Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : A study of organic carbon mineralization from the Congo continental shelf to the abyssal plain through the Congo submarine channel and Angola Margin was undertaken using in situ measurements of sediment oxygen demand as a tracer of benthic carbon recycling. Two measurement techniques were coupled on a single autonomous platform: in situ benthic chambers and microelectrodes, which provided total and diffusive oxygen uptake as well as oxygen microdistributions in porewaters. In addition, sediment trap fluxes, sediment composition (Org-C, Tot-N, CaCO3, porosity) and radionuclide profiles provided measurements of, respectively input fluxes and burial rate of organic and inorganic compounds. The in situ results show that the oxygen consumption on this margin close to the Congo River is high with values of total oxygen uptake (TOU) of 4 +/- 0.6, 3.6 +/- 0.5 mmol m(-2) d(-1) at 1300 and 3100m depth, respectively, and between 1.9 +/- 0.3 and 2.4 +/- 0.2 mmol m(-2) d(-1) at 4000 m depth. Diffusive oxygen uptakes (DOU) were 2.8 +/- 1.1, 2.3 +/- 0.8, 0.8 +/- 0.3 and 1.2 +/- 0.1 mmol m(-2) d(-1), respectively at the same depths. The magnitude of the oxygen demands on the slope is correlated with water depth but is not correlated with the proximity of the submarine channel-levee system, which indicates that cross-slope transport processes are active over the entire margin. Comparison of the vertical flux of organic carbon with its mineralization and burial reveal that this lateral input is very important since the sum of recycling and burial in the sediments is 5-8 times larger than the vertical flux recorded in traps. Transfer of material from the Congo River occurs through turbidity currents channelled in the Congo valley, which are subsequently deposited in the Lobe zone in the Congo fan below 4800 m. Ship board measurements of oxygen profiles indicate large mineralization rates of organic carbon in this zone, which agrees with the high organic carbon content (3%) and the large sedimentation rate (19 mm y(-1)) found on this site. The Lobe region could receive as high as 19 mol C m(-2) y(-1), 1/3 being mineralized and 2/3 being buried and could constitute the largest depocenter of organic carbon in the South Atlantic.
Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography (0967-0645) (Elsevier), 2009-11 , Vol. 56 , N. 23 , P. 2223-2238

Droits : 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-7316.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.dsr2.2009.04.005
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/7316/

Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-Villars
Résumé : Five particle traps were deployed at depths of 4 400 to 4 900 rn at two stations on the Demerara abyssal plain and one station on the Cape Verde abyssal plain (tropical Atlantic). At the same time, an intensive sampling of superficial sediments was carried out using a 0,25 m2 box corer. The total particle flux varied from 372 to 87,7 mg dry weightfm2/day. The average concentration of organic carbon was 40 mg/g of material collected. ln the surface sediment this was only 4 mg/g. A direct relationship existed between the intensity of the flux of organic matter and the richness of the organic matter of the deposited sediment. According to our calculations, more than 90% of the organic matter arriving at the bottom is consumed by the abyssal benthos and only 1% is lost to permanent sediment deposits. For 100 calories consumed by the benthos, 99 are utilized by the infauna and flora, 0, 7 by the holothurian egafauna and 0,3 by near-bottom fisches. The biochemical composition of the particles is characterized at ali stations by a predominance of "humic" material in the total organic matter (more than 55%). The part of the molecules unaltered form living material varied from on station to another: for the most oceanic station the protein dominated, composing 20% of the total energy. At the station onder the influence of the continent the lipid fraction grew and was almost equal to that of the protein. ln this case, the carbohydrate fraction was very weak (7% of the organic matter). Finally the preference of the animais which feed on the particles is principally for the most energetic (lipid) and the most easily hydrolysable (labile protein) molecules: the other molecules, such as the humic matter, are less preferred, although they still contribute to about half of the energy consumed by the abyssal benthic animais.
Cinq pièges à particules ont été déployés à des profondeurs comprises entre 4400 et 4 900 rn sur deux stations dans la plaine abyssale de Demerara et une station dans la plaine abyssale du Cap Vert (Atlantique tropical). Dans le même temps, un échantillonnage intensif du sédiment superficiel a été réalisé à l'aide d'un carottier de 0,25 m2 d'ouverture. Le flux particulaire total mesuré varie de 372 mg de matière sèche/m2/jour à 87,7 mg/m2/g de matériel récolté. Dans les sédiments superficiels, elle n'est plus que d'environ 4 mg/g. Il existe une relation directe entre l'intensité du flux organique et la richesse en composés organiques du sédiment. D'après nos estimations, plus de 90% du matériel organique arrivant sur le fond sont consommés par les organismes benthiques abyssaux et seulement 1% est perdu dans la sédimentation permanente. Pour 100 calories consommées par le benthos, 99 le sont par la petite faune et la flore vivant dans le sédiment, 0, 7 calories sont utilisées par les holothuries (mégafaune) et 0,3 calories par les poissons. La composition biochimique des particules se caractérise, à toutes les stations, par la prédominance des composés organiques transformées néobiogéniques ( « humus ») dans la matière organique totale (plus de 55%). La part des molécules de la matière vivante varie d'une station à l'autre: à la station la plus océanique, les protéines dominent et composent 200/o de l'énergie totale des apports. Dans la station plus soumise aux influences continentales, la concentration en lipides augmente et peut égaler celle des protéines. Dans ce cas, le taux de glucides des particules est très faible (7% des apports organiques). Enfin, les préférences nutritionnelles des animaux qui s'alimentent sur ces particules se portent principalement sur les molécules les plus énergétiques (lipides) et les plus facilement hydrolysables (protéines labiles) : les autres molécules, comme les composés néobiogéniques sont moins recherchés bien qu'ils contribuent pour moitié à l'énergie consommée par les animaux benthiques abyssaux
Oceanologica Acta (0399-1784) (Gauthier-Villars), 1985 , Vol. 8 , N. 3 , P. 293-301

