The ‘Fischschiefer formation’ has been identified as the likely source rock for petroleum in the western Molasse Basin of Austria. The investigated cores originate from different depths (1242 m to 4294 m) of the Fischschiefer horizon. The illitization observed in the <0.2 μm fraction proceeds slowly, probably because of the low geothermal gradient (3°C/100 m) in the Molasse Basin. The illite content in illite-smectite ranges from 30% (randomly ordered) for the shallowest sample to 65% (R0+R1 ordering) for the deepest sample. The oxygen index (OI) vs. hydrogen index (HI) plot implies type I to II kerogen for the organic matter. Vitrinite reflectance and Rock Eval parameters indicate an immature stage in the diagenesis of kerogen. Only the deepest sample (4294 m, 0.6% Rr) reaches the early oil window. There is a good correlation of the illitization trend of the mixed-layer mineral I-S and the organic maturity parameters.
