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Methane-related authigenic carbonates from the Black Sea:
geochemical characterisation and relation to seeping fluids
A. Mazzini
a,
*, M.K. Ivanov
b
, J. Parnell
a
, A. Stadnitskaia
b,c
, B.T. Cronin
a
,
E. Poludetkina
b
, L. Mazurenko
d
, T.C.E. van Weering
c
a
Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen, Meston Building, King’s College, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, Scotland, UK
b
UNESCO MSU Center for Marine Geology and Geophysics, Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University,
Vorobjevy Gory, 119899 Moscow, Russia
c
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, The Netherlands
d
All Russia Research Institute for Geology and Mineral Resources of the Ocean, Angliuskiy Avenue, 190121 St. Petersburg, Russia
Received 22 July 2003; received in revised form 13 July 2004; accepted 26 August 2004
Abstract
During TTR11 Cruise (2001), three areas of active fluid venting and mud volcanism were investigated in the Black Sea below
the oxic zone at depths varying between 800 and 2200 m. Authigenic carbonates often associated with microbial mats were
recovered from the sea floor and the shallow subsurface. Structural and petrographic observations allowed the distinction of five
different types of authigenic carbonates; three of these consist of carbonate-cemented layered hemipelagic sedimentary units,
while the other two consist of carbonate-cemented mud breccia sediment and authigenic micrite slabs. The carbonate cements
consist predominantly of micritic Mg calcite. Their d
13
C
CaCO
3
varies between 8.5xand 46.9xat the different sampling
locations, indicating that authigenic carbonates incorporate variable proportions of carbon derived from the anaerobic oxidation of
methane (AOM), the oxidation of organic matter and from sea water. Methane is the dominant component among other
hydrocarbon gases in these sediments. Its relative amount varies from 99.9% to 95.1% of total hydrocarbon gases and its d
13
C
values range from i40xto i74x. Methane in sediments associated with the carbonate crusts shows carbon isotopic values
25–30xlighter than the authigenic carbonates at all the studied sites, indicating that methane present in the seeping fluids confers
a distinct isotopic signature to the carbonate deposits at each location. Models proposed for the formation of carbonate slabs in the
subsurface imply methane seepage impeded by homogenous clayey laminae or by pre-existing slabs, coupled with microbial
activity oxidising methane and organic matter present in the sediment. Mud breccia crust pavements on the sea floor form by
carbonate cementation of methane-charged sediment. Gas saturation of the sediment is confirmed by the presence of gas hydrates,
whose shape indicates an association with authigenic carbonates, supporting the idea that sedimentary structures can control gas
distribution.
D2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Black Sea; authigenic carbonate; hydrocarbon seepage; methane and gas hydrates; mud volcanism
0025-3227/$ - see front matter D2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2004.08.001
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 1224 273435; fax: +44 1224 272785.
E-mail address: a.mazzini@abdn.ac.uk (A. Mazzini).
Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153 – 181
www.elsevier.com/locate/margeo
1. Introduction
The Black Sea is a region where well-developed
seepage-related structures are widely distributed in
deep-water environments. These features are com-
monly associated with geological structures such as
mud diapirs and volcanoes, and fault network
systems. Fluid seepage, gas-saturated sediments and
authigenic carbonate formation have been observed in
various areas on the north-western (Shnukov et al.,
1995; Peckmann et al., 2001; Thiel et al., 2001;
Michaelis et al., 2002), central and north-eastern
(Ivanov et al., 1989, 1992, 1998; Ginsburg et al.,
1990; Konyukhov et al., 1990; Limonov et al., 1994;
Woodside et al., 1997; Kenyon et al., 2002; Blinova et
al., 2003; Bohrmann et al., 2003), and south-eastern
(e.g., Kruglyakova et al., 1993; Cifci et al., 2002;
Ergun et al., 2002) parts of the Black Sea. Methane
release can occur in large quantities (high-intensity
vents) generating dense bubble curtains or plumes
(Michaelis et al., 2002), or it can be bnormalQ(cold
seeps) with a large part of the methane dissolved and
oxidised (Amouroux et al., 2002; Ivanov et al., 2002;
Lein et al., 2002), consumed by microorganisms, and
fixed on the sea floor as carbonate crusts.
Authigenic carbonate deposits have been docu-
mented in several areas where active mud volcanism
take place (e.g., Le Pichon et al., 1990; Vogt et al.,
1997; Ivanov, 1999; Aloisi et al., 2000), and where the
large amount of methane rising provides an ideal
location for the formation of gas hydrates when P/T
conditions are advantageous (e.g., Carson et al., 1990,
1994; Ivanov et al., 1996; Bohrmann et al., 1998,
1998; Ginsburg et al., 1999). The precipitation of
authigenic carbonates is inferred to be the result of
coupled anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM) and
sulphate reduction (e.g., Ritger et al., 1987) operated
by a consortium of archaea and sulphate-reducing
bacteria (e.g., Boetius et al., 2000; Michaelis et al.,
2002).
