Sulphidic Mediterranean surface waters during Pliocene sapropel formation

被引:112
作者
Passier, HF
Bosch, HJ
Nijenhuis, IA
Lourens, LJ
Böttcher, ME
Leenders, A
Damste, JSS
de Lange, GJ
de Leeuw, JW
机构
[1] Univ Utrecht, Inst Paleoenvironm & Paleoclimate Utrecht, NL-3508 TA Utrecht, Netherlands
[2] Carl von Ossietzky Univ Oldenburg, Inst Chem & Biol Marine Environm, D-2900 Oldenburg, Germany
[3] Netherlands Inst Sea Res, NL-1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, Netherlands
关键词
D O I
10.1038/16441
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
Sapropels-organic-matter rich layers-are common in Neogene sediments of the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The formation of these layers has been attributed to climate-related increases in organic-matter production(1-3) and increased organic-matter preservation due to oxygen depletion in more stagnant bottom waters(2,3). Here we report that eastern Mediterranean Pliocene sapropels(4) contain molecular fossils of a compound (isorenieratene) known to be synthesized by photosynthetic green sulphur bacteria, suggesting that sulphidic (euxinic)-and therefore anoxic-conditions prevailed in the photic zone of the water column. These sapropels also have a high trace-metal content, which is probably due to the efficient scavenging of these metals by precipitating sulphides in a euxinic water column. The abundance and sulphur-isotope composition of pyrite are consistent with iron sulphide formation in the water column. We conclude that basin-wide water-column euxinia occurred over substantial periods during Pliocene sapropel formation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and that the ultimate degradation of the increased organic-matter production was strongly influential in generating and sustaining the euxinic conditions.
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页码:146 / 149
页数:4
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