Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Joana Filipa Vieira Duarte, Thomas Pettke, Jorg Hermann, Francesca Piccoli
Summary: Oxide minerals in ultramafic rocks can be used to assess the redox conditions of the rock and fluids during subduction. Previous studies have focused on the dominancy of magnetite, but the fate of magnetite and other oxides at higher pressure and temperature conditions is not well understood. This study investigates mineral assemblages in metaperidotites beyond antigorite-out reactions and identifies two scenarios with different redox conditions. The results provide insights into the behavior of oxides and sulfides in subduction zones.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geology
Niu Li, Xiaoqiang Yang, Joern Peckmann, Yang Zhou, Hongbin Wang, Duofu Chen, Dong Feng
Summary: This study reports on the geochemical composition of sediments from deepwater seep sites in the South China Sea, showing that sediment horizons affected by methane seepage exhibit oxygen depletion, providing insights into bottom water redox conditions.
ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marina D. Kravchishina, Alla Yu Lein, Mikhail V. Flint, Boris V. Baranov, Alexey Yu Miroshnikov, Elena O. Dubinina, Olga M. Dara, Alexander. S. Savvichev, Andrey G. Boev
Summary: The study reveals the presence of pure carbonate crusts in the Siberian Arctic seafloor, with high-Mg calcite being the main component, proving the formation of seep carbonate and elucidating its genesis.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yu Hu, Min Luo, Joern Peckmann, Xinxin Zhang, Linying Chen, Junxi Feng, Qianyong Liang, Duofu Chen, Dong Feng
Summary: This study analyzes the methods for quantifying the extent of authigenic carbonate formation in marine sediments and proposes a new approach for quantifying this formation in modern and ancient oceans. By analyzing pore-water parameters from areas affected by methane diffusion in the northern South China Sea, a significant positive correlation between carbonate precipitation rate and sulfate flux is found. This finding can be used to quantify the formation of authigenic carbonate in shallow sediments along continental margins and is important for understanding past carbon cycling and its relation to climate.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nasar Khan, Wasif Ullah, Syed M. Siyar, Bilal Wadood, Tariq Ayyub, Tariq Ullah
Summary: This study investigates the origin, type, thermal maturity, and hydrocarbon generation potential of the Early Paleocene (Danian) Hangu Formation in Kala-Chitta Range, Northwest Pakistan. The organic geochemical analyses show that the studied rock units are dominated by kerogen Type II and Type III, indicating their potential as source rocks. However, the thermal maturity suggests that liquid hydrocarbon generation potential is relatively low. The study indicates that the Hangu Formation has promising coal and shale intervals in terms of organic richness but may not be an effective source rock for liquid hydrocarbon generation.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
T. Giunta, J. Labidi, I. E. Kohl, L. Ruffine, J. P. Donval, L. Geli, M. N. Cagatay, H. Lu, E. D. Young
Summary: The study reveals internal thermodynamic equilibrium of methane isotopologues in gas bubbles from cold seeps in the Sea of Marmara, indicating a mixture of microbial and thermogenic sources. The consistent high temperatures recorded by the isotopologues suggest non-enzymatic re-equilibration at two local subsurface temperatures, implying different rates of re-equilibration between the rare isotopologues.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meng Jin, Dong Feng, Kangjun Huang, Shanggui Gong, Min Luo, Joern Peckmann, Xudong Wang, Yu Hu, Duofu Chen
Summary: The magnesium isotopic composition of marine authigenic carbonates is a valuable record of ancient seawater geochemistry and paleoenvironments. Magnesium isotope fractionation is influenced by mineralogy and precipitation rate, but limited information is available for natural settings.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xiaopeng Dan, Shuang Liu, Xiuli Feng, Lin Lin, Rong Tang, Chao Yang, Jinya Xu, Zihan Wu
Summary: This study investigated the geochemical evidence of methane seepage activities in the Haima seep area of the South China Sea by studying multiple sedimentary indicators in core QS-1. Three methane release events with different intensities and timescales were identified, which may be related to climate-driven increase in hydrostatic pressure and seafloor temperature.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Rachel L. Lupien, James M. Russell, Chad L. Yost, John D. Kingston, Alan L. Deino, Jon Logan, Anna Schuh, Andrew S. Cohen
Summary: This study presents a new record of basin-scale vegetation change in the late Pliocene in the Baringo Basin of Kenya, showing a shift from C-3 forests to C-4 grasslands. This transition may have been driven by changes in basin geomorphology and a larger-scale drying and expansion of C-4 vegetation in East Africa. Variations in precipitation and lake level oscillations during the late Pliocene are found to be correlated with significant changes in vegetation resources in the Baringo Basin.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Casey P. Saenger, Andrew J. Schauer, Emma O. Heitmann, Katharine W. Huntington, Eric J. Steig
