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Extreme 13C depletion of carbonates formed during oxidation of biogenic methane in fractured granite

Author

Listed:
  • Henrik Drake

    (Linnæus University)

  • Mats E. Åström

    (Linnæus University)

  • Christine Heim

    (Geoscience Centre Göttingen of the Georg-August University, Goldschmidtstrasse 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany)

  • Curt Broman

    (Stockholm University)

  • Jan Åström

    (CSC-IT Center for Science)

  • Martin Whitehouse

    (Laboratory for Isotope Geology, Swedish Museum of Natural History)

  • Magnus Ivarsson

    (Swedish Museum of Natural History)

  • Sandra Siljeström

    (Chemistry and Materials, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden)

  • Peter Sjövall

    (Chemistry and Materials, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden)

Abstract

Precipitation of exceptionally 13C-depleted authigenic carbonate is a result of, and thus a tracer for, sulphate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation, particularly in marine sediments. Although these carbonates typically are less depleted in 13C than in the source methane, because of incorporation of C also from other sources, they are far more depleted in 13C (δ13C as light as −69‰ V-PDB) than in carbonates formed where no methane is involved. Here we show that oxidation of biogenic methane in carbon-poor deep groundwater in fractured granitoid rocks has resulted in fracture-wall precipitation of the most extremely 13C-depleted carbonates ever reported, δ13C down to −125‰ V-PDB. A microbial consortium of sulphate reducers and methane oxidizers has been involved, as revealed by biomarker signatures in the carbonates and S-isotope compositions of co-genetic sulphide. Methane formed at shallow depths has been oxidized at several hundred metres depth at the transition to a deep-seated sulphate-rich saline water. This process is so far an unrecognized terrestrial sink of methane.

Suggested Citation

  • Henrik Drake & Mats E. Åström & Christine Heim & Curt Broman & Jan Åström & Martin Whitehouse & Magnus Ivarsson & Sandra Siljeström & Peter Sjövall, 2015. "Extreme 13C depletion of carbonates formed during oxidation of biogenic methane in fractured granite," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-9, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8020
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8020
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