Fig. 4
Previous experimental results from Saitta et al.25, using older sediment-encased maturation equipment than presented here (e.g., heat produced by placing pressurized chamber in a laboratory oven instead of by a localized, insulated heating coil around the pressurized chamber). Pine resin (scraped from living Aleppo Pine at FSA) in calcium bentonite compacted at ~ 9.1 metric tons over a 126.7 mm2 surface area. Maturation was at ~ 250 °C and ~ 230–300 bar (pressurized air) for ~ 23 h. Part (A–B) and counterpart (C–D) of the tablet, showing darkly colored, translucent, hardened resin with a front of leaching labile material out into the sediment matrix (arrows) (A, C) and air pockets within an overall largely voided space (B, D). Images modified from supplemental material of Saitta et al.25.