During the 11th Training Through Research cruise,
mud volcanoes and cold seeps of the Black Sea were
investigated with the Russian R/V Professor Loga-
chev. This paper focuses on petrography and geo-
chemistry of a large collection of authigenic
carbonates slabs and sediments and proposes mech-
anisms of formation for authigenic carbonates formed
at the explored locations.
2. Geological setting and study areas
The Black Sea is the world’s largest anoxic
marine basin. Structurally, it consists of two basins
(Eastern and Western Black Sea basins) separated by
the Andrusov Ridge. Five main seismic sedimentary
units within the Black Sea are known: Upper
Cretaceous (carbonates), Palaeocene–Eocene (silici-
clastic and carbonate rocks), Oligocene–Lower Mio-
cene (Maikopian Formation clays), Upper Miocene
(siliciclastic), and Pliocene–Quaternary consisting of
mostly clays (Tugolesov et al., 1985; Nikishin et al.,
2003).
Recent events in the basin caused its anoxic nature.
In fact, the Holocene global sea level rise allowed the
invasion of high salinity waters from the Mediterra-
nean into the Black Sea via the Bosphorus, approx-
imately 9000 years BP (Ross et al., 1970) or about
7000 years BP (Ryan et al., 1997). Permanent
stratification was established between the original
fresh water body and the underlying marine waters,
allowing anoxia to develop in the bottom layers
accompanied by a slow rise of the halocline (Ross
and Degens, 1974). At present, 80% of the water
column is anoxic. The oxic–anoxic interface zone
varies in depth between 130 and 180 m (Ross et al.,
1978).
During the 11 years of activity of the TTR
program, several cruises have been made in the
Black Sea. The central part was investigated during
TTR1 (Ivanov et al., 1992), TTR3 (Limonov et al.,
1994), and TTR6 (Woodside et al., 1997). The
Sorokin Trough and Caucasus continental margin
were studied during TTR6 (Woodside et al., 1997).
The aim of the TTR-11 cruise (Kenyon et al., 2002)
was to further investigate three areas previously
explored in the framework of the TTR program
(Fig. 1) characterised by the presence of gas hydrates,
hydrocarbon fluid seeps, and mud volcanism, paying
particular attention to geochemical and microbiolog-
ical processes.
Area 1 is located in the northwestern part of the
continental slope of the Black Sea situated offshore
SW Crimean peninsula and south of Ukraine. The
region comprises several manifestations of gas vent-
ing (e.g., Polikarpov et al., 1993; Bohrmann et al.,
2002; Ivanov et al., 2002; Gulin et al., 2003). The
sampling was concentrated in two main regions: the
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181154
Fig. 1. (A) Black Sea and main study areas investigated during the TTR-11 cruise. (B) Area 1 (Kalamitian continental slope and Crimean continental slope). (C) Area 2 (central Black
Sea). (D) Area 3 (Sorokin Trough).
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181 155
Kalamitian continental slope and a section westward
of Sevastopol. Acoustic images of the area show
fields of patches with high backscatter on the sidescan
sonar profile that showed a superficial transparent
layer underneath a very strong reflector on the
subbottom profiler. Similar features were observed
nearby on seismic profiles (Kenyon et al., 2002).
Here, faults and vertical transparent areas and masked
reflectors suggest the presence of gas. Faults seen on
the subbottom profiler records underneath these fields
are believed to be the conduits for fluids migrating
upwards (Kenyon et al., 2002).
Area 2 is situated in the central part of the Black
Sea on the western side of the Andrusov Ridge (Fig.
1). This region, located in the deepest part of the
western Black Sea basin, shows generally flat seafloor
topography with water depths of 2100–2200 m. The
north-eastern part of the region includes a large mud
volcano field, comprising nine structures, broadly
studied during previous TTR cruises. Three of them,
including the TREDMAR, Vassoevich and Kovalev-
sky mud volcanoes, were studied during the survey
presented here. Seismic records suggest deep sources
for the mud volcanism, and various acoustic anoma-
lies observed indicate multilevel gas accumulations
within the mud breccia (Kenyon et al., 2002).
Area 3 is situated on the southeastern continental
slope of the Crimean Peninsula, where the Sorokin
Trough becomes elongate (Fig. 1). This area of
compressional regime (Limonov et al., 1997) repre-
sents a special geochemical setting due to multiple
manifestations of gas venting, the occurrence of mud
volcanoes, sub-bottom methane hydrates, and possi-
bly free gas preservation in near-bottom sediments
(Limonov et al., 1997; Woodside et al., 1997;
Bouriak and Akhmetjanov, 1998; Ivanov et al.,
1998). Mud volcano deposits, from which authigenic
carbonates were recovered, are composed of mud
breccia of different lithological types, overlain in
some cases by thin, stratified recent sediments.