Summary: The study evaluates the assumptions made in Delta(47) measurements by analyzing Delta O-17 in reference frame materials and standards. The results show that assuming Delta O-17 = 0 can lead to overestimation or underestimation of Delta(47) values, depending on the sample's Delta O-17 relative to the working gas. This effect can introduce significant errors in reconstructed temperatures, emphasizing the importance of considering Delta O-17 for accurate Delta(47) thermometry.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Felix Froidl, Ralf Littke, Alireza Baniasad, Tianyu Zheng, Joschka Roth, Johannes Boecker, Christoph Hartkopf-Froeder, Harald Strauss
Summary: This study presents new organic geochemical, organic petrological, and isotope data on the Berriasian Wealden Shales in northwest Germany, along with kinetic data on petroleum generation. The results suggest a depositional environment characterized by high organic matter content and microbial contribution, as well as earlier oil generation by the lamalginite facies. The study enhances understanding of petroleum generation rate, conversion, and timing, impacting oil exploration potential in the region.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mohamed W. Alkhafaji, Salih M. Awadh, J. Connan, Michael H. Engel, Heba S. Al-Mimar, Ahmed H. Al-Sulttani, Sfoog A. Hussien, Osama J. Mohammad, Zinah S. Al-Ankaz
Summary: Oil seep samples from the Abu-Jir Fault Zone (AJFZ) show moderate to heavy biodegradation, indicating they originated from carbonate source rocks and were deposited under marine anoxic conditions. The samples also suggest early-mature source rocks based on their characteristics.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
D. Smrzka, J. Zwicker, Y. Lu, Y. Sun, D. Feng, P. Monien, G. Bohrmann, J. Peckmann
Summary: Trace elements in authigenic carbonates are influenced by ambient redox conditions, showing site-specific patterns and mineralogy dependence. The presence of dissolved sulfide in Black Sea seep environments affects carbonate mineralogy and trace element speciation and content. Strong euxinic conditions favor low-magnesium calcite formation, while fluctuating redox conditions promote aragonite cement precipitation.
Article
Ecology
Nitisha Sangodkar, Maria Judith Gonsalves, Delcy R. Nazareth
Summary: The study reveals the presence of an active cold seep site in the Krishna-Godavari basin of Bay of Bengal, which supports diverse benthic communities closely related to previously studied environments. The benthic fauna mainly consists of filter feeders preferring a low organic carbon environment. Additionally, the microbial associates in the sediment are significantly correlated with methane and hydrogen sulfide concentrations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chongmin Chen, Xuewan Wu, Zhifeng Wan, Jiujing Shang, Wei Huang, Wei Zhang, Jinqiang Liang, Zebang Xiao, Wei Zhou, Lifeng Zhong
Summary: This study analyzed the geochemical characteristics of sediment cores and pore water in the Beikang Basin of the southern South China Sea. The results showed extremely low δ13C(DIC) in the pore water, a decrease in sulfate content with depth, kink-type depth profiles of enrichment factors for Sr, Ba, and Ni, and the presence of reducing sedimentary environment indicated by Mo, U, and REE features. The study concluded that fluid fluxes and tectonic settings greatly influence the properties and activities of cold seeps, leading to regional differences.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
B. Wilhelm, W. Rapuc, B. Amann, F. S. Anselmetti, F. Arnaud, J. Blanchet, A. Brauer, M. Czymzik, C. Giguet-Covex, A. Gilli, L. Glur, M. Grosjean, R. Irmler, M. Nicolle, P. Sabatier, T. Swierczynski, S. B. Wirth
Summary: Flooding is a pervasive natural hazard that can cause significant human and economic losses, and climate change is expected to worsen the risks worldwide. This study focuses on the European Alps, a densely populated mountainous region that is particularly vulnerable to floods due to its topography and atmospheric conditions. By examining palaeoflood records, the researchers find that a warming of 0.5-1.2 degrees C, whether naturally or anthropogenically induced, leads to a decrease in the frequency of large floods. However, extreme floods may increase in certain small alpine catchments impacted by intense rainfall. These findings highlight the importance of long-term palaeoflood records in understanding the complex relationship between climate and flooding, and improving risk assessment and management at a regional scale.
Article
Ecology
Cameron M. Hudson, S. Nemiah Ladd, Miguel C. Leal, Carsten J. Schubert, Ole Seehausen, Blake Matthews
Summary: The study compared the differences in fatty acid composition between different stickleback lineages and ecotypes. Wild fish and lab-reared fish exhibited different levels of fatty acids, while females had lower omega-6:omega-3 ratio than males.
