Venting and seepage systems associated with mud volcanoes and mud diapirs in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea

Rovere, Marzia; Gamberi, Fabiano; Mercorella, Alessandra; Rashed, Heba; Gallerani, Andrea; Leidi, Elisa; Marani, M.; Funari, Valerio; Pini, Gian Andrea

doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2013.11.013

Cited by 34 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The cold seeps are located on 2 structures initially defined as mud volcanoes (RMV and R1MV structures;Gamberi and Rovere, 2010;Rovere et al, 2014) and 3 main mud diapirs (D1, D2, D3), characterized by the presence of large fields of pockmarks (Fig. 1).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Higher resolution geophysical data acquisitions and seafloor sampling campaigns were carried out in 2011 and 2014 (Rovere et al, 2014). During these campaigns active gas venting at the seafloor, gas plumes in the water column and precipitation of FeMn-oxy-hydroxides, sulfide and siderite in the sub-seafloor of the mud volcanoes were detected (Rovere et al, 2014.…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Submarine seepage areas originate from the migration of methane-rich fluids and their discharge at the seafloor through peculiar morphologic features such as mud volcanoes (e.g., Krastel et al, 2003;Løseth et al, 2009), pockmarks (e.g., Hovland et al, 2002;Sultan et al, 2014) and mud diapirs (e.g., Rovere et al, 2014). In such areas, faults may act as plumbing systems, favoring the uprising of fluids from deep-seated sources, which can affect at different degrees the diagenesis of marine sediments (e.g., Hein et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

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%

See 4 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

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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 .

show abstract

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

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

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Evidence of a shallow water submarine hydrothermal field off Zannone Island from morphological and geochemical characterization: Implications for Tyrrhenian Sea Quaternary volcanism

Martorelli

Italiano²,

Ingrassia

et al. 2016

JGR Solid Earth

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Discoveries from multibeam bathymetry and geochemical surveys performed off Zannone Island (western Pontine Archipelago, Tyrrhenian Sea) provide evidence of an undocumented hydrothermal field characterized by ongoing fluid emissions and morphologically complex giant depressions located in shallow water (<150 m water depth). Based on a detailed morpho‐bathymetric study we identify the seabed morphologies produced by hydrothermal fluid emission activity. We recognize five giant depressions (length >250 m) that host pockmarks, mounds, small cones, and active fluid vents, which are interpreted as complex fluid‐escape features developed both through vigorous‐explosive events and steady seepage. Their spatial distribution suggests that the NE‐SW trending faults bounding the Ponza‐Zannone structural high and the shallow fractured basement are favorable conditions for the upward migration of hydrothermal fluids. Moreover, we performed a detailed geochemical study to investigate the source of the hydrothermal fluids. The geochemical signature of the collected fluids provides information of active CO2‐dominated degassing with a significant contribution of mantle volatiles, with measured 3He/4He values > 3.0 Ra that are similar to those recorded at Stromboli and Panarea volcanoes. The hydrothermal system produces volatiles that may originate from residual magma batches, similar to the Pleistocene trachytes cropping out in the SE sector of Ponza Island that were probably intruded in the shallow crustal levels and never erupted. The discovery of the Zannone hydrothermal field updates the record of active hydrothermal areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, the recognition of several giant hydrothermal depressions characterized by a complex morphology is peculiar for the Mediterranean Sea.

show abstract

A Preliminary Study of Submarine Cold Seeps by Seismic Oceanography Techniques

Chen

Song

Guan

et al. 2017

Chinese J of Geophysics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Submarine cold seeps are widely distributed in the continental margin seas around the world. In this study, we apply a conventional multichannel seismic reflection (seismic oceanography) method to image the water column near the seafloor in order to detect cold seeps. In addition to analyzing the fluid escape structures, we also describe and discuss the development positions, seismic reflection characteristics as well as features of the cold seeps. The seismic reflection from the water column is very weak; therefore, the seismic sections above and below the seafloor are processed in two different sequences as follows: (1) geometry definition, direct wave attenuation and amplitude recovery, high‐pass filter, common midpoint sorting, constant velocity (seawater sound velocity) stack, and post‐stack FK filter in some sections; and (2) data quality control, amplitude recovery, 6∼100 Hz bandpass filter, multiple attenuation, deconvolution, velocity analysis, normal move‐out correction, common midpoint stack, post‐stack noise attenuation, 4∼70 Hz bandpass filter, and FX migration. The processed sections are then assembled together along the seafloor after carefully adjusting the color scale. The analysis shows that active cold seeps primarily present plume, broom, and/or irregular shapes that have weak and chaotic seismic reflections in the water column. The seismic reflection amplitude is enhanced at times; this could be attributed to the suspension of mud or particles in the water column. Cold seepage activities are typically associated with fluid escape structures, including mud diapirs, pipes, faults, fractures, gas chimneys, seabed pockmarks, and mud volcanoes. This indicates fluid migration from deep to shallow strata, fluid seepage or escape at the seafloor, as well as the formation of widespread cold seep activities. All the results herein are derived from a comprehensive interpretation of the seismic sections of the water columns and strata; however, further field studies, theoretical simulations, and experiments are required to confirm these conclusions.

show abstract

Venting and seepage systems associated with mud volcanoes and mud diapirs in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea

Cited by 34 publications

References 42 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

Evidence of a shallow water submarine hydrothermal field off Zannone Island from morphological and geochemical characterization: Implications for Tyrrhenian Sea Quaternary volcanism

A Preliminary Study of Submarine Cold Seeps by Seismic Oceanography Techniques

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About