Ideas and perspectives: Hydrothermally driven redistribution and sequestration of early Archaean biomass – the hydrothermal pump hypothesis

Abstract. Archaean hydrothermal chert veins commonly contain abundant organic carbon of uncertain origin (abiotic vs. biotic). In this study, we analysed kerogen contained in a hydrothermal chert vein from the ca. 3.5 Ga old Dresser Formation (Pilbara Craton, Western Australia). Catalytic hydropyrolysis (HyPy) of this kerogen yielded n-alkanes up to n-C22, with a sharp decrease in abundance beyond n-C18. A very similar distribution (≤ n-C18) was observed in HyPy products of pre-extracted recent bacterial biomass, while abiotic compounds synthesised via Fischer-Tropsch-type synthesis exhibited a modal distribution. We therefore propose that the original organic matter in the Archaean chert veins has a primarily microbial origin. We hypothesise that the microbially-derived organic matter accumulated in different aquatic and subsurface Dresser environments, and was then assimilated, redistributed and sequestered by hydrothermal fluids (hydrothermal pump hypothesis).

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Ideas and perspectives: hydrothermally driven redistribution and sequestration of early Archaean biomass – the “hydrothermal pump hypothesis”

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-15-1535-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 1535-1548 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Jan-Peter Duda ◽

Volker Thiel ◽

Thorsten Bauersachs ◽

Helge Mißbach ◽

Manuel Reinhardt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Reference Material ◽

Bacterial Biomass ◽

Sharp Decrease ◽

Hydrothermal Fluids ◽

Type Synthesis ◽

Fischer Tropsch ◽

Subsurface Environments ◽

Catalytic Hydropyrolysis ◽

Pilbara Craton

Abstract. Archaean hydrothermal chert veins commonly contain abundant organic carbon of uncertain origin (abiotic vs. biotic). In this study, we analysed kerogen contained in a hydrothermal chert vein from the ca. 3.5 Ga Dresser Formation (Pilbara Craton, Western Australia). Catalytic hydropyrolysis (HyPy) of this kerogen yielded n-alkanes up to n-C22, with a sharp decrease in abundance beyond n-C18. This distribution (≤ n-C18) is very similar to that observed in HyPy products of recent bacterial biomass, which was used as reference material, whereas it differs markedly from the unimodal distribution of abiotic compounds experimentally formed via Fischer–Tropsch-type synthesis. We therefore propose that the organic matter in the Archaean chert veins has a primarily microbial origin. The microbially derived organic matter accumulated in anoxic aquatic (surface and/or subsurface) environments and was then assimilated, redistributed and sequestered by the hydrothermal fluids (“hydrothermal pump hypothesis”).

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Variations of organic matter transformation in response to hydrothermal fluids: Example from the Indiana part of the Illinois Basin

International Journal of Coal Geology ◽

10.1016/j.coal.2020.103410 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 219 ◽

pp. 103410 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Juan Teng ◽

Maria Mastalerz ◽

Bei Liu ◽

Timothy Gognat ◽

Ernest Hauser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Hydrothermal Fluids ◽

Illinois Basin ◽

Organic Matter Transformation

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Sediment community responses to marine vs. terrigenous organic matter in a submarine canyon

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-10-67-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 67-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

W. R. Hunter ◽

A. Jamieson ◽

V. A. I. Huvenne ◽

U. Witte

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Feeding Activity ◽

N Uptake ◽

Bacterial Biomass ◽

Submarine Canyon ◽

Stable Isotope Labelling ◽

C And N ◽

13C Label ◽

Experimental Treatments

Abstract. The Whittard Canyon is a branching submarine canyon on the Celtic continental margin, which may act as a conduit for sediment and organic matter (OM) transport from the European continental slope to the abyssal sea floor. In situ stable-isotope labelling experiments were conducted in the eastern and western branches of the Whittard Canyon, testing short-term (3–7 days) responses of sediment communities to deposition of nitrogen-rich marine (Thalassiosira weissflogii) and nitrogen-poor terrigenous (Triticum aestivum) phytodetritus. 13C and 15N labels were traced into faunal biomass and bulk sediments, and the 13C label traced into bacterial polar lipid fatty acids (PLFAs). Isotopic labels penetrated to 5 cm sediment depth, with no differences between stations or experimental treatments (substrate or time). Macrofaunal assemblage structure differed between the eastern and western canyon branches. Following deposition of marine phytodetritus, no changes in macrofaunal feeding activity were observed between the eastern and western branches, with little change between 3 and 7 days. Macrofaunal C and N uptake was substantially lower following deposition of terrigenous phytodetritus with feeding activity governed by a strong N demand. Bacterial C uptake was greatest in the western branch of the Whittard Canyon, but feeding activity decreased between 3 and 7 days. Bacterial processing of marine and terrigenous OM were similar to the macrofauna in surficial (0–1 cm) sediments. However, in deeper sediments bacteria utilised greater proportions of terrigenous OM. Bacterial biomass decreased following phytodetritus deposition and was negatively correlated to macrofaunal feeding activity. Consequently, this study suggests that macrofaunal–bacterial interactions influence benthic C cycling in the Whittard Canyon, resulting in differential fates for marine and terrigenous OM.

