Isotopic evidence (87Sr/86Sr, δ7Li) for alteration of the oceanic crust at deep-rooted mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Cadiz, NE Atlantic Ocean [(Sr-87/Sr-86, delta Li-7) ].

Scholz, Florian, Hensen, Christian , Reitz, Anja, Romer, Rolf L., Liebetrau, Volker, Meixner, Annette, Weise, Stephan M. and Haeckel, Matthias (2009) Isotopic evidence (87Sr/86Sr, δ7Li) for alteration of the oceanic crust at deep-rooted mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Cadiz, NE Atlantic Ocean [(Sr-87/Sr-86, delta Li-7) ]. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73 . pp. 5444-5459. DOI 10.1016/j.gca.2009.06.004.

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Supplementary data:

Abstract

The chemical and isotopic composition of pore fluids is presented for five deep-rooted mud volcanoes aligned on a transect across the Gulf of Cadiz continental margin at water depths between 350 and 3860 m. Generally decreasing interstitial Li concentrations and Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios with increasing distance from shore are attributed to systematically changing fluid sources across the continental margin. Although highest Li concentrations at the near-shore mud volcanoes coincide with high salinities derived from dissolution of halite and late-stage evaporites, clayey, terrigenous sediments are identified as the ultimate Li source to all pore fluids investigated. Light delta Li-7 values, partly close to those of hydrothermal vent fluids (delta Li-7: +11.9 parts per thousand), indicate that Li has been mobilized during high-temperature fluid/sediment or fluid/rock interactions in the deep sub-surface. Intense leaching of terrigenous clay has led to radiogenic Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios (similar to 0.7106) in pore fluids of the near-shore mud volcanoes. In contrast, non-radiogenic Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios (similar to 0.7075) at the distal locations are attributed to admixing of a basement-derived fluid component, carrying an isotopic signature from interaction with the basaltic crust. This inference is substantiated by temperature constraints from Li isotope equilibrium calculations suggesting exchange processes at particularly high temperatures (>200 degrees C) for the least radiogenic pore fluids of the most distal location.Advective pore fluids in the off-shore reaches of the Gulf of Cadiz are influenced by successive exchange processes with both oceanic crust and terrigenous, fine-grained sediments, resulting in a chemical and isotopic signature similar to that of fluids in near-shore ridge flank hydrothermal systems. This suggests that deep-rooted mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Cadiz represent a fluid pathway intermediate between mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal vent and shallow, marginal cold seep. Due to the thicker sediment coverage and slower fluid advection rates, the overall geochemical signature is shifted towards the sediment-diagenetic signal compared to ridge flank hydrothermal environments. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Document Type: Article
Additional Information: Corrigendum in Vol. 152.2015, pp. 52-53 (http://oceanrep.geomar.de/27857/)
Keywords: Meeresgeologie; Biogeochemistry; Energie- und CO2-Deponierungstechnologien; flank hydrothermal systemslithium isotope pore fluids stable-isotope ridge-flank chemical-composition accretionary prism sedimentary basins convergent margins plate boundary
Research affiliation: OceanRep > SFB 574 > B5
OceanRep > SFB 574
HGF-UFZ
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB2 Marine Biogeochemistry > FB2-MG Marine Geosystems
OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence
OceanRep > SFB 574 > B6
HGF-GFZ
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: Elsevier
Projects: Future Ocean, GEOTECHNOLOGIEN, West Nile Delta
Contribution Number:
Project
Number
SFB 574
173
Date Deposited: 17 Sep 2009 11:42
Last Modified: 23 Sep 2019 20:05
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/6711

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