Elevated concentrations of hydrocarbon gas and
hydrogen sulphide occur in almost all carbonate
deposition sites (Ivanov et al., 1998). During the
TTR-11 cruise, Kazakov mud volcano was inten-
sively sampled and three other previously explored
structures were proven to have a mud volcanic origin
(Kenyon et al., 2002). These structures were named
Tbilisi, NIOZ, and Odessa.
3. Recent sedimentation in the Black Sea
In 1969, Cruise 49 of Atlantis II (Degens and Ross,
1972) confirmed that a common pattern, including
three distinct modern sedimentary units, characterised
most of the deep-water areas of the Black Sea. Below
the surface, the typical geological sequence includes
three units. The shallowest Unit 1 (Djemetinian
layers) consists of thin alternating coccolithic ooze
(mostly Emiliana huxleyi), and clayey sediment
laminae; Unit 2 (Kalamitian layers) consists almost
entirely of thin laminations of sapropel with occa-
sional coccolithic ooze laminae; Unit 3 (Novoeuxi-
nian layers), interpreted to be a lacustrine facies,
consists of laminations of terrigenous clayey material,
sometimes with abundant silty admixture, sometimes
very fine and well sorted, commonly containing
hydrotroilite layers. These units reach their maximum
thickness in the central part of the Black Sea; Units 1
and 2 are on average 30-cm thick, while Unit 3 can
reach several metres in thickness (Ross and Degens,
1974). These units were retrieved in all three study
areas. The majority of the authigenic carbonates
described in the paper were retrieved from these units.
4. Methods
Petrographic and geochemical analyses were con-
ducted on the authigenic carbonate samples comple-
mented by geochemical studies of gases and pore
waters of the enclosing sediments. A large suite of
polished thin sections was prepared cutting each
sample perpendicular and parallel to the sedimentary
layer. Polished slabs and thin sections were studied
using standard petrographic and cathodoluminescence
techniques and freshly broken rock samples were
examined with scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Samples for carbon and oxygen stable isotope
measurements were drilled systematically along the
thickness of the samples from the different textures
and layers observed within the slabs. Oxygen and
carbon stable isotopes measurements were performed
liberating CO
2
by the standard phosphoric acid
technique (MaCrea, 1950; Sharma and Clayton,
1965). Measurements were made with a Carbonate
Prep System linked with an AP2003 mass spectrom-
eter. The d
13
C and d
18
O results are reported relative
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181156
to the V-PDB standard (Craig, 1957; Coplen, 1994),
the precision of the analyses is F0.2x. The Fried-
man and O’Neil (1977) fractionation equation was
used to calculate the temperatures of carbonate
precipitation. Semiquantitative mineralogical compo-
sition of the carbonate phase in carbonate precipitates
was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) (Shlikov
and Kharitonov, 2001). Gas and pore water were
extracted from the sediments at selected depths
(every 10 cm or where significant lithological
variations were observed) and analysed. Volumes of
40 ml of sediment were degassed using the head
space technique (Bolshakov and Egorov, 1987) and
the relative hydrocarbon gas compositional analyses
(from C1 to C5) were carried out using a Tzvet-500
chromatograph with ionising detector (Jeffery and
Kipping, 1976). The values of methane concentra-
tions are given in ml/l of wet sediment. The stable
carbon isotopic composition of methane was meas-
ured on a Finnigan Delta S mass spectrometer with a
HP 5890 GC and a GC-Combustion interface.
Methane was separated on a molsieve 5A plot
column using split- or splitless injection, depending
on the concentrations. Chemical analyses of the pore
water samples extracted onboard were carried out
according to Reznikov and Muikovskaya (1956),
McDuff (1985), and Gieskes et al. (1991). Chloride
(Cl), alkalinity, Ca, and Mg were determined titri-
metrically (argento-, acide-, and complexometry,
respectively). The accuracy of the chemical analyses
was estimated at F0.01 mg/l.
5. Results
A total of 35 stations were sampled in the
anoxic zone of the three study areas where acoustic
data interpretation inferred the presence of gas-
charged sediments or fluid seepage/sediment extru-
sions (i.e., mud volcanoes). Several active fluid
seepage features and numerous mud volcanoes,
including the Kornev, Vassoevich, Kovalevsky,
TREDMAR (Area 2), Tbilisi, NIOZ, Kazakov, and
Odessa (Area 3), were sampled. Most of the
features revealed a strong smell of H
2
S. A large
collection of carbonate-cemented sedimentary units
and other authigenic carbonate-cemented slabs was
retrieved from these locations. Detailed petrographic
and geochemical studies of the authigenic carbo-
nates allowed a new classification of the different
samples retrieved.
