Hydrocarbon subfractions of a Carboniferous bituminous coal extract were subjected to compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA). The carbon isotope compositions of individual n-alkanes, isoprenoids, aromatic hydrocarbons and triterpenoids were determined to provide supplementary confirmation for the biomarker sources as deduced from their molecular structures. The total bitumen extract has a delta(13)C value of - 25.03 parts per thousand. The delta(13)C data for the biomarkers fit an origin from higher plants with a minor contribution from microbial activity.