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Zonal features of the dynamics of humus content in soils of Chernihiv region

Agroecological journal ◽

10.33730/2077-4893.1.2021.227248 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 115-125

Author(s):

O. Grischenko ◽

S. Romanova ◽

V. Zapasnyi ◽

I. Shabanova

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Green Manure ◽

Sharp Increase ◽

Humus Content ◽

Weighted Average ◽

Sharp Decrease ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Climatic Zones ◽

Sown Area ◽

Green Manure Crops

The humus condition of soils of Chernihiv region has been studied. The dynamics of humus content in the soils of the region during six rounds (1986–2015) of agrochemical certification of agricultural lands is generalized and analyzed. In comparison with the 5th round (1986–1990), there was a discrepancy between the processes of stabilization and increase of humus content in most districts and in the region as a whole in the ninth round (2006–2010), and in some districts in the tenth round (2011–2015) against the background of a sharp decrease in the application of organic fertilizers. It was found that the stabilization of humus content in the soils of the region during the V–VIII rounds of agrochemical certification and a sharp increase in its content in the ninth round, against a significant reduction of organic matter, correlates with the withdrawal of eroded, low-yielding lands with low humus content (r=0.76). Analyzing the dynamics of humus content over thirty years of research,it was found that its content has increased in all climatic zones, as well as in nineteen of the twenty-two districts of the region. The increase of the indicator is in the range of 0.01–0.72%, while in all districts there is a significant reduction of the surveyed areas and only in three districts of the region there is a decrease in the humus content. According to the results of the 10th round of agrochemical certification, the soils of Chernihiv region are characterized by an average humus content of 2.41%. The highest humus content is characterized by the soils of Bakhmatsky (3.56%), Talalaivsky (3.33%) and Pryluky (3.32%) districts, and the lowest — NovgorodSiversky (1.57%). Increasing the sown area of green manure crops, plowing straw and the use of other elements of biologization of agriculture are important factors in increasing the weighted average humus content in the soils of Chernihiv region.

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Organic matter in hydrothermal metal ores and hydrothermal fluids

Applied Geochemistry ◽

10.1016/0883-2927(90)90043-5 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 5 (1-2) ◽

pp. 125-134 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

William H. Orem ◽

Elliott C. Spiker ◽

Rama K. Kotra

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Hydrothermal Fluids

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A trace element study of siderite–jasper banded iron formation in the 3.45Ga Warrawoona Group, Pilbara Craton—Formation from hydrothermal fluids and shallow seawater

Precambrian Research ◽

10.1016/j.precamres.2005.02.001 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 137 (1-2) ◽

pp. 93-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 97

Author(s):

Robert Bolhar ◽

Martin J. Van Kranendonk ◽

Balz S. Kamber

Keyword(s):

Trace Element ◽

Hydrothermal Fluids ◽

Iron Formation ◽

Banded Iron Formation ◽

Trace Element Study ◽

Pilbara Craton ◽

Element Study

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Sandstone-Hosted Uranium Deposits as a Possible Source for Critical Elements: The Eureka Mine Case, Castell-Estaó, Catalonia

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min10010034 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 34 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Montgarri Castillo-Oliver ◽

Joan Carles Melgarejo ◽

Lisard Torró ◽

Cristina Villanova-de-Benavent ◽

Marc Campeny ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Low Temperature ◽

Black Shales ◽

Hydrothermal Fluids ◽

Uranium Deposits ◽

Critical Metals ◽

Fine Grained ◽

Critical Elements ◽

By Products ◽

Red Bed

The Eureka deposit in Castell-estaó in the Catalan Pyrenees is a Cu–U–V deposit, hosted by Triassic red-bed sandstones, and classified here as a low-temperature, sandstone-hosted stratabound metamorphite U deposit. The main mineralisation is stratabound, related to coal-bearing units and produced during the Alpine deformation by migration of hydrothermal fluids. In this stage, the original sedimentary and diagenetic components (quartz and calcite, micas, hematite and locally apatite) were replaced by a complex sequence of roscoelite, fine-grained REE phosphates, sulphides and Ni–Co arsenides and sulpharsenides, Ag–Pb selenides, bismuth phases, sulphosalts and uraninite. The black shales of the Silurian sediments underlying the deposit and the nearby Carboniferous volcanoclastic rocks are interpreted as the source of the redox-sensitive elements concentrated in Eureka. The sulphur source is related to leaching of the evaporitic Keuper facies. The REE transport would be facilitated by SO4-rich solutions. The reduction of these solutions by interaction with organic matter resulted in the widespread precipitation of REE and redox-sensitive elements, including many critical metals (V, Bi, Sb, Co), whereas barite precipitated in the oxidized domains. The occurrence of similar enrichments in critical elements can be expected in other similar large uranium deposits, which could be a source of these elements as by-products.

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