5.1. The hydrocarbon gas composition
The majority of the gas analyses (Table 1;Figs. 2
and 10, top) were determined for samples from the
same seepage features where carbonate crusts were
retrieved.
It is worthy of note that in spite of the absolute
notations for the methane, part of the hydrocarbon had
been lost due to active degassing of the recovered
sediments. However, in order to see the trend of
methane distribution profiles and to show a rough
level of methane saturation even with its loss, it was
decided to present methane data in both absolute (ml/l
of wet sediment) and relative (% from total deter-
mined hydrocarbon gases) values.
In Area 1, the gas composition was determined
from sediments extracted from a long core (BS-311G)
retrieved on the Crimean continental slope west of
Sevastopol, which consisted entirely of hemipelagic
sediments. The hydrocarbon gas composition is
represented by a set of alkanes from methane to
butane (C
1
–C
4
) where alkanes are predominant over
alkenes (ethene and propene) and i-butane prevailing
under n-butane. Propane (C
3
) and butane (C
4
) have
significant concentrations only in the lower part of the
sedimentary sequence (below 500 cm). Concentra-
tions of methane varied from 1 ml/l in the upper part
of the core to 90 ml/l in the lower part (Fig. 2A). The
isotopic composition of methane was measured from a
short (150 cm) core (BS-308 K). Results did not show
a strong variation between the three different sedi-
mentary units analysed. Values showed a strong
13
C
depletion in the upper part of the core (d
13
C
CH4
=
74.2x) and less depleted values for the rest of the
core (as low as 67.3x).
The three mud volcanic structures (Vassoevich,
Kovalevsky, and TREDMAR) sampled in Area 2
showed very similar gas compositions and concen-
trations to each other. For the Vassoevich mud
volcano, the hydrocarbon gas mixture was represented
by a set of alkanes from methane (C
1
) to butane (C
4
)
(Fig. 2B), and for the Kovalevsky and TREDMAR
mud volcanoes methane (C
1
) to pentane (C
5
)(Fig.
2C–D) all containing saturated, unsaturated alkanes
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181 157
Table 1
Summary of analyses carried out on this study from a large collection of authigenic carbonates and cores
Area Sampling
station no.
Structure Depth
BSF
(cm)
y
18
Oy
13
C
(authigenic
carbonate)
y
13
C
(CH
4
)
Authigenic
carbonate
type or
sediment type
XRD,
carbonate
cement
composition
(%)
Sampling points for
isotope analyses
1 BS-306-K Faulted seepage
feature
4 2.3 44.1 Type U1a Small tabular fragment,
top surface
1 BS-306-K Faulted seepage
feature
4 1.1 43.8 Type U1a Small tabular fragment,
top surface
1 BS-306-K Faulted seepage
feature
4 0.6 43.2 Type U1a 14.7 LMC,
85.3 HMC
Small tabular fragment,
top surface
1 BS-306-K Faulted seepage
feature
25 2.6 25.6 Type MSb Small tabular fragment,
top surface
1 BS-306-K Faulted seepage
feature
25 2.5 26.8 Type MSb Small tabular fragment,
bottom surface
1 BS-308-K Faulted seepage
feature
10 1.4 43.5 Type U1b Top surface of the slab
1 BS-308-K Faulted seepage
feature
10 0.9 46.9 Type U1b Bottom surface of the
slab
1 BS-308-K Faulted seepage
feature
10 1.3 46.2 Type U1b Bottom surface of
the slab
1 BS-308-K Faulted seepage
feature
10 74.2 Clay, Unit 1 Middle part of Unit 1
1 BS-308-K Faulted seepage
feature
15 68.8 Sapropel,
Unit 2
Middle part of Unit 2
1 BS-308-K Faulted seepage
feature
20 65.7 Clay, Unit 3 Middle part of Unit 3
2 BS-314-G Vassoevich M.V. 4 1.0 8.5 Type U1b Central part of the slab
2 BS-314-G Vassoevich M.V. 4 0.9 9.2 Type U1b Central part of the slab
2 BS-314-G Vassoevich M.V. 4 1.4 10.5 Type U1b 37.7 LMC,
62.3 HMC
Central part of the slab
2 BS-314-G Vassoevich M.V. 26 0.7 16.4 Type U2a 100 HMC Central part of the slab
2 BS-314-G Vassoevich M.V. 26 1.3 17.0 Type U2a Central part of the slab
2 BS-314-G Vassoevich M.V. 26 1.0 18.0 Type U2a Central part of the slab
