Origin of lipid biomarkers in mud volcanoes from the Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean

Abstract. Mud volcanoes (MVs) are the most prominent indicators of active methane/hydrocarbon venting at the seafloor on both passive and active continental margins. Their occurrence in the western Mediterranean is patent at the West Alboran Basin, where numerous MVs develop overlaying a major sedimentary depocentre containing overpressured shales. Although some of these MVs have been studied, the detailed biogeochemistry of expelled mud so far has not been examined in detail. This work provides the first results on the composition and origin of organic matter, anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) processes and general characteristics on MV dynamics using lipid biomarkers as the main tool. Lipid biomarker analysis was performed on MV expelled material (mud breccias) and interbedded hemipelagic sediments from Perejil, Kalinin and Schneider's Heart MVs located in the northwest margin of the Alboran Sea. The n alkane distributions and n alkane-derived indices (CPI and ACL), in combination with the epimerization degree of hopanes (22S/(22S+22R)) indicate that all studied mud breccia have a similar biomarker composition consisting of mainly thermally immature organic matter with an admixture of petroleum-derived compounds. This concordant composition indicates that common source strata must feed all three studied MVs. The past or present AOM activity was established using lipid biomarkers specific for anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (irregular isoprenoids and dialkyl glycerol diethers) and the depleted carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of crocetane/phytane. The presence of these lipid biomarkers, together with the low amounts of detected glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers, is consistent with the dominance of anaerobic methanotrophs of the ANME-2 over ANME-1, at least in mud breccia from Perejil MVs. In contrast, the scarce presence or lack of these AOM-related lipid biomarkers in sediments from Kalinin and Schneider's Heart MVs, suggests that no recent active methane seepage has occurred at these sites. Moreover, the observed methane concentrations support the current activity of Perejil MV, and the very low methane seepage activity in Kalinin and Schneider's Heart MVs.

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Origin of lipid biomarkers in mud volcanoes from the Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-10-18853-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 18853-18892

Author(s):

C. López-Rodríguez ◽

A. Stadnitskaia ◽

G. J. De Lange ◽

F. Martínez-Ruíz ◽

M. Comas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Lipid Biomarkers ◽

Anaerobic Oxidation Of Methane ◽

Mud Volcanoes ◽

Alboran Sea ◽

Methane Seepage ◽

Lipid Biomarker ◽

Biomarker Analysis ◽

Alborán Sea

Abstract. Mud volcanoes (MVs) are the most prominent indicators of active methane/hydrocarbon venting at the seafloor on both passive and active continental margins. Their occurrence in the Western Mediterranean is patent at the West Alboran Basin, where numerous MVs develop overlaying a major sedimentary depocenter containing overpressured shales. Although some of these MVs have been studied, the detailed biogeochemistry of expelled mud so far has not been examined in detail. This work provides the first results on the composition and origin of organic matter, Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane (AOM) processes and general characteristics on MV dynamics using lipid biomarkers as the main tool. Lipid biomarker analysis was performed on MV expelled material (mud breccias) and interbedded hemipelagic sediments from Perejil, Kalinin and Schneider's Heart MVs located in the northwest margin of the Alboran Sea. The n-alkane-distributions and n-alkane-derived indices (CPI and ACL), in combination with the epimerization degree of hopanes (22S/(22S &plus; 22R)) indicate that all studied mud breccia have a similar biomarker composition consisting of mainly thermally immature organic matter with an admixture of petroleum-derived compounds. This concordant composition indicates that common source strata must feed all three studied MVs. The past or present AOM activity was established using lipid biomarkers specific for anaerobic methanotropic archaea (irregular isoprenoids and DGDs) and the depleted carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of crocetane/phytane. The presence of these lipid biomarkers, together with the low amounts of detected GDGTs, is consistent with the dominance of anaerobic methanotrophs of the ANME-2 over ANME-1, at least in mud breccia from Perejil MVs. In contrast, the scarce presence or lack of these AOM-related lipid biomarkers in sediments from Kalinin and Schneider's Heart MVs, suggest no recent active methane seepage has occurred at these sites. Moreover, the observed methane concentrations support the current activity of Perejil MV, and the very low methane seepage activity in Kalinin and Schneider's Heart MVs.

