In the last three decades, significant progress has been made in the investigation of rhenium‑osmium (Re-Os) isotopic system in organic-rich samples. The Re-Os geochronometer can provide precise absolute depositional ages of organic-rich sediments (ORS) and information on the age of the generation, migration, and charge of crude oil. Thus, this dating tool is widely used to establish the time scale of some important geological events, such as glaciations, evolutionary events, mass extinctions, and atmosphere/ocean oxygenation. In addition, the initial Os isotope ratio obtained from Re-Os isochrons of ORS can provide vital insights into the Os isotopic fluctuations of ancient seawater, which could be used to track some geological events (e.g., bolide impacts, changes to continental weathering, and large igneous provinces), and that obtained from oil samples can fingerprint crude oil to their source. Overall, the Re-Os geochronometer exhibits a promising prospect for stratigraphy, marine geology, and petroleum geology. Several studies have not only highlighted the significance of the Re-Os geochronometer but also revealed the characteristic distribution of Re-Os in organic-rich samples as well as its complex behavior in the sedimentary environment. organic-rich samples as well as its complex behavior in the sedimentary environment. This makes the analytical methodology for organic-rich samples different from that traditionally used for sulfides and meteorites, and the mechanisms of data interpretation may vary in the different sedimentary environments. Therefore, this article reviewed the history of the development of analytical methodologies for Re-Os isotope application in organic-rich samples, highlighting the principal challenges associated with each technique and facilitating the selection of the analytical method best adapted to various organic-rich samples. We also introduced the necessary context of the geochemical behavior of Re-Os during sedimentary geological processes and discussed the possible mechanism of Re-Os geochronometer formation and disturbances to the closure of the Re-Os isotope system by citing examples of published cases and associated application-based controversies.

在过去的三十年里，富含有机物样品中铼-锇 (Re-Os) 同位素系统的研究取得了重大进展。Re-Os地质年代表可以提供精确的富含有机质沉积物（ORS）的绝对沉积年龄和原油生成、运移和充注的年龄信息。因此，这种测年工具被广泛用于确定一些重要地质事件的时间尺度，例如冰川作用、进化事件、大规模灭绝和大气/海洋氧化。此外，从 ORS 的 Re-Os 等时线获得的初始 Os 同位素比率可以提供对古代海水 Os 同位素波动的重要见解，可用于追踪一些地质事件（例如，火流星撞击，大陆风化变化，以及大火成岩省），从石油样本中获得的信息可以通过指纹识别原油的来源。总体而言，Re-Os 地质年代表在地层学、海洋地质学和石油地质学方面具有广阔的应用前景。一些研究不仅强调了 Re-Os 地质年代计的重要性，而且揭示了 Re-Os 在富含有机物样品中的特征分布及其在沉积环境中的复杂行为。富含有机物的样品及其在沉积环境中的复杂行为。这使得富含有机物样品的分析方法不同于传统上用于硫化物和陨石的分析方法，并且数据解释的机制可能因不同的沉积环境而异。所以，本文回顾了 Re-Os 同位素在富含有机物样品中应用的分析方法的发展历史，强调了与每种技术相关的主要挑战，并有助于选择最适合各种富含有机物样品的分析方法。我们还介绍了 Re-Os 在沉积地质过程中的地球化学行为的必要背景，并通过引用已发表的案例和相关应用的例子讨论了 Re-Os 地质年代计形成和干扰 Re-Os 同位素系统闭合的可能机制基于的争议。