2 BS-314-G Vassoevich M.V. 33 0.5 18.3 Type U3 Central part of the slab
2 BS-314-G Vassoevich M.V. 65–70 56.2 Clay, Unit 3 Top part of Unit 3
2 BS-315-G Vassoevich M.V. 24 1.6 24.2 Type U2b Central part of the slab
2 BS-315-G Vassoevich M.V. 24 1.0 24.5 Type U2b Top surface of the slab
2 BS-315-G Vassoevich M.V. 24 1.5 20.1 Type U2b Central part of the slab
2 BS-315-G Vassoevich M.V. 24 1.1 22.6 Type U2b 100 HMC Central part of the slab
2 BS-315-G Vassoevich M.V. 65 1.6 23.5 Type U2b Central part of the slab
2 BS-315-G Vassoevich M.V. 65 1.5 22.1 Type U2b Bottom surface of
the slab
2 BS-315-G Vassoevich M.V. 65 1.7 22.6 Type U2b Top surface of the slab
2 BS-315-G Vassoevich M.V. 65 1.4 21.6 Type U2b 100 HMC Central part of the slab
2 BS-317-G Kovalevsky M.V. 28 0.2 17.2 Type U1a 44.3 LMC,
55.7 HMC
Central part of the slab
2 BS-319-G Kovalevsky M.V. 120–125 31.6 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
2 BS-319-G Kovalevsky M.V. 196–223 49.8 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
2 BS-319-G Kovalevsky M.V. 250 39.8 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
2 BS-320-G TREDMAR M.V. 145–153 50.7 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181158
Area Sampling
station no.
Structure Depth
BSF
(cm)
y
18
Oy
13
C
(authigenic
carbonate)
y
13
C
(CH
4
)
Authigenic
carbonate
type or
sediment type
XRD,
carbonate
cement
composition
(%)
Sampling points for
isotope analyses
3 BS-324-G Diapiric
structure
4 1.0 39.1 Type U1b Central part of the slab
3 BS-324-G Diapiric
structure
4 0.7 37.6 Type U1b Top surface of the slab
3 BS-324-G Diapiric
structure
4 1.0 38.7 Type U1b Bottom surface of the slab
3 BS-324-G Diapiric
structure
4 0.2 38.4 Type U1b 100 HMC Central part of the slab
3 BS-325-G NIOZ M.V. 0–4 66.0 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
3 BS-325-G NIOZ M.V. 8–11 67.4 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
3 BS-325-G NIOZ M.V. 22–27 60.7 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
3 BS-325-G NIOZ M.V. 52–57 59.9 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
3 BS-325-G NIOZ M.V. 88 59.9 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
3 BS-326-G NIOZ M.V. 19 0.4 41.2 Type U1b Central part of the slab
3 BS-326-G NIOZ M.V. 37 0.6 33.5 Type MSb 34.8 LMC,
65.2 HMC
Top surface of tabular
slab
3 BS-326-G NIOZ M.V. 190 67.1 Hemipelagic
slumped clay
Bottom part of core
3 BS-327-G NIOZ M.V. 5 1.2 40.5 Type MSb 16.3 LMC,
83.7 HMC
Top surface of tabular
slab
3 BS-327-G NIOZ M.V. 90 49.1 Hemipelagic
slumped clay
Gas hydrates
bearing layer
3 BS-331-G Kazakov M.V. 20–25 55.3 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
3 BS-331-G Kazakov M.V. 40–45 55.3 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
3 BS-331-G Kazakov M.V. 81–86 55.6 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
3 BS-331-G Kazakov M.V. 101–103 55.9 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
3 BS-331-G Kazakov M.V. 138–142 56.1 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
3 BS-331-G Kazakov M.V. 165 56.0 Mud breccia
sediment
Mud breccia unit
3 BS-333-G Kazakov M.V. 0.7 17.6 Type U1a 100 HMC Small tabular fragment,
top surface
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.3 18.8 Type U1a Top surface of the slab
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.7 19.3 Type U1a Central part of the slab
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.3 19.3 Type U1a Top surface of the slab
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.5 19.8 Type U1a Bottom surface of the slab
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.5 20.1 Type U1a Bottom surface of the
slab
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.6 22.1 Type U1b Central part of the
slab
Table 1 (continued)
(continued on next page)
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181 159
Area Sampling
station no.
