_version_ 1867169498449051648
author Delacour, Adelie
Frueh-Green, Gretchen L
Bernasconi, Stefano M
Schaeffer, Philippe
Kelley, Deborah S
author_facet Delacour, Adelie
Frueh-Green, Gretchen L
Bernasconi, Stefano M
Schaeffer, Philippe
Kelley, Deborah S
collection Datos científicos de ciencias marinas y ambientales
contents The carbon geochemistry of serpentinized peridotites and gabbroic rocks recovered at the Lost City Hydrothermal Field (LCHF) and drilled at IODP Hole 1309D at the central dome of the Atlantis Massif (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 30°N) was examined to characterize carbon sources and speciation in oceanic basement rocks affected by long-lived hydrothermal alteration. Our study presents new data on the geochemistry of organic carbon in the oceanic lithosphere and provides constraints on the fate of dissolved organic carbon in seawater during serpentinization. The basement rocks of the Atlantis Massif are characterized by total carbon (TC) contents of 59 ppm to 1.6 wt% and 17863_TC values ranging from -28.7 per mil to +2.3 per mil . In contrast, total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations and isotopic compositions are relatively constant (d13C_TOC: -28.9 per mil to -21.5 per mil ) and variations in d13CTC reflect mixing of organic carbon with carbonates of marine origin. Saturated hydrocarbons extracted from serpentinites beneath the LCHF consist of n-alkanes ranging from C15 to C30. Longer-chain hydrocarbons (up to C40) are observed in olivine-rich samples from the central dome (IODP Hole 1309D). Occurrences of isoprenoids (pristane, phytane and squalane), polycyclic compounds (hopanes and steranes) and higher relative abundances of n-C16 to n-C20 alkanes in the serpentinites of the southern wall suggest a marine organic input. The vent fluids are characterized by high concentrations of methane and hydrogen, with a putative abiotic origin of hydrocarbons; however, evidence for an inorganic source of n-alkanes in the basement rocks remains equivocal. We propose that high seawater fluxes in the southern part of the Atlantis Massif likely favor the transport and incorporation of marine dissolved organic carbon and overprints possible abiotic geochemical signatures. The presence of pristane, phytane and squalane biomarkers in olivine-rich samples associated with local faults at the central dome implies fracture-controlled seawater circulation deep into the gabbroic core of the massif. Thus, our study indicates that hydrocarbons account for an important proportion of the total carbon stored in the Atlantis Massif basement and suggests that serpentinites may represent an important (as yet unidentified) reservoir for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from seawater.
format Dataset Open Access
id pangaea_https___doi_org_10_1594_PANGAEA_711445
institution PANGAEA
language en
publishDate 2008
publisher PANGAEA
record_format pangaea
spellingShingle Carbon geochemistry in serpentinites from and beneath the Lost City Hydrothermal Field
Delacour, Adelie
Frueh-Green, Gretchen L
Bernasconi, Stefano M
Schaeffer, Philippe
Kelley, Deborah S
304-U1309B; 304-U1309D; 305-U1309D; 3638-1029; 3638-1134; 3639-1254S; 3639-1319; 3639-1355; 3642-1309; 3645-1159T; 3645-1225; 3646-1138; 3646-1205; 3646-1409; 3647-1416; 3649-1257; 3650-1146; 3650-1436; 3651-1252; 3652-1203; 3863-1157; 3863-1301; 3863-1419; 3867-1558; 3867-1603; 3867-1621; 3867-1623; 3872-1136a; 3873-1124; 3873-1245; 3873-1300; 3873-1344; 3876-1215; 3876-1310; 3877-1158; 3877-1307; 3877-1313; 3877-1406; 3881-1119; 3881-1132A; DRILL; Drilling/drill rig; Exp304; Exp305; H03-R2243; H03-R2301; Integrated Ocean Drilling Program / International Ocean Discovery Program; IODP; Joides Resolution; Manipulator arm; Mid-Atlantic Ridge; Oceanic Core Complex Formation, Atlantis Massive 1; Oceanic Core Complex Formation, Atlantis Massive 2; ROV_MA
The carbon geochemistry of serpentinized peridotites and gabbroic rocks recovered at the Lost City Hydrothermal Field (LCHF) and drilled at IODP Hole 1309D at the central dome of the Atlantis Massif (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 30°N) was examined to characterize carbon sources and speciation in oceanic basement rocks affected by long-lived hydrothermal alteration. Our study presents new data on the geochemistry of organic carbon in the oceanic lithosphere and provides constraints on the fate of dissolved organic carbon in seawater during serpentinization. The basement rocks of the Atlantis Massif are characterized by total carbon (TC) contents of 59 ppm to 1.6 wt% and 17863_TC values ranging from -28.7 per mil to +2.3 per mil . In contrast, total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations and isotopic compositions are relatively constant (d13C_TOC: -28.9 per mil to -21.5 per mil ) and variations in d13CTC reflect mixing of organic carbon with carbonates of marine origin. Saturated hydrocarbons extracted from serpentinites beneath the LCHF consist of n-alkanes ranging from C15 to C30. Longer-chain hydrocarbons (up to C40) are observed in olivine-rich samples from the central dome (IODP Hole 1309D). Occurrences of isoprenoids (pristane, phytane and squalane), polycyclic compounds (hopanes and steranes) and higher relative abundances of n-C16 to n-C20 alkanes in the serpentinites of the southern wall suggest a marine organic input. The vent fluids are characterized by high concentrations of methane and hydrogen, with a putative abiotic origin of hydrocarbons; however, evidence for an inorganic source of n-alkanes in the basement rocks remains equivocal. We propose that high seawater fluxes in the southern part of the Atlantis Massif likely favor the transport and incorporation of marine dissolved organic carbon and overprints possible abiotic geochemical signatures. The presence of pristane, phytane and squalane biomarkers in olivine-rich samples associated with local faults at the central dome implies fracture-controlled seawater circulation deep into the gabbroic core of the massif. Thus, our study indicates that hydrocarbons account for an important proportion of the total carbon stored in the Atlantis Massif basement and suggests that serpentinites may represent an important (as yet unidentified) reservoir for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from seawater.
title Carbon geochemistry in serpentinites from and beneath the Lost City Hydrothermal Field
topic 304-U1309B; 304-U1309D; 305-U1309D; 3638-1029; 3638-1134; 3639-1254S; 3639-1319; 3639-1355; 3642-1309; 3645-1159T; 3645-1225; 3646-1138; 3646-1205; 3646-1409; 3647-1416; 3649-1257; 3650-1146; 3650-1436; 3651-1252; 3652-1203; 3863-1157; 3863-1301; 3863-1419; 3867-1558; 3867-1603; 3867-1621; 3867-1623; 3872-1136a; 3873-1124; 3873-1245; 3873-1300; 3873-1344; 3876-1215; 3876-1310; 3877-1158; 3877-1307; 3877-1313; 3877-1406; 3881-1119; 3881-1132A; DRILL; Drilling/drill rig; Exp304; Exp305; H03-R2243; H03-R2301; Integrated Ocean Drilling Program / International Ocean Discovery Program; IODP; Joides Resolution; Manipulator arm; Mid-Atlantic Ridge; Oceanic Core Complex Formation, Atlantis Massive 1; Oceanic Core Complex Formation, Atlantis Massive 2; ROV_MA
url https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.711445