Habitat mapping of cold seeps associated with authigenic mineralization (Paola Ridge, southern Tyrrhenian Sea): combining seafloor backscatter with biogeochemistry signals

Rovere, Marzia; Rashed, Heba; Pecchioni, Elena; Mercorella, Alessandra; Ceregato, Alessandro; Leidi, Elisa; Gamberi, Fabiano; Vaselli, Orlando

doi:10.3301/ijg.2014.15

Cited by 3 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Aragonite was associated with chemosymbiotic bivalves (cf. Rovere et al, 2014Rovere et al, , 2015 and abundant remnants of the decapod Calliax sp. (Fig.…”

Section: Core Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mineralogical and stable isotope composition of limestone and siderite samples is also provided. Data from Rovere et al (2015) are highlighted in gray.…”

Section: Calcite/aragonite Concretionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mozley and Wersin (1992) demonstrated that siderite precipitation is favored by suboxic conditions coupled with low organic matter content and low sedimentation rate, and strongly reducing conditions. Generally, siderite formation is favored by low sulfide activity under anoxic conditions (Taylor and Curtis, 1995;Rovere et al, 2015) and therefore occurs outside the sulfate reduction zone, where organic matter fermentation (i.e. methanogenic zone) occurs (Matsumoto, 1989;Carothers et al, 1988;Hicks et al, 1996;Hein et al, 2006;Wittkop et al, 2014).…”

Section: Characterization Of Authigenic Mineralsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1). This area, surrounded by hydrothermally active vent sites (Peters et al, 2011;Passaro et al, 2016), has been described as a site of seepage, gas venting at the seafloor and precipitation of methane-related authigenic carbonates (Gamberi and Rovere, 2010;Rovere et al, 2014Rovere et al, , 2015.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Starting from the assumption that authigenic pyrite, siderite and calcite precipitate under different chemo-physical conditions, this paper aims at unraveling the dynamic processes occurring in the sub-bottom sediments of Paola Ridge (southern Tyrrhenian Sea) and provides an alternative interpretation of peculiar domed morphologies hitherto considered as mud volcanoes (Gamberi and Rovere, 2010;Rovere et al, 2014Rovere et al, , 2015. By coupling trace elements and REE distributions and the d 13 C (‰ V-PDB) and d 18 O (‰ V-PDB) values, the source of the seeping fluids and redox condition during carbonate precipitation have been defined.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Authigenic minerals from the Paola Ridge (southern Tyrrhenian Sea): Evidences of episodic methane seepage

Franchi

Rovere

Gamberi

et al. 2017

Marine and Petroleum Geology

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a b s t r a c tPaola Ridge, along the NW Calabrian margin (southern Tyrrhenian Sea), is one of the few reported deep sea sites of precipitation of authigenic carbonates in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Here, the changing composition of the seeping fluids and the dynamic nature of the seepage induced the precipitation of pyrite, siderite and other carbonate phases. The occurrence of this array of authigenic precipitates is thought to be related to fluctuation of the sulfate-methane transition zone (SMTZ).Concretions of authigenic minerals formed in the near sub-bottom sediments of the Paola Ridge were investigated for their geochemical and isotopic composition. These concretions were collected in an area characterized by the presence of two alleged mud volcanoes and three mud diapirs. The mud diapirs are dotted by pockmarks and dissected by normal faults, and are known for having been a site of fluid seepage for at least the past 40 kyrs. Present-day venting activity occurs alongside the two alleged mud volcanoes and is dominated by CO 2 -rich discharging fluids. This discover led us to question the hypothesis of the mud volcanoes and investigate the origin of the fluids in each different domed structure of the study area.In this study, we used stable isotopes (carbon and oxygen) of carbonates coupled with rare earth element (REE) composition of different carbonate and non-carbonate phases for tracing fluid composition and early diagenesis of authigenic precipitates. The analyses on authigenic precipitates were coupled with chemical investigation of venting gas and sea-water.Authigenic calcite/aragonite concretions, from surficial sediments on diapiric structures, have depleted values. The siderite REE pattern shows consistent LREE (light REE) fractionation, MREE (medium REE) enrichment and positive Gd and La anomalies. As shown by the REE distribution, the 13 C-depleted composition and their association with chemosymbiotic fauna, calcite/aragonite precipitated at time of moderate to high methane flux close to the seafloor, under the influence of bottom seawater. Authigenic siderite, on the other hand, formed in the subseafloor, during periods of lower gas discharges under prolonged anoxic conditions within sediments in equilibrium with 13 C-rich dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and 18 O-rich water, likely related to methanogenesis and intermittent venting of deep-sourced CO 2 .

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“…Aragonite was associated with chemosymbiotic bivalves (cf. Rovere et al, 2014Rovere et al, , 2015 and abundant remnants of the decapod Calliax sp. (Fig.…”

Section: Core Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mineralogical and stable isotope composition of limestone and siderite samples is also provided. Data from Rovere et al (2015) are highlighted in gray.…”

Section: Calcite/aragonite Concretionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Characterization Of Authigenic Mineralsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Authigenic minerals from the Paola Ridge (southern Tyrrhenian Sea): Evidences of episodic methane seepage

Franchi

Rovere

Gamberi

et al. 2017

Marine and Petroleum Geology

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La Geologia Marina in Italia

2023

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Hydrothermal Vent Complexes Control Seepage and Hydrocarbon Release on the Overriding Plate of the Tyrrhenian-Ionian Subduction System (Paola Basin)

et al. 2022

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Active fluid seeps have been described in a wide range of geological environments and geodynamic contexts, which include continental shelves of non-volcanic passive margins and accretionary wedges. Fluids seeping in hybrid volcanic-sedimentary basins, characterized by the presence of magmatic intrusive complexes, have always received less attention. We detected and imaged dozens of distinct gas flares, as high as 700 m, on the continental slope of the Paola Basin in the southeastern Tyrrhenian Sea, at 550–850 m water depth. The sedimentary basin is surrounded by Pleistocene active and inactive volcanoes and volcanic-intrusive complexes, which formed in the back-arc basin of the Calabrian subduction zone, in response to subduction-induced mantle flow. Gas flares develop above pockmarks, craters and mud flows that form over and along the scarps of mound structures and correspond to seismic zones of free gas accumulation in the sub-seafloor. Here, methane-derived siderite shows enrichment in δ13C and δ18O isotopes likely related to methanogenesis and intermittent venting of deep-sourced CO2. Multichannel seismic reflection data showed that the gas flares develop in correspondence of doming and diapirism apparently originating from the top of the Messinian evaporites and nearby magmatic sills, that are present in the lower part of the Plio-Quaternary succession. These diapiric structures can be related to seafloor hydrothermal vent complexes fed by the igneous intrusions. Our data suggest that the vent complexes acted as fluid migration pathways and gas conduits, which at times are bounded by deep-rooted normal faults, leading to post-explosive near-surface microbial activity and seep carbonate formation. Fluids being mobilised by magmatism in the study area include: hydrocarbons and hydrothermal fluids generated at depth, interstitial water expelled during formation of polygonal faults. The close spatial correlation between seafloor seep manifestations, fluid migration pathways in the sub-surface involving part of the Messinian units and igneous features indicates that magmatic activity has been the main driver of fluid flow and can have a long-term effect in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea.

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Habitat mapping of cold seeps associated with authigenic mineralization (Paola Ridge, southern Tyrrhenian Sea): combining seafloor backscatter with biogeochemistry signals

Cited by 3 publications

References 34 publications

Authigenic minerals from the Paola Ridge (southern Tyrrhenian Sea): Evidences of episodic methane seepage

Authigenic minerals from the Paola Ridge (southern Tyrrhenian Sea): Evidences of episodic methane seepage

La Geologia Marina in Italia

Hydrothermal Vent Complexes Control Seepage and Hydrocarbon Release on the Overriding Plate of the Tyrrhenian-Ionian Subduction System (Paola Basin)

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