Structure Depth
BSF
(cm)
y
18
Oy
13
C
(authigenic
carbonate)
y
13
C
(CH
4
)
Authigenic
carbonate
type or
sediment type
XRD,
carbonate
cement
composition
(%)
Sampling points for
isotope analyses
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.4 22.5 Type U1b Bottom surface of the
slab
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.3 19.3 Type MSa Central part of the slab
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 0.7 20.1 Type MSa External soft surface
of the slab
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.4 19.2 Type MSa External hard surface of
the slab
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.1 20.8 Type MSa Top surface of the slab
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.4 22.0 Type MB External surface of crust
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 2.1 20.5 Type MB External surface of crust
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.2 16.7 Type MB External surface of crust
3 BS-334-GR Kazakov M.V. 1.6 22.1 Type MB 9.5 LMG,
90.5 HMC
External surface of crust
3 BS-335-D Kazakov M.V. 1.6 16.6 Type U1a Central part of the slab
3 BS-335-D Kazakov M.V. 1.5 15.6 Type U1a Top surface of the slab
3 BS-335-D Kazakov M.V. 1.4 18.1 Type U1a Bottom surface of the
slab
3 BS-335-D Kazakov M.V. 1.7 15.3 Type MB Central part of the slab
3 BS-335-D Kazakov M.V. 0.5 23.1 Type MB Top surface of the slab
3 BS-335-D Kazakov M.V. 1.1 22.5 Type MB 100 HMC External surface
3 BS-335-D Kazakov M.V. 0.6 20.1 Type MSa 22.3 LMC,
77,7 HMC
Central part of the slab
3 BS-335-D Kazakov M.V. 1.1 20.5 Type MSa Central part of the slab
3 BS-335-D Kazakov M.V. 0.3 19.2 Type MSa Top surface of the slab
3 BS-335-D Kazakov M.V. 0.9 20.3 Type MSa Bottom surface of
the slab
3 BS-336-G Odessa M.V. 12 1.1 44.7 Type U2b 100 HMC Central part of the slab
3 BS-336-G Odessa M.V. 62 1.8 15.5 Type MSb 80 LMC,
20 DOL
Central part of the slab
3 BS-336-G Odessa M.V. 0–17 69.9 Clay, Unit 1 Middle part of Unit 1
3 BS-336-G Odessa M.V. 20–27 67.5 Clay, Unit 3 Upper part of Unit 3
3 BS-336-G Odessa M.V. 30–37 67.9 Clay, Unit 3 Middle part of Unit 3
3 BS-336-G Odessa M.V. 50–55 67.1 Clay, Unit 3 Middle part of Unit 4
3 BS-336-G Odessa M.V. 67–72 70.4 Clay, Unit 3 Hydrotrilite rich interval
3 BS-336-G Odessa M.V. 130–135 66.5 Clay, Unit 3 Hydrotrilite rich interval
3 BS-336-G Odessa M.V. 140–145 66.6 Clay, Unit 3 ? Hydrotrilite rich interval
3 BS-337-G Odessa M.V. 35 0.1 44.9 Type U2b Central part of the slab
3 BS-337-G Odessa M.V. 35 1.4 45.5 Type U2b Bottom surface of the
slab
3 BS-337-G Odessa M.V. 35 1.0 44.1 Type U2b Top surface of the slab
3 BS-337-G Odessa M.V. 80 0.3 40.8 Type MSb Central part of the slab
3 BS-337-G Odessa M.V. 80 0.6 35.5 Type MSb External surface of
the slab
3 BS-337-G Odessa M.V. 80 0.2 40.4 Type MSb Central part of the slab
3 BS-337-G Odessa M.V. 80 0.6 38.7 Type MSb Central part of the slab
3 BS-337-G Odessa M.V. 80 0.4 41.3 Type MSb Central part of the slab
3 BS-337-G Odessa M.V. 80 0.2 37.6 Type MSb 29.3 LMC,
70.7 HMC
Central part of the slab
HMC=high Mg calcite; LMC=low Mg calcite; DOL=dolomite; K=Kasten corer; G=gravity corer; D=dredge; Gr=TV remote controlled grab.
Table 1 (continued)
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181160
and i-butane. The ratio of methane to its homologues
(C
2+
) varied from 1500 to 12000. Gas measurements
from the mud breccia units revealed high concen-
trations of methane, up to 130, 90, and 70 ml/l,
respectively, with low values only from the capping
hemipelagic unit. Methane from the Vassoevich and
the TREDMAR mud volcanoes had low d
13
C
CH4
values (56.2xand 50.7x, respectively), com-
pared to the methane from the Kovalevsky mud
volcano (from 31.6xto 49.8x).
In Area 3, the NIOZ, Kazakov, and Odessa mud
volcanoes were studied. Mud breccia cores from the
NIOZ mud volcano revealed the presence of hydro-
carbon gases from methane (C
1
) to propane (C
3
),
unsaturated homologues in small concentrations and
methane concentrations up to 56 ml/l (Fig. 2E).
d
13
C
CH4
varied from 49.1xto 67.4x, although
most of the samples have values around 60x. The
hydrocarbon gas mixture of the Kazakov mud
volcano was represented by all hydrocarbons from
methane (C
1
) to pentane (C
5
) in each of the studied
samples. The content of C
2+
hydrocarbon gases
reached 7%. Ethene and propene were nearly absent.
