Isotopic evidence for source of diagenetic carbonates formed during burial of organic-rich sediments (original) (raw)

Nature volume 269, pages 209–213 (1977)Cite this article

Abstract

Organic matter is modified by several processes operating at different depths during burial diagenesis: (1) sulphate reduction; (2) fermentation; (3) thermally-induced decarboxylation, and so on. CO2, one common product of each, can be distinguished by its carbon isotope composition: approximately (1) −25‰, (2) +15‰, (3) −20‰ relative to PDB. These values are preserved in diagenetic carbonates of the Upper Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay. Independent corroboration of the relative dominance of each process within specific depth intervals is given by the isotopic composition of incorporated oxygen which is temperature dependent (1) 0 to −2‰, (2) −1.5 to −5‰,(3) −3.5 to −7.0‰.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Curtis, C. D. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. (in the press).
  2. Abelson, P. & Hoering, T. C. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 47, 623 (1961).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  3. Rosenfeld, W. & Silverman, S. Science 130, 1658 (1959).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  4. Claypool, G., Presley, B. J. & Kaplan, I. R. in Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project 19, 879 (US Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1973).
    Google Scholar
  5. Hallam, A. & Sellwood, B. J. Geol. 84, 301 (1976).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  6. Arkell, W. J. The Jurassic System of Great Britain (Oxford University Press Oxford, 1933).
    Google Scholar
  7. Pearson, M. J. Miner. Mag. 39, 696 (1974).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  8. Forester, R. H., Sandberg, P. A. & Anderson, T. F. in Living and Fossil Bryozoa (ed. Larwood, G. P.) (Academic, London and New York, 1973).
    Google Scholar
  9. Weber, J. N., Deines, P., Weber, P. H. & Baker, P. A. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta. 40, 31 (1976).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  10. McCrea, J. M. J. chem. Phys. 18, 849 (1950).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  11. Craig, H. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 12, 133 (1957).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  12. Deines, P. Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Phys. 4, 283 (1970).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  13. Sharma, T. & Clayton, R. N. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 29, 1317 (1965).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  14. Craig, H. Proc. Spoleto. Conf. on Stable Isotopes in Oceanographic Studies and Paleotemperatures, 3 (1965).
    Google Scholar
  15. Epstein, S., Buchsbaum, H. A., Lowenstam, H. A. & Urey, H. C. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 64, 1315 (1953).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  16. Northrop, D. A. & Clayton, R. N. J. Geol. 74, 174 (1966).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  17. O'Neil, J. R. & Epstein, S. Science 152, 198 (1966).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  18. Degens, E. T. & Epstein, S. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 28, 23 (1964).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  19. Fritz, P. & Smith, D. G. W. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 34, 1161 (1970).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  20. Shackleton, N. J. & Kennett, J. P. in Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project 29, 743 (US Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1975).
    Google Scholar
  21. Raiswell, R. W. Chem. Geol. 18, 227 (1976).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  22. Lawrence, J. R., Gieskes, J. M. & Broecker, W. S. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 27, 1 (1975).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  23. Perry, E. A. Jr., Gieskes, J. M. & Lawrence, J. R. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 40, 413 (1976).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  24. Clayton, R. N. J. geophys. Res. 71, 389 (1966).
    Article Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, The University, Sheffield, UK
    Hilary Irwin & Charles Curtis
  2. Institute of Geological Sciences, Geochemical Division, 64-78 Gray's Inn Road, London, UK
    Max Coleman

Authors

  1. Hilary Irwin
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. Charles Curtis
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. Max Coleman
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Irwin, H., Curtis, C. & Coleman, M. Isotopic evidence for source of diagenetic carbonates formed during burial of organic-rich sediments.Nature 269, 209–213 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269209a0

Download citation

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.