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Pliocene to Recent mud diapirism and related mud volcanoes in the Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean)

Geological Society London Special Publications ◽

10.1144/gsl.sp.2003.216.01.29 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 216 (1) ◽

pp. 443-459 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

A.R. Talukder ◽

M.C. Comas ◽

J.I. Soto

Keyword(s):

Western Mediterranean ◽

Mud Volcanoes ◽

Alboran Sea ◽

Mud Diapirism ◽

Alborán Sea

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Biogeochemical and microbiological evidence for methane-related archaeal communities at active submarine mud volcanoes on the Canadian Beaufort Sea slope

10.5194/bg-2018-91 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Dong-Hun Lee ◽

Jung-Hyun Kim ◽

Yung Mi Lee ◽

Alina Stadnitskaia ◽

Young Keun Jin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

16S Rrna ◽

Surface Sediments ◽

Beaufort Sea ◽

Lipid Biomarkers ◽

Anaerobic Oxidation Of Methane ◽

Mud Volcanoes ◽

Δ13c Values ◽

Oxidation Of Methane ◽

Lipid Biomarker ◽

Archaeal Communities

Abstract. In this study, we report lipid biomarker patterns and phylogenetic identities of key microbes mediating anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) communities in active mud volcanos (MVs) on the continental slope of the Canadian Beaufort Sea. The enriched δ13C values of total organic carbon (TOC) as well as lipid biomarkers such as archaeol and biphytanes (BPs) relative to δ13CCH4 values suggested that the contribution of AOM-related biomass to sedimentary TOC was in general negligible in the Beaufort Sea MVs investigated. However, the δ13C values of sn-2- and sn-3-hydroxyarchaeol were more negative than CH4, indicating the presence of AOM communities, albeit in a small amount. The ratio of sn-2-hydroxyarchaeol to archaeol and the 16S rRNA results indeed indicated that archaea of the ANME-2c and ANME-3 clades were involved in AOM. Further studies are needed to investigate the diversity and distribution of AOM communities and to characterize their habitats in the uppermost surface sediments of Beaufort Sea MV systems.

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Checklist of benthic marine Cyanoprokariota of Chafarinas Islands (Alboran Sea, Western Mediterranean). Catálogo de cianoprocariotas bentónicas marinas de las Islas Chafarinas (Mar de Alborán, Mediterráneo Occidental)

Acta Botanica Malacitana ◽

10.24310/abm.v38i0.2619 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 38 ◽

pp. 182-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Julio De la Rosa Álamos ◽

María Altamirano ◽

Marianela Zanolla

Keyword(s):

Marine Algae ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Alboran Sea ◽

Palabras Clave ◽

Alborán Sea

Catálogo de cianoprocariotas bentónicas marinas de las Islas Chafarinas (Mar de Alborán, Mediterráneo Occidental) Keywords: Chafarinas Islands, Cyanoprokariota, marine algae, Alboran Sea. Palabras clave: Islas Chafarinas, Cyanoprokariotas, algas marinas, Mar de Alborán.

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Analyses of depositional environments of the Marcellus formation in New York using biomarker and trace metal proxies

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology ◽

10.1007/s13202-021-01237-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Reilly M. Blocho ◽

Richard W. Smith ◽

Mark R. Noll

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

New York ◽

Organic Matter ◽

New York State ◽

Depositional Environments ◽

Average Chain Length ◽

Lipid Biomarker ◽

Two Samples ◽

Biomarker Analysis ◽

Marcellus Formation

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to observe how the composition of organic matter (OM) and the extent of anoxia during deposition within the Marcellus Formation in New York varied by distance from the sediment source in eastern New York. Lipid biomarkers (n-alkanes and fatty acids) in the extractable organic component (bitumen) of the shale samples were analyzed, and proxies such as the average chain length (ACL), aquatic to terrestrial ratio (ATR) and carbon preference index (CPI) of n-alkanes were calculated. Fatty acids were relatively non-abundant due to the age of the shale bed, but n-alkane distributions revealed that the primary component of the OM was terrigenous plants. The presence of shorter n-alkane chain lengths in the samples indicated that there was also a minor component of phytoplankton and algal (marine) sourced OM. Whole rock analyses were also conducted, and cerium anomalies were calculated as a proxy for anoxia. All samples had a negative anomaly value, indicating anoxic conditions during deposition. Two samples, however, contained values close to zero and thus were determined to have suboxic conditions. Anoxia and total organic matter (TOM) did not show any spatial trends across the basin, which may be caused by varying depths within the basin during deposition. A correlation between nickel concentrations and TOM was observed and indicates that algae was the primary source of the marine OM, which supports the lipid biomarker analysis. It was determined that the kerogen type of the Marcellus Formation in New York State is type III, consistent with a methane-forming shale bed.

