New evidence on the origin of methane in hydrothermal gases

Gunter, B.D.; Musgrave, B.C.

doi:10.1016/0016-7037(71)90109-8

Cited by 72 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Within the ␣-Proteobacteria, there were two clone groups, RH2-P3 and RH2-T3 (total of three clones), that clustered with methanotrophic bacteria, including Methylocella tundrae (10) and Methylocapsa acidiphila (11), which are recently cultivated moderately acidophilic methanotrophs. This result suggests that methane may be present in this seep site, which is rather likely since lowmolecular-weight hydrocarbon gases have been reported for numerous locations in YNP (12,19). Three clone types, represented by RH2-B, RH2-O2, and RH2-U3 (total of eight clones), were clustered with the ␥-proteobacterial acidophilic chemolithotroph Acidithiobacillus spp.…”

Section: Fig 1 Gas Chromatograms Of Hydrocarbon Components In Rainbmentioning

confidence: 76%

Diversity and Functional Analysis of Bacterial Communities Associated with Natural Hydrocarbon Seeps in Acidic Soils at Rainbow Springs, Yellowstone National Park

Hamamura¹,

Olson²,

Ward

et al. 2005

Appl Environ Microbiol

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In this paper we describe the bacterial communities associated with natural hydrocarbon seeps in nonthermal soils at Rainbow Springs, Yellowstone National Park. Soil chemical analysis revealed high sulfate concentrations and low pH values (pH 2.8 to 3.8), which are characteristic of acid-sulfate geothermal activity. The hydrocarbon composition of the seep soils consisted almost entirely of saturated, acyclic alkanes (e.g., nalkanes with chain lengths of C 15 to C 30 , as well as branched alkanes, predominately pristane and phytane). Bacterial populations present in the seep soils were phylogenetically characterized by 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis. The majority of the sequences recovered (>75%) were related to sequences of heterotrophic acidophilic bacteria, including Acidisphaera spp. and Acidiphilium spp. of the ␣-Proteobacteria. Clones related to the iron-and sulfur-oxidizing chemolithotroph Acidithiobacillus spp. were also recovered from one of the seep soils. Hydrocarbon-amended soil-sand mixtures were established to examine [ 14 C]hexadecane mineralization and corresponding changes in the bacterial populations using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA gene fragments. Approximately 50% of the [ 14 C]hexadecane added was recovered as 14 CO 2 during an 80-day incubation, and this was accompanied by detection of heterotrophic acidophile-related sequences as dominant DGGE bands. An alkane-degrading isolate was cultivated, whose 16S rRNA gene sequence was identical to the sequence of a dominant DGGE band in the soil-sand mixture, as well as the clone sequence recovered most frequently from the original soil. This and the presence of an alkB gene homolog in this isolate confirmed the alkane degradation capability of one population indigenous to acidic hydrocarbon seep soils.The occurrence of natural hydrocarbon seeps in thermal areas of northwestern Wyoming, including the Yellowstone National Park (YNP) region, was reported by explorers as early as 1807 (33). Three hydrocarbon seeps located near Calcite Springs, Rainbow Springs, and Tower Bridge in the northeast corner of YNP were described by Love and Good (32). All of the seeps had abundant sulfur and were surrounded and underlain by volcanic rocks. Thermally active springs and vents were closely associated with the seeps at the time of investigations by Good in 1963 and 1968 (33). The Calcite Springs oils are composed primarily of aromatic hydrocarbons, polar compounds, and asphaltenes and contain less than 1% saturated hydrocarbons, whereas the oils from Rainbow Springs consist almost entirely of n-alkanes (6). The chemical composition of Tower Bridge oils has not been reported. Of the three seeps, Rainbow Springs is the least accessible, and it is located about 32 km northeast of Lake Village, YNP.The association of aliphatic hydrocarbons with acidic, sulfate-rich geothermal environments distinguishes the Rainbow Springs sites from other natural hydrocarbon seeps. The extreme acidity (pH Ͻ3) associated with geothermal areas of ...

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Section: Fig 1 Gas Chromatograms Of Hydrocarbon Components In Rainbmentioning

confidence: 76%

Diversity and Functional Analysis of Bacterial Communities Associated with Natural Hydrocarbon Seeps in Acidic Soils at Rainbow Springs, Yellowstone National Park

Hamamura¹,

Olson²,

Ward

et al. 2005

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…The SD values of H2 in volcanic gases were inferred to be the result of isotopic exchange equilibrium between H2 and water at 800 to 1,100°C. From the study of the hydrothermal area, a value of about -660%o has been obtained for H2 in fumarolic gases from Yellowstone Park (GUNTER and MUSGRAVE, 1971). These gases contain significant amounts of CO2 (83%) and CH, (14%) and the low value of -660%o for H,, was interpreted to arise from isotopic exchange equilibrium between CH4 and H2.…”

Section: Results and Dtscussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

D/H ratios of H2 in soil gases as an indicator of fault movements.

et al. 1980

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“…Volcanic and geothermal methanes (Gunter and Musgrave, 1971;Panichi et al, 1979;Lyon and Hulston, 1984) are also similar in PC value to kerogens, but more negative in 6D value than those, as shown in Fig. 3.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 57%

Hydrogen and carbon isotopic compositions of methane in N2- and CO2-rich gases from Central Japan.

Mizutani¹,

Tokiwa²,

Satake³

1989

Geochem. J.

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N2 and C02-rich bubble gases collected from five springs and four wells in Paleozoic metamorphic rock and Cretaceous granite areas of Central Japan contain up to 22.9% methane. 6D and 613C values are between 100 and -180%o, and between -24 and -51 %o, respectively, for the methane. A linear correlation between 6D and 813C values observed is almost identical with that for the TT(m) type ther mogenic methane. The methane in the bubble gases is likely to be originated by thermal decomposition of organic matter in deep-seated metasedimentary rocks. The contribution of volcanic, magmatic and mantle-derived methanes to the bubble gases is probably insignificant, whereas 3He/4He values given by previous works indicate the presence of gas components derived from deep-seated sources, such as the magma, lower crust and mantle, in the gases.

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New evidence on the origin of methane in hydrothermal gases

Cited by 72 publications

References 10 publications

Diversity and Functional Analysis of Bacterial Communities Associated with Natural Hydrocarbon Seeps in Acidic Soils at Rainbow Springs, Yellowstone National Park

Diversity and Functional Analysis of Bacterial Communities Associated with Natural Hydrocarbon Seeps in Acidic Soils at Rainbow Springs, Yellowstone National Park

D/H ratios of H2 in soil gases as an indicator of fault movements.

Hydrogen and carbon isotopic compositions of methane in N2- and CO2-rich gases from Central Japan.

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