Article
Geology
William Rapuc, Fabien Arnaud, Pierre Sabatier, Flavio S. Anselmetti, Andrea Piccin, Laura Peruzza, Antoine Bastien, Laurent Augustin, Edouard Regnier, Jerome Gaillardet, Ulrich Von Grafenstein, Kyle Straub
Summary: The sedimentary processes in the deep basin of large peri-Alpine lakes have not been extensively studied on long timescales. By analyzing the sediment section retrieved from Lake Iseo, it was found that event deposits accounted for 61.4% of the total sedimentation in the past 2000 years. The heterogeneity in textures, colors, and grain-size distribution can be explained by the numerous potential sources of sediment in this large lake system. Flood events were distinguished from slope destabilizations and delta destabilizations by combining proxies of sediment sources and transport processes. Major regional earthquake events were identified from the thickest mass wasting deposits. The study also revealed the influence of regional climatic fluctuations and human activities on sediment remobilization in the watershed, affecting the recording of extreme events in lacustrine archives.
Article
Microbiology
Kathrin B. L. Baumann, Raoul Thoma, Cameron M. Callbeck, Robert Niederdorfer, Carsten J. Schubert, Beat Mueller, Mark A. Lever, Helmut Buergmann
Summary: The nitrogen cycle is crucial for global ecosystems, and excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers can harm aquatic ecosystems. However, the microbial communities involved in nitrogen removal in freshwater lake sediments are poorly understood. This study investigates the abundance of microbial nitrogen transformation genes in two lakes with contrasting trophic states and demonstrates the importance of understanding the genomic potential for nitrogen transformation in interpreting nitrogen process rates.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Sebastian Schaller, Michael E. Bottcher, Marius W. Buechi, Laura S. Epp, Stefano C. Fabbri, Natacha Gribenski, Ulrich Harms, Sebastian Krastel, Alina Liebezeit, Katja Lindhorst, Hanna Marxen, Ulli Raschke, David Schleheck, Iris Schmiedinger, Antje Schwalb, Hendrik Vogel, Martin Wessels, Flavio S. Anselmetti
Summary: Lake Constance's modern basin, which is over 250 m deep, represents the underfilled northern part of a glacially overdeepened trough that extends well into the Alps at its southern end. A seismic survey of the lake revealed a Quaternary sediment fill of over 150 m thickness, representing at least the last glacial cycle. This sediment fill consists of ice-contact deposits at the base, overlain by glaciolacustrine to lacustrine sediments.
SWISS JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Archaeology
Marianne Ramstein, Noah Steuri, David Bronnimann, Philippe Rentzel, Marcel Cornelissen, Dirk Schimmelpfennig, Flavio S. Anselmetti, Simone Haberle, Patricia Vandorpe, Inga Siebke, Anja Furtwangler, Sonke Szidat, Albert Hafner, Johannes Krause, Sandra Losch
Summary: The Late Neolithic dolmen in Oberbipp BE, Switzerland, provides a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary research in archaeology and anthropology. Through comprehensive studies, the construction, use, and abandonment processes of the megalithic structure were investigated, along with the dietary habits, subsistence strategy, and mobility of the Neolithic population. The examination of archaeological methods, including micromorphology, archaeobiology, typology, use-wear analysis, and geology, was complemented by anthropological investigations using stable isotope ratios and palaeogenetics. The remarkable preservation of the monument, due to the local topography and alluvial sediments covering it, allowed for the analysis of human remains and the reconstruction of the dolmen's history in its environment.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Giuseppe Etiope, Christopher Oze
Summary: Continental ultramafic rock systems produce methane through serpentinization, but the origin of methane is a matter of debate. This study examines and reinterprets possible conclusions for the microbial versus abiotic methane in these systems. Using the Samail ophiolite in Oman as an example, the study highlights the limitations of current interpretation tools and suggests the use of radiocarbon in methane to solve interpretative issues. The study emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach integrating geochemical, geological, and biological data with gas flow dynamics for accurate site interpretation.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Lukas Gegg, Flavio S. Anselmetti, Gaudenz Deplazes, Maria Knipping, Herfried Madritsch, Daniela Mueller, Frank Preusser, Hendrik Vogel, Marius W. Buechi
Summary: This study introduces a new paleolake record from a Mid-Pleistocene glaciofluvial channel system in the Lower Aare Valley. The record of Rinikerfeld allows the reconstruction of the establishment, evolution and infilling of the early Marine Isotope Stage 6-aged palaeolake. The study concludes that the onset of the Beringen Glaciation was an environmentally as well as geomorphically dynamic time period in the Northern Alpine Foreland.
JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Roberta Pini, Giulia Furlanetto, Francesca Valle, Federica Badino, Lucia Wick, Flavio S. Anselmetti, Paolo Bertuletti, Nicoletta Fusi, Marina A. Morlock, Barbara Delmonte, Sandy P. Harrison, Valter Maggi, Cesare Ravazzi
Summary: This study investigates the climate evolution between the North Atlantic and the Alps during the last glaciation. By analyzing a high-resolution record from Lake Fimon in the southern Alpine foothills, the researchers reveal the linkage between the climate changes in the Alps and the North Atlantic events, providing insights into the in-phase reactions of the British-Irish Ice Sheet, Alpine glaciers, and ecosystems to changes in the Atlantic Meridional Circulation.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Giuseppe Etiope
Summary: Subsurface geological reservoirs of natural hydrogen gas (H2) are currently being explored as clean fuel and energy sources. Detection and identification of the gas in soil remains challenging due to overlapping with biological signatures, but surface advective gas flows may reveal subsoil sources and pressurized gas accumulations. A case study in Turkey, known as Chimaera, demonstrates the massive release of H2 and the potential for using soil H2 advection to differentiate between biological and geological gas origins.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Gregoire Saboret, Dominique Stalder, Blake Matthews, Jakob Brodersen, Carsten Johnny Schubert
Summary: Based on a study of seven perialpine lakes, it was found that the main source of organic carbon in lake food webs is from algae, rather than terrestrial plants. However, a significant portion of organic carbon in fish comes from bacteria. The sources of nitrogen vary among lakes, but the sources of organic carbon are relatively consistent and not strongly influenced by trophic status. This study provides new methods for estimating the source of organic carbon in lake ecosystems.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giuliana Panieri, Jochen Knies, Sunil Vadakkepuliyambatta, Amicia L. L. Lee, Carsten J. J. Schubert
Summary: During the Pleistocene, there were significant changes in Earth's climate, leading to increased ice volume and methane leakage. Borehole data from the Arctic-Atlantic gateway region reveals three main seafloor leakage episodes prior to and during the mid-Pleistocene transition. Combining this data with hydrate stability modeling, it is proposed that tectonic stress changes associated with ice volume changes controlled episodic methane leakages.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Petr Broz, Dorothy Oehler, Adriano Mazzini, Ernst Hauber, Goro Komatsu, Giuseppe Etiope, Vojtech Curin
Summary: Extensive sedimentary volcanism-like structures covering Martian lowlands have been compared to similar features on Earth, which involve subsurface sediment/fluid mobilisation and methane release. The presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere and potential astrobiological significance of such structures remains uncertain. This review summarises current knowledge, highlights the need for further research, and emphasizes the differences in dynamics and morphology between Earth and Mars.
EARTH SURFACE DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Malika Menoud, Carina van der Veen, Hossein Maazallahi, Arjan Hensen, Ilona Velzeboer, Pim van den Bulk, Antonio Delre, Piotr Korben, Stefan Schwietzke, Magdalena Ardelean, Andreea Calcan, Giuseppe Etiope, Calin Baciu, Charlotte Scheutz, Martina Schmidt, Thomas Rockmann
Summary: Despite the European Union's goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the methane emissions from the oil and gas sector in Romania are highly uncertain. By measuring the isotopic composition of methane, we found that the main sources of methane in the Romanian Plain are thermogenic gas associated with oil production, as well as some natural gas reservoirs of microbial origin. The classification based on ethane and CH4 isotopes was consistent, confirming the interpretation of gas origin. Furthermore, we discovered that the average isotopic signatures of methane in Romania are significantly lower than the commonly used values for global fossil fuel emissions, emphasizing the importance of regional variations in methane isotopes for global modeling studies.
ELEMENTA-SCIENCE OF THE ANTHROPOCENE
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Agostiny Marrios Lontsi, Anastasiia Shynkarenko, Katrina Kremer, Manuel Hobiger, Paolo Bergamo, Stefano C. Fabbri, Flavio S. Anselmetti, Donat Faeh
Summary: The phase-velocity dispersion curve of surface waves in sedimentary environments is a critical characteristic, and estimating it using Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS) array recordings faces challenges such as sensor localization, OBS component orientation, and clock error. This study successfully addressed these challenges through a preprocessing workflow and extracted the Love and Scholte wave dispersion characteristics in Lake Lucerne.
PURE AND APPLIED GEOPHYSICS
(2022)