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First record of Sphoeroides spengleri (Osteichthyes: Tetraodontidae) in the Mediterranean Sea

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315404010495h ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 84 (5) ◽

pp. 1089-1090 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

J.A. Reina-Hervás ◽

J.E. García Raso ◽

M.E. Manjón-Cabeza

Keyword(s):

Alien Species ◽

Mediterranean Sea ◽

First Record ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Alboran Sea ◽

Total Length ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Alborán Sea

The capture of a specimen of Sphoeroides spengleri (Osteichthyes: Tetraodontidae), 17 December 2000 and 29·7 mm total length, from the Málaga coast (Alborán Sea, western Mediterranean) represents the first record of a new alien species for Mediterranean waters.

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Living benthic foraminifera from cold-water coral ecosystems in the eastern Alboran Sea, Western Mediterranean

Heliyon ◽

10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07880 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. e07880

Author(s):

Claudio Stalder ◽

Akram El Kateb ◽

Jorge E. Spangenberg ◽

Loubna Terhzaz ◽

Agostina Vertino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Benthic Foraminifera ◽

Cold Water ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Alboran Sea ◽

Alborán Sea ◽

Water Coral

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Decompression and high-temperature–low-pressure metamorphism in the exhumed floor of an extensional basin, Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean

Geology ◽

10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0447:dahtlp>2.3.co;2 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 447 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

J. P. Platt ◽

J. I. Soto ◽

M. C. Comas ◽

Leg 161 Shipboard Scientists

Keyword(s):

High Temperature ◽

Low Pressure ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Alboran Sea ◽

Extensional Basin ◽

Alborán Sea

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Lipid biomarkers in Holocene and glacial sediments from ancient Lake Ohrid (Macedonia, Albania)

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-7-3473-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. 3473-3489 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

J. Holtvoeth ◽

H. Vogel ◽

B. Wagner ◽

G. A. Wolff

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Lipid Biomarkers ◽

Lake Ohrid ◽

Labile Organic Matter ◽

Glacial Sediments ◽

Plant Matter ◽

Lipid Biomarker ◽

First Results ◽

Near Shore

Abstract. Organic matter preserved in Lake Ohrid sediments originates from aquatic and terrestrial sources. Its variable composition reflects climate-controlled changes in the lake basin's hydrology and related organic matter export, i.e. changes in primary productivity, terrestrial plant matter input and soil erosion. Here, we present first results from lipid biomarker investigations of Lake Ohrid sediments from two near-shore settings: site Lz1120 near the southern shore, with low-lying lands nearby and probably influenced by river discharge, and site Co1202 which is close to the steep eastern slopes. Variable proportions of terrestrial n-alkanoic acids and n-alkanols as well as compositional changes of ω-hydroxy acids document differences in soil organic matter supply between the sites and during different climate stages (glacial, Holocene, 8.2 ka cooling event). Changes in the vegetation cover are suggested by changes in the dominant chain length of terrestrial n-alkanols. Effective microbial degradation of labile organic matter and in situ contribution of organic matter derived from the microbes themselves are both evident in the sediments. We found evidence for anoxic conditions within the photic zone by detecting epicholestanol and tetrahymanol from sulphur-oxidising phototrophic bacteria and bacterivorous ciliates and for the influence of a settled human community from the occurrence of coprostanol, a biomarker for human and animal faeces (pigs, sheep, goats), in an early Holocene sample. This study illustrates the potential of lipid biomarkers for future environmental reconstructions using one of Europe's oldest continental climate archives, Lake Ohrid.

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