Droits : Gauthier-Villars
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00112/22318/19991.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00112/22318/

Éditeur(s) : Blackwell science
Résumé : An experiment was conducted in six earthen ponds with 20 shrimps m(-2) Litopenaeus stylirostris (Stimpson) during the warm season in New Caledonia to study the dynamics of wastes in relation with water exchange rate (WER). The nitrogen budget was established, taking into account the different forms of nitrogen in the water, sediment, feed and shrimp. Data from a wide range of treatments applied in unreplicated ponds were treated using regression analysis to establish the relationship between WER and partial nitrogen budget, sediment characteristics and shrimp performance. To compare effluent quality between treatments during the season, data were analysed using the non-parametric sign test. The water outflow was characterized by a decrease in the concentrations of N-mineral forms (TAN, NO2--NO3-), an increase in the concentration of organic soluble and sestonic organic forms (expressed in terms of particulate nitrogen, particulate organic carbon, chlorophyll a) compared with the water inflow. Increasing WER increased the amount of exported wastes and mainly in the organic forms and TAN can be considered as negligible. The nitrogen budget showed that 19-46% of nitrogen input (feed+water) was exported into the coastal environment. The results showed that the quality of the sediment decreased as WER decreased. The potential negative impact of the developing industry in New Caledonia on the costal environment could be partially reduced in a first step by decreasing WER. However, if applied in the farms, this practice should be linked to a close survey of the evolution of sediment quality.
Aquaculture Research (1355-557X) (Blackwell science), 2006-06 , Vol. 37 , N. 9 , P. 938-948

Droits : 2006 Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2006/publication-1811.pdf
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2109.2006.01515.x
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/1811/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Kimberlites of the Udachnaya-East pipe (Siberia) include a uniquely dry and serpentine-free rock type with anomalously high contents of chlorine (Cl ≤ 6.1 wt%), alkalies (Na2O + K2O ≤ 10 wt%) and sulfur (S ≤ 0.50 wt%), referred to as a “salty” kimberlite. The straightforward interpretation is that the Na-, K-, Cl- and S-rich components originate directly from a carbonate-chloride kimberlitic magma that is anhydrous and alkali-rich. However, because brines and evaporites are present on the Siberian craton, previous studies proposed that the kimberlitic magma was contaminated by the assimilation of salt-rich crustal rocks. To clarify the origin of high Cl, alkalies and S in this unusual kimberlite, here we determine its sulfur speciation and isotopic composition and compare it to that of non-salty kimberlites and kimberlitic breccia from the same pipe, as well as potential contamination sources (hydrothermal sulfides and sulfates, country-rock sediment and brine collected in the area). The average δ34S of sulfides is − 1.4 ± 2.2‰ in the salty kimberlite, 2.1 ± 2.7‰ in the non-salty kimberlites and 14.2 ± 5.8‰ in the breccia. The average δ34S of sulfates in the salty kimberlites is 11.1 ± 1.8‰ and 27.3 ± 1.6‰ in the breccia. In contrast, the δ34S of potential contaminants range from 20 to 42‰ for hydrothermal sulfides, from 16 to 34‰ for hydrothermal sulfates, 34‰ for a country-rock sediment (Chukuck suite) and the regional brine aquifer. Our isotope analyses show that (1) in the salty kimberlites, neither sulfates nor sulfides can be simply explained by brine infiltration, hydrothermal alteration or the assimilation of known salt-rich country rocks and instead, we propose that they are late magmatic phases; (2) in the non-salty kimberlite and breccia, brine infiltration lead to sulfate reduction and the formation of secondary sulfides – this explains the removal of salts, alkali-carbonates and sulfates, as well as the minor olivine serpentinization; (3) hydrothermal sulfur was added to the kimberlitic breccia, but not to the massive kimberlites. In situ measurements of sulfides confirm this scenario, clearly showing the addition of two sulfide populations in the breccia (pyrite-pyrrhotites with average δ34S of 7.9 ± 3.4‰ and chalcopyrites with average δ34S of 38.0 ± 0.4‰) whereas the salty and non-salty kimberlites preserve a unique population of djerfisherites (Cl- and K-rich sulfides) with δ34S values within the mantle range. This study provides the first direct evidence of alkaline igneous rocks in which magmatic sulfate is more abundant than sulfide. Although sulfates have been rarely reported in mantle materials, sulfate-rich melts may be more common in the mantle than previously thought and could balance the sulfur isotope budget of Earth's mantle.
ISSN: 0009-2541

