Talk:Sedimentary organic matter

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Edit Explanation[edit]

The article originally stated "Sedimentary organic matter includes the carbonaceous component of sediments and sedimentary rocks. " I changed the carbonaceous reference to organic carbon to reconcile the discrepancy with carbonate rock which states:

"Carbonate rocks are a class of sedimentary rocks composed primarily of carbonate minerals." Carbonates are inorganic carbon compounds. With all due respect, sedimentary carbonates are not sedimentary organic matter. Organic carbon redirects to the total organic carbon article, which states:

"Total organic carbon (TOC) is the amount of carbon found in an organic compound and the organic compound article states they are:

"compounds whose molecules contain carbon. [and that] The distinction between organic and inorganic carbon compounds, while useful in organizing the vast subject of chemistry... is somewhat arbitrary .

We need this distinction (mineral/inorganic or organic carbon) in Wikipedia, even though the distinction is not constructive in a pure science context. Trying to reconcile this in the article I feel the sort of informed confusion I have become accepting of in our WP science articles.

Summary: My edit addresses the murky distinction between organic and inorganic carbon, although you have to drill down 2 levels to get there. I think this edit provides the correct degree of informed confusion that we seek in Wikipedia. Feedback desired. ... -- Paleorthid (talk) 19:43, 13 January 2016 (UTC)[reply]