The lipids of a Pliocene and a Cretaceous sample from Site 462 were analyzed to assess their source and diagenetic history. Judging from the distributions of the n-alkanes, n-fatty acids, n-alkylcyclohexanes and molecular markers, they are autochthonous, of marine origin, and deposited under oxic paleoenvironmental conditions of sedimentation. The stereochemistry of the various molecular markers (e.g., triterpanes and steranes) of the Pliocene sample indicates that the lipids are geologically mature. This supports the hypothesis of sediment recycling from older formations by turbidite redistribution into the Nauru Basin

Supplement to: Simoneit, Bernd R T (1981): Lipid geochemistry of sediments from Site 462 in the Nauru Basin. In: Larson, RL; Schlanger, SO; et al. (eds.), Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project (U.S. Govt. Printing Office), 61, 627-629