hal-01571982
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01571982
DOI : 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.10.037

Éditeur(s) : Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd
Résumé : We report rare earth element (REE) and neodymium (Nd) isotope data for the organic fraction of sediments collected from various depositional environments, i.e. rivers (n=25), estuaries (n=18), open-ocean settings (n=15), and cold seeps (n=12). Sedimentary Organic Matter (SOM) was extracted using a mixed hydrogen peroxide/nitric acid solution (20%-H2O2 – 0.02M-HNO3), after removal of carbonate and oxy-hydroxide phases with dilute hydrochloric acid (0.25M-HCl). A series of experimental tests indicate that extraction of sedimentary organic compounds using H202 may be complicated occasionally by partial dissolution of sulphide minerals and residual carbonates. However, this contamination is expected to be minor for REE because measured concentrations in H2O2 leachates are about two-orders of magnitude higher than in the above mentioned phases. The mean REE concentrations determined in the H2O2 leachates for samples from rivers, estuaries, coastal seas and open-ocean settings yield relatively similar levels, with ΣREE = 109 ± 86 ppm (mean ± s; n=58). The organic fractions leached from cold seep sediments display even higher concentration levels (285 ± 150 ppm; mean ± s; n=12). The H2O2 leachates for most sediments exhibit remarkably similar shale-normalized REE patterns, all characterized by a mid-REE enrichment compared to the other REE. This suggests that the distribution of REE in leached sedimentary organic phases is controlled primarily by biogeochemical processes, rather than by the composition of the source from which they derive (e.g. pore, river or sea- water). The Nd isotopic compositions for organic phases leached from river sediments are very similar to those for the corresponding detrital fractions. In contrast, the SOM extracted from marine sediments display εNd values that typically range between the εNd signatures for terrestrial organic matter (inferred from the analysis of the sedimentary detrital fractions) and marine organic matter (inferred from the analysis of local surface seawater). A notable exception is the case of organic matter (OM) fractions leached from cold seep sediment samples, which sometimes exhibit εNd values markedly different from both terrigenous and surface seawater signatures. This suggests that a significant fraction of organic compounds in these sediments may be derived from chemosynthetic processes, recycling pore water REE characterized by a distinct isotopic composition. Overall, our results confirm that organic matter probably plays an important role in the oceanic REE budget, through direct scavenging and remineralization within the water column. Both the high REE abundances and the shape of shale-normalized patterns for leached SOM also suggest that OM degradation in sub-surface marine sediments during early diagenesis could control, to a large extent, the distribution of REE in pore waters. Benthic fluxes of organic-bound REE could hence substantially contribute to the exchange processes between particulates and seawater that take place at ocean margins. Neodymium isotopes could provide useful information for tracing the origin (terrestrial versus marine) and geographical provenance of organic matter, with potential applications in paleoceanography. In particular, future studies should further investigate the potential of Nd isotopes in organic compounds preserved in sedimentary records for reconstructing past variations of surface ocean circulation.
Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta (0016-7037) (Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd), 2014-09 , Vol. 140 , P. 177-198

Droits : 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00191/30250/28682.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.gca.2014.05.016
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00191/30250/