Reinvestigation of the structure of a tetracyclic terpenoid from geological samples: A novel marker for fungi involved in the degradation of buried wood?

•The structure of a tentatively identified tetracyclic ketone has been reassessed.•The tetracyclic ketone has been detected in different buried wood samples.•It likely derives from sesterterpenoids in wood degrading fungi.•Its presence is possibly linked to wood dominated organic matter in sediments.