Autori: Teichert, B.M.A., J.E. Johnson, E.A. Solomon, L. Giosan, K. Rose, M. Kocherla, E.C. Connolly, M.E. Torres

Editorial: Marine and Petroleum Geology, in press, 2014.

Rezumat:

The mineralogical and stable isotopic composition of authigenic carbonates from the Krishna-Godavari (KG) and Mahanadi Basin provide a deeper insight into the processes inducing carbonate formation in the sediments of the eastern continental margin of India in the Bay of Bengal. Authigenic carbonate cements, (micro) nodules, bioturbation casts and tubes from 12 core locations drilled during the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition 01 were investigated for this study. Three main processes responsible for authigenic carbonate precipitation are identified: organoclastic sulfate reduction, anaerobic oxidation of methane and methanogenesis. Evidence of vigorous methane seepage is indicated in carbonates recovered at Sites 7, 10, 12 (KG Basin) and 19 (Mahanadi Basin). These methane-derived carbonates display typical paragenetic carbonate mineralogies (aragonite, high-Mg calcite with >15 Mol% MgCO3, Ca-rich dolomite). Two separate horizons of methane derived-carbonates are correlated between 4 drill holes (up to 16 km apart). The upper horizon has been dated with 14C (40,100 – 51,600 a B.P. 1950) clearly indicating that methane seepage has been much more vigorous in the past possibly due to a glacial sea level lowstand.

Cuvinte cheie: Krishna-Godavari Basin; Mahanadi Basin; authigenic carbonate; methane seep; anaerobe oxidation of methane // Krishna-Godavari Basin; Mahanadi Basin; authigenic carbonate; methane seep; anaerobe oxidation of methane

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026481721400289X