The methane concentration varied from 3 to 56 ml/l
(Fig. 2F) and its d
13
C
CH4
values varied from
55.3xto 56.1x. The hydrocarbon gases from
the Odessa mud volcano include hydrocarbons from
methane (C
1
) to pentane (C
5
). Ethene and propene
were present in relatively small amounts, and n-
alkanes were predominant over iso-alkanes. In this
case, the methane concentration reached 51 ml/l (Fig.
2G). The d
13
C
CH
4
results gave consistent low values
(from 66.5xto 70.4x).
5.2. Morphologies of gas hydrates in the sediments
Gas hydrates were retrieved from all the three areas
investigated and were usually associated with authi-
genic carbonates.
In Area 1, one of the high backscattering patches
(500-m wide) observed on the sidescan-sonar profile
was sampled. The presence of gas that migrates
through the sedimentary column along fault planes
was inferred from the acoustic profiles. During the
retrieval of the gravity core onto the ship’s deck, a
large plume of gas bubbles was observed breaking
onto the sea surface. Small fragments were observed
floating on the surface suggesting that the core
contained gas hydrates that partly dissociated during
transit from the sea floor to the surface. The same
location, sampled with the kasten corer, retrieved
slabs of carbonate crust and hemipelagic sedimentary
sequence. Hydrates were recovered for the first time
in this part of the Black Sea from sediments not
associated with a mud volcano (as opposed to what
is observed in the rest of the Black Sea) at a water
depth of 900 m. The small tabular fragments of gas
hydrate (1–2-cm long and 2–3-mm thick) were
observed to be distributed as thin laminae oriented
along the original lamination of the sapropelic
sediments, suggesting that the gas is preferentially
trapped along the interface of the sedimentary
impermeable units.
In Area 2, the seismic profile of the Kovalevsky
mud volcano showed bright spots present at different
depths in the feeder channel of the volcano, suggest-
ing the presence of free gas. A bporphyraceusQ
structure of gas hydrates was observed within the
mud breccia unit of the Kovalevsky mud volcano.
The aggregates observed consisted of isometric and
subrounded pore-filling clathrates whose size varied
from millimetric up to 3 cm. Similarly shaped
hydrates were observed in the Yuma and Ginsburg
mud volcanoes (Moroccan margin) and were inter-
preted to be the result of the segregation of water by
gas supplied into the hydrate accumulation zone
(Mazurenko et al., 2003).
Two of the mud volcanic structures (Kazakov and
Odessa) sampled in the Sorokin Trough (Area 3)
contained gas hydrates. Hydrates retrieved from the
Kazakov mud volcano were irregularly leaf-shaped
(up to 3 cm in size), usually associated with the thin
veneer of laminated hemipelagic sediment occasion-
ally covering the mud breccia unit, or were observed
as pore-filling microaggregates in the mud breccia
unit like those observed in the mud breccia unit of the
Kovalevsky mud volcano, or to the one described by
Bohrmann et al. (2002) in the same area (Dvur-
echenskii mud volcano) or by Stadnitskaia and
Belenkaya (1998). Hydrates retrieved from the
Odessa mud volcano were found in the hemipelagic
sediment (Fig. 3A). Similar to the hydrates retrieved
from Area 1, they assumed a tabular shape (from 2 to
3 mm in thickness, up to 5 cm in diameter) and were
situated at the interface between the sedimentary
layers.
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181 161
Fig. 2. Summary of results of the hydrocarbon phase gas compositional analyses of the main cores studied and related core logs.
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181162
Fig. 2 (continued).
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181 163
5.3. Microbial mats associated with authigenic
carbonates
Thick microbial mats associated with carbonate
slabs were retrieved from several sampling stations.
Two different types of mats were observed and
they appeared to have similar characteristics to
those described by Belenkaya (2003) and Ivanov
et al. (1998). The first type showed a pinkish-
brown colour and was found growing on the
external surfaces of the cemented units and occa-
sionally between the carbonate cemented layers.
The most spectacular mats of this type were
observed on the lower surface of the well
micrite-cemented sapropelic unit (i.e., from the
Odessa mud volcano, Fig. 3B). The second type
consisted of brownish pore-filling jelly matter
observed in several instances filling the degassing
features or enclosed in the interface between the
sedimentary layers.
5.4. Authigenic carbonates
5.4.1. Petrography of authigenic carbonates
Based on macroscopic and microscopic observa-
tions, a new classification of cemented slabs is
proposed. Five types of cemented slabs were
recognised. The first three types consist of layered
samples of cemented sedimentary units (i.e., Unit 1
to 3). The fourth type consists of cemented mud
breccia and the fifth comprises structureless micritic
slabs. The suffix a or b was added to the type of
cemented slab representing poor and good cementa-
tion, respectively.
!Type U1—This type of slab consists of cemented
Unit 1 and was commonly retrieved from the top
and the lower part of the youngest sedimentary
Unit 1. The slabs can be subdivided in two
subtypes. Subtype U1a is composed of very friable
and poorly cemented sedimentary Unit 1 and is
light grey in colour (Fig. 4A). The porous slabs
preserved the millimetric sedimentary laminae and
their subparallel orientation. The laminations that
compose the slabs consist of alternations of clay-
and carbonate-rich layers. The external uneven flat-
like surfaces show microbial remains-filled micro-
vesicles whose origin is ascribed to gas seepage.
Thin section petrography shows layers of clayey
sediment that are separated by mostly continuous
biofilm and micrite-rich intervals (Fig. 4B). The
better cemented subtype U1b displays a greater
amount of micrite filling the pores (Fig. 4C). Pyrite
framboid aggregates are locally visible along the
microbial biofilm layers between the laminae. Thin
sections taken parallel to the sedimentary layers
reveal the presence of vesicles contoured with
the same biofilm, micrite, and pyrite framboids
(Fig. 4D) similarly to that reported by Belenkaya
and Stadnitskaya (1998) and Belenkaya (2003).
Ostracod shells, well preserved or fragmented,
were also identified in the cement and usually with
a partial coating of biofilm. SEM images confirmed
the presence of biofilm-coated degassing vesicles
Fig. 3. (A) Tabular-shaped gas hydrates (in lighter colour), oriented along the original lamination of sediments and forming on the interface
between the sedimentary layers; (B) microbial mat observed on carbonate-cemented sedimentary slabs; the thickness of the pinkish brown
mucous mat increases around the degassing vesicles. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to
the web version of this article.)
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181164
(Fig. 4E) and coccolith-rich layers mixed with
micritic carbonate cement (Fig. 4F). Tubular
degassing features oriented perpendicularly to
sedimentary lamination were observed and
appeared micrite and microbial biofilm coated. In
both subtypes U1a and U1b, the slabs can peel off
along the clay-rich layers, indicating that they are
weak surfaces in contrast to the micrite-rich layers
that cement the rock together.
!Type U2—These dark-coloured slabs comprise
two subtypes: subtype U2a and subtype U2b (Fig.
5A). Subtype U2a was found in the central part of
Fig. 4. Authigenic carbonate type U1. (A) Carbonate-cemented fine laminated sedimentary Unit 1; (B) thin section image perpendicular to
lamination shows alternating micrite- and clay-rich layers with biofilm and ostracods; (C) thin section image perpendicular to lamination shows
irregular alternating micrite- and clay-rich layers with biofilm; (D) thin section image parallel to lamination shows sections of degassing vesicles
coated with biofilm (dark colour) and pyrite framboids (dark spots); (E) SEM image with vesicle coated with biofilm; (F) SEM image showing
interface laminae with biofilm and coccolith coating. White arrows indicate clay-rich intervals, dark grey arrows indicate the micrite-rich
intervals and black arrows point to the biofilm coating.
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181 165
Unit 2 and subtype U2b was retrieved from the
upper part and mostly from the bottom part of the
same unit. Both the subtypes consist of micrite
cemented sapropelic Unit 2 and show a dark
colour due to the high organic content present in
the sapropel. The flat subtype U2a slabs easily peel
off along clay-rich layers, as also observed for
subtype U1a. In the case of subtype U2b instead
the typical sapropelic layered structure was less
visible at the macroscopic scale due to the strong
lithification. Small vesicles (from millimetric to
0.5 cm in size) were distinguished on the external
surfaces of most of the samples, while the darker
slabs, retrieved from the bottom part of Unit 2
(subtype U2b), showed bigger (up 1 cm in size)
vesicles. Inside the vesicles, evidence of microbial
mat was observed (darker colour or pinkish and
brownish). In several instances, thick layers of
microbial mats were found on the lower surface of
the slabs. The better-cemented slabs were retrieved
below thick clayey layers that interrupt the
sapropel units, strongly suggesting that the rising
of the gas is impeded by these layers. Similar to
type U1, thin section observations showed sub-
parallel clayey layers separated by thin and almost
continuous microbial biofilm and micrite-cocco-
lith-rich layers (Fig. 5B). Exceptionally well
cemented slabs, with a virtually pore-free fabric,
show well grown calcite crystals between the
pellet-clay-rich layers (Fig. 5C). Framboidal pyrite
crystals are commonly concