Modern carbonate mounds: Porcupine drilling

Ferdelman, T. G.; Kano, Akihiro; Williams, T.; Gaillot, P.; Abe, Kohei; Andres, Andres; Bjerager, Morten; Browning, Emily L; Cragg, Barry A.; Mol, Ben De; Foubert, Anneleen; Frank, Tracy D.; Fuwa, Yuji; Gharib, J. J.; Gregg, Jay M.; Huvenne, Veerle; Léonide, Philippe; Li, X.; Mangelsdorf, Kai; Tanaka, Akiko; Novosel, I.; Sakai, Saburo; Samarkin, V.; Sasaki, Keiichi; Spivack, Arthur J.; Takashima, Chizuru; Titschack, Jürgen

doi:10.2204/iodp.pr.307.2005

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Tectonic compression and Olistrostrome development led to the formation of numerous mud volcanoes, diapiric cones and ridges, and pockmarks with several occurrences of gas hydrates (Kenyon et al 2002(Kenyon et al , 2006Leon et al 2006;Pinheiro et al 2003;Somoza et al 2003;Van Rensbergen et al 2003, 2005. Methane migration and its subsurface removal due to microbial anaerobic oxidation of methane (Niemann et al 2006) led to the formation of authigenic carbonates as attested by the presence of 13 C-depleted clasts, slabs or chimneys (Leon et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Methane migration and its subsurface removal due to microbial anaerobic oxidation of methane (Niemann et al 2006) led to the formation of authigenic carbonates as attested by the presence of 13 C-depleted clasts, slabs or chimneys (Leon et al 2006). Recently, several fossil cold-water coral carbonate moundsalmost devoid of living corals-have been described in this area suggesting that these margins once provided suitable conditions for the development of cold-water coral carbonate mounds (Van Rensbergen et al 2003, 2005Foubert et al 2008). The discovery of such mounds on the top of the Pen Duick escarpment (Foubert et al 2008) in the Al Arraich mud volcano field is of particular interest to study mound formation processes and sedimentary diagenesis in a context of hydrocarbon migration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Anaerobic oxidation of methane in a cold-water coral carbonate mound from the Gulf of Cadiz

Maignien

Depreiter

Foubert

et al. 2010

Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Gulf of Cadiz is an area of mud volcanism and gas venting through the seafloor. In addition, several cold-water coral carbonate mounds have been discovered at the Pen Duick escarpment amidst the El Arraiche mud volcano field on the Moroccan margin. One of these mounds -named Alpha mound-has been studied to examine the impact of the presence of methane on pore-water geochemistry, potential sulphate reduction (SR) rate and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) budget of the mound in comparison with off-mound and off-escarpment locations. Pore-water profiles of sulphate, sulphide, methane, and DIC from the on-mound location showed the presence of a sulphate to methane transition zone at 350 cm below the sea floor. This was well correlated with an increase in SR activity. 13 C-depleted DIC at the transition zone (-21.9% vs. Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite) indicated that microbial methane oxidation significantly contribute to the DIC budget of the mound. The Alpha mound thus represents a new carbonate mound type where the presence and anaerobic oxidation of methane has an important imprint on both geochemistry and DIC isotopic signature and budget of this carbonate mound.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anaerobic oxidation of methane in a cold-water coral carbonate mound from the Gulf of Cadiz

Maignien

Depreiter

Foubert

et al. 2010

Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

The Porcupine Bank Canyon coral mounds: oceanographic and topographic steering of deep-water carbonate mound development and associated phosphatic deposition

et al. 2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The head of a canyon system extending along the western Porcupine Bank (west of Ireland) and which accommodates a large field of giant carbonate mounds was investigated during two cruises (INSS 2000 and TTR-13). Multibeam and sidescan sonar data (600-1,150 m water depth) suggest that the pre-existing seabed topography acts as a significant factor controlling mound distribution and shape. The mounds are concentrated along the edges of the canyon or are associated with a complex fault system traced around the canyon head, comprising escarpments up to 60 m high and several km long. The sampling for geochemical and petrographic analysis of numerous types of authigenic deposits was guided by sidescan sonar and video recordings. Calcite-cemented biogenic rubble was observed at the top and on the flanks of the carbonate mounds, being associated with both living and dead corals (Lophelia pertusa, Madrepora oculata and occasional Desmophyllum cristagalli). This can plausibly be explained by dissolution of coral debris facilitated by strong currents along the mound tops and flanks. In turn, the dissolved carbon is recycled and precipitated as interstitial micrite. Calcite, dolomite and phosphatic hardgrounds were identified in samples from the escarpment framing the eastern part of the survey area. The laterally extensive phosphatic hardgrounds represent a novel discovery in the region, supplying hard substrata for the establishment of new coral colonies. Based on existing knowledge of regional oceanographic conditions, complemented with new CTD measurements, it is suggested that water column stratification, enhanced bottom currents, and upwelling facilitate the deposition of organic matter, followed by phosphatisation leading to the formation of phosphateglauconite deposits. The occurrence of strong bottom currents was confirmed by means of video observations combined with acoustic and sampling data, providing circumstantial evidence of fine-to medium-grained sand. Evidently, slope breaks such as escarpments and deep-water canyon headwalls are important structural elements in the development of mature carbonate mounds induced by deep-water coral growth. Stable isotope data show no evidence of methanederived carbon in the carbonates and lithified sediments of the Porcupine Bank Canyon mounds.

show abstract

The Enya mounds: a lost mound-drift competition

Rooij

Huvenne

Blamart

et al. 2008

Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The genesis and evolution of cold-water coral banks along the Northeastern Atlantic margin is known to be influenced by several factors, among which the palaeotopography and nature of the coral settling surface, the presence of bottom currents and sediment supply. In this paper, a case study is presented of the Enya mound cluster, located in the southernmost tip of the Belgica mound province, west of Ireland. Below this mound cluster, seismic stratigraphy revealed a yet unmapped local unconformity RD1b, being part of a composite erosion event (RD1). As such, from the Late Miocene to Late Pliocene, at least two erosional events have incised the margin, ending with the final RD1a ''moundbase'' unconformity, acting as a base for the Enya mounds. During the Quaternary the mounds became outgrown and were covered by a mounded contourite drift. In addition, they are closely associated with a cluster of seabed pockmarks. The bottom current regime which became active since the Middle Pleistocene has certainly influenced the fate of this mound cluster. The occurrence of the pockmarks seems to be related to relatively recent fluid migration processes, however leaving an open question if any previous seepage phases were involved in the growth or initiation of the coral banks.

show abstract

Modern carbonate mounds: Porcupine drilling

Cited by 7 publications

References 35 publications

Anaerobic oxidation of methane in a cold-water coral carbonate mound from the Gulf of Cadiz

Anaerobic oxidation of methane in a cold-water coral carbonate mound from the Gulf of Cadiz

The Porcupine Bank Canyon coral mounds: oceanographic and topographic steering of deep-water carbonate mound development and associated phosphatic deposition

The Enya mounds: a lost mound-drift competition

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About