Biogenic hydrocarbon gases and sulfate reduction in the Orca Basin brine

Details Biogenic hydrocarbon gases and sulfate reduction in the Orca Basin brine Biogenic hydrocarbon gases and sulfate reduction in the Orca Basin brine

Oct 1985

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1985gecoa..49.2069w&link_type=abstract

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 49, Issue 10, pp.2069-2080

Other

1

Scientific paper

The composition of light hydrocarbon gases in the Orca Basin, an anoxic, hypersaline intraslope depression on the continental slope of the northern Gulf of Mexico, indicates that both methane and ethane are biogenic in nature with a C 1 /( C 2 + C 3 ) ratio of 730 and a 13 C of methane of -73%. relative to the PDB standard. The concentrations of methane (750 mM) and ethane (1300 mM) in the Orca Basin brine are higher than any other marine anoxic basin. These high levels result not from high rates of productivity, but from the long residence time of the brine in the basin, due to its high stability toward mixing with overlying seawater ( 1 / Z = 3.2/ m ). Both methane and ethane show well mixed distributions in the brine. These distributions probably result from convective mixing of the isohaline brine pool due to normal heat flow from the basin sediments. Methane and ethane maxima above the pycnocline at the brine/seawater interface reflect in situ production and/or consumption in the aerobic water column. Concurrent maxima in suspended particulate material distributions in this region suggest methane may be produced there in anaerobic microenvironments associated with the suspended matter. Reduced rates of anaerobic decomposition (including sulfate reduction) in the brine sediments are inferred from preserved Sargassum fronds in the sediments, vertical sulfate profiles in most cores, and the sediment organic carbon content which is two to three times higher in sediments below the high salinity brine than in the normal Gulf sediments nearby.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Biogenic hydrocarbon gases and sulfate reduction in the Orca Basin brine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Biogenic hydrocarbon gases and sulfate reduction in the Orca Basin brine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Biogenic hydrocarbon gases and sulfate reduction in the Orca Basin brine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1546143