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Isotopic evidence for source of diagenetic carbonates formed during burial of organic-rich sediments

Nature volume 269, pages 209–213 (1977)Cite this article

Abstract

Organic matter is modified by several processes operating at different depths during burial diagenesis: (1) sulphate reduction; (2) fermentation; (3) thermally-induced decarboxylation, and so on. CO2, one common product of each, can be distinguished by its carbon isotope composition: approximately (1) −25‰, (2) +15‰, (3) −20‰ relative to PDB. These values are preserved in diagenetic carbonates of the Upper Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay. Independent corroboration of the relative dominance of each process within specific depth intervals is given by the isotopic composition of incorporated oxygen which is temperature dependent (1) 0 to −2‰, (2) −1.5 to −5‰,(3) −3.5 to −7.0‰.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, The University, Sheffield, UK

    Hilary Irwin & Charles Curtis

  2. Institute of Geological Sciences, Geochemical Division, 64-78 Gray's Inn Road, London, UK

    Max Coleman

Authors
  1. Hilary Irwin
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  2. Charles Curtis
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  3. Max Coleman
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Irwin, H., Curtis, C. & Coleman, M. Isotopic evidence for source of diagenetic carbonates formed during burial of organic-rich sediments. Nature 269, 209–213 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269209a0

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