strategic importance.