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Kristin Doering

Kristin Doering

Researcher

Kristin Doering

Impact of ambient conditions on the Si isotope fractionation in marine pore fluids during early diagenesis

Author

  • Sonja Geilert
  • Patricia Grasse
  • Kristin Doering
  • Klaus Wallmann
  • Claudia Ehlert
  • Florian Scholz
  • Martin Frank
  • Mark Schmidt
  • Christian Hensen

Summary, in English

Benthic fluxes of dissolved silicon (Si) from sediments into the water column are driven by the dissolution of biogenic silica (bSiO2) and terrigenous Si minerals and modulated by the precipitation of authigenic Si phases. Each of these processes has a specific effect on the isotopic composition of silicon dissolved in sediment pore fluids, such that the determination of pore fluid 30Si values can help to decipher the complex Si cycle in surface sediments. In this study, the 30Si signatures of pore fluids and bSiO2 in the Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California) were analyzed, which is characterized by high bSiO2 accumulation and hydrothermal activity. The 30Si signatures were investigated in the deep basin, in the vicinity of a hydrothermal vent field, and at an anoxic site located within the pronounced oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). The pore fluid 30Sipf signatures differ significantly depending on the ambient conditions. Within the basin, 30Sipf is essentially uniform, averaging C1:2-0:1% (1 SD). Pore fluid 30Sipf values from within the OMZ are significantly lower (0:0-0:5 , 1 SD), while pore fluids close to the hydrothermal vent field are higher (C2:0-0:2 , 1SD). Reactive transport modeling results show that the 30Sipf is mainly controlled by silica dissolution (bSiO2 and terrigenous phases) and Si precipitation (authigenic aluminosilicates). Precipitation processes cause a shift to high pore fluid 30Sipf signatures, most pronounced at the hydrothermal site. Within the OMZ, however, additional dissolution of isotopically depleted Si minerals (e.g., clays) facilitated by high mass accumulation rates of terrigenous material (MARterr) is required to promote the low 30Sipf signatures, while precipitation of authigenic aluminosilicates seems to be hampered by high water = rock ratios. Guaymas OMZ 30Sipf values are markedly different from those of the Peruvian OMZ, the only other marine OMZ setting where Si isotopes have been investigated to constrain early diagenetic processes. These differences highlight the fact that 30Sipf signals in OMZs worldwide are not alike and each setting can result in a range of 30Sipf values as a function of the environmental conditions. We conclude that the benthic silicon cycle is more complex than previously thought and that additional Si isotope studies are needed to decipher the controls on Si turnover in marine sediment and the role of sediments in the marine silicon cycle.

Publishing year

2020-04-03

Language

English

Pages

1745-1763

Publication/Series

Biogeosciences

Volume

17

Issue

7

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Copernicus GmbH

Topic

  • Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources

Keywords

  • silicon isotopes
  • pore fluids

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1726-4170