Abstract
The oxidation and reduction that occur during early diagenesis of sediments has been studied in the interstitial waters of a rapidly accumulating sedimentary sequence from the Mediterranean margin of Spain. A series of reactions that are mediated by progressively lower free energy derived from oxidation of organic matter is evident in the sedimentary sequence. Iron and manganese are rapidly reduced. Phosphate and alkalinity maxima at a subbottom depth of 15 m indicate maximal organic matter degradation. Methane first appears at ∼20 m subbottom after sulfate is depleted, and its concentrations quickly climb.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bernasconi, S.M., Meyers, P.A. & O’Sullivan, G. Early diagenesis in rapidly accumulating sediments on the Alboran slope, ODP site 976. Geo-Marine Letters 18, 209–214 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003670050070
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003670050070