Vitrinite reflectance

BGS Datasets

Key information

Scale:
N/A
Coverage:
Great Britain
Availability:
Licensed
Format:
Excel spreadsheet or GIS point data (ESRI, MapInfo, others available by request)
Price:

On request. Subject to number of users, licence fee and data preparation fee.

Uses:
National-level use

Get data

Paid access
Supporting documents

Vitrinite reflectance is used to assess the thermal maturation of a hydrocarbon source rock.

Vitrinite is a maceral — microscopic woody tissue, such as stems, bark, root and twigs — that is formed through the thermal alteration of lignin and cellulose in plant cell walls. Rocks buried at depth are subject to higher temperatures and, as this increases, vitrinite is altered through a process known as aromatisation, which increases its reflective properties.

Vitrinite reflectance data map of the UK
Information icon

Vitrinite reflectance data map of the UK. BGS © UKRI – Contains OS data © Crown copyright 2020.

You may also be interested in

BGS Geology 250k sample

Datasets

We have a wide range of licensed geoscience data. The datasets range from the geological data family (BGS Geology) to offshore data, ground stability datasets and 3D models.

Show more

Was this page helpful?

  • How can we make this section better?*

  • Please select a reason*

  • How can we make this section better?*