Stromatolitic fabric of authigenic carbonate crusts: result of anaerobic methane oxidation at cold seeps in 4,850 m water depth

Greinert, Jens; Bohrmann, Gerhard; Elvert, Marcus

doi:10.1007/s00531-001-0244-9

Cited by 89 publications

(65 citation statements)

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“…Although the extents of both methane seepage and associated authigenic carbonates on a global scale are poorly constrained, targeted studies from select regions indicate that methane seeps and vents are significant contributors to net methane oxidation and are frequently accompanied by substantial carbonate formation 15,27 . Along the Costa Rica margin, multibeam bathymetry, side-scan sonar imagery, remotely operated vehicle observations and sampling revealed more than 100 previously unknown seep sites, typified by authigenic carbonate mounds rising up to 100 m above the seafloor 23 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geobiological studies that have examined authigenic carbonate mounds have primarily pursued biomarker characterization rather than modern endolithic activity. 13 C-depleted lipids such as crocetane and archaeol at Aleutian margin seeps 27 , lipids and ANME 16S rRNA genes at Gulf of Cadiz structures 28 , and an ANME-2-derived extended sn-2-hydroxyarchaeol found in multiple seep carbonate mounds 29 are all suggestive of methanotrophic archaeal involvement, but offer limited insight on contemporary metabolic activity. The presence of biomarkers within mounds is often used forensically in an effort to reconstruct antecedent microbial communities and past conditions of carbonate precipitation 30 ; such studies have offered evidence of AOM and methanogenesis in association with authigenic carbonates during and potentially after their formation 31 .…”

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confidence: 99%

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Carbonate-hosted methanotrophy represents an unrecognized methane sink in the deep sea

et al. 2014

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The atmospheric flux of methane from the oceans is largely mitigated through microbially mediated sulphate-coupled methane oxidation, resulting in the precipitation of authigenic carbonates. Deep-sea carbonates are common around active and palaeo-methane seepage, and have primarily been viewed as passive recorders of methane oxidation; their role as active and unique microbial habitats capable of continued methane consumption has not been examined. Here we show that seep-associated carbonates harbour active microbial communities, serving as dynamic methane sinks. Microbial aggregate abundance within the carbonate interior exceeds that of seep sediments, and molecular diversity surveys reveal methanotrophic communities within protolithic nodules and well-lithified carbonate pavements. Aggregations of microbial cells within the carbonate matrix actively oxidize methane as indicated by stable isotope FISH-nanoSIMS experiments and 14 CH 4 radiotracer rate measurements. Carbonate-hosted methanotrophy extends the known ecological niche of these important methane consumers and represents a previously unrecognized methane sink that warrants consideration in global methane budgets.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Carbonate-hosted methanotrophy represents an unrecognized methane sink in the deep sea

et al. 2014

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“…AOM is typically associated with the formation of methane-derived authigenic carbonates (MDACs) (Hovland et al, 1985;Paull et al, 1992;Peckmann et al, 2001;Greinert et al, 2002a;Orange et al, 2002;Johnson et al, 2003;Mazzini et al, 2006;Judd and Hovland, 2007). Once MDAC formation has started, ongoing precipitation may result in clogging fluid pathways and also blocking the migration of free gas through the sediments, thus forcing bubbles to migrate laterally towards the edge of the carbonate crust or carbonate-cemented sediments.…”

Section: Bacterial Mats Carbonates and Their Relation To Seep Distrimentioning

confidence: 99%

Anomalous sea-floor backscatter patterns in methane venting areas, Dnepr paleo-delta, NW Black Sea

et al. 2008

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The relation between acoustic seafloor backscatter and seep distribution is examined by integrating multibeam backscatter data and seep locations detected by single-beam echosounder. This study is further supported by side scan sonar recordings, high-resolution 5 kHz seismic data, pore-water analysis, grain-size analysis and visual seafloor observations. The datasets were acquired during the 2003 and 2004 expeditions of the EC-funded CRIMEA project in the Dnepr paleo-delta area, northwestern Black Sea.More than 600 active methane seeps were hydro-acoustically detected within a small (3.96 km by 3.72 km) area on the continental shelf of the Dnepr paleo-delta in water depths ranging from -72 m to -156 m. Multibeam and side scan sonar recordings show backscatter patterns that are clearly associated with seepage or with a present dune area. Seeps generally occur within medium-to highbackscatter areas which often coincide with pockmarks.High-resolution seismic data reveal the presence of an undulating gas front, i.e. the top of the free gas in the subsurface, which domes up towards and intersects the seafloor at locations where gas seeps and medium-to high-backscatter values are detected. Pore-water analysis of 4 multi-cores, taken at different backscatter intensity sites, shows a clear correlation between backscatter intensity and dissolved methane fluxes. All analyzed chemical species indicate increasing anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) from medium-to high-backscatter locations. This is confirmed by visual seafloor observations, showing bacterial mats and authigenic carbonates formed by AOM. Grain-size analysis of the 4 multi-cores only reveals negligible variations between the different backscatter sites.Integration of all datasets leads to the conclusion that the observed backscatter patterns are the result of ongoing methane seepage and the precipitation of methane-derived authigenic carbonates (MDACs) caused by AOM. The carbonate formation also appears to lead to a gradual (self-)sealing of the seeps by cementing fluid pathways/horizons followed by a relocation of the bubble-releasing locations. KeywordsMethane seeps; acoustic seafloor backscatter; anaerobic oxidation of methane; bacterial mats; pockmarks; methane-derived authigenic carbonates

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“…Authigenic carbonate precipitation is mediated by methanotrophic and associated sulfate-reducing bacteria due to anaerobic oxidation of the methane (Ritger et al, 1987;Joye et al, 2010;Chevalier et al, 2011), even below the carbonate compensation depth (Greinert et al, 2002). This mechanism has been suggested for carbonate precipitation in fossil cold-seep-related deposits (e.g.…”

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confidence: 98%

An enigmatic kilometer-scale concentration of small mytilids (Late Miocene, Guadalquivir Basin, S Spain)

Aguirre

Braga

Martín

et al. 2015

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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Upper Miocene heterozoan carbonates crop out extensively in a NE-SW-trending belt (42 km long and 1.5-8 km wide) along the so-called El Alcor topographic high, from Carmona to Dos Hermanas (Seville, S Spain). These carbonates formed at the southern active margin of the Guadalquivir Basin, the foreland basin of the Betic Cordillera.They change to marls basinward (NE) and to sands landward (SE and SW). Therefore, carbonate production was constrained to a limited area in an otherwise siliciclastic shelf.The carbonates (up to 40 m thick) overlie a gradually coarsening-upward succession of marls followed by silts and sandstones. The carbonate sequence can be divided into three subunits corresponding, from bottom to top, to lowstand, transgressive, and highstands system tracts deposits. The lower subunit, exhibiting extensive trough crossbedding, is interpreted as a shallow-water bar deposit. The intermediate subunit onlaps underlying sediments and was deposited in deeper, low-turbulence conditions. The upper subunit deposits accumulated in a well-oxygenated outer platform based on benthic foraminiferal assemblages. The presence of hummocky and swaley crossstratification in these latter deposits suggests that they were affected by storms.Pervasive fluid-escape structures are also observed throughout the carbonates.The three subunits consist of bioclastic packstones to rudstones made up of abundant fragments of small mytilids. Isotopic data from serpulid polychaete Ditrupa tubes show 13 C-depleted values (up to -16.1‰), whereas  18 O yields normal marine values. Additional isotopic data on shells of scallops, oysters, and small mussels, as well as bulk sediment, show diagenetic alterations. Based on actualistic examples of massive concentrations of mussels, the nearly monospecific composition of the El Alcor deposits, together with negative  13 C values of Ditrupa tubes, indicates that cold seeps A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R I P T

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Stromatolitic fabric of authigenic carbonate crusts: result of anaerobic methane oxidation at cold seeps in 4,850 m water depth

Cited by 89 publications

References 56 publications

Carbonate-hosted methanotrophy represents an unrecognized methane sink in the deep sea

Carbonate-hosted methanotrophy represents an unrecognized methane sink in the deep sea

Anomalous sea-floor backscatter patterns in methane venting areas, Dnepr paleo-delta, NW Black Sea

An enigmatic kilometer-scale concentration of small mytilids (Late Miocene, Guadalquivir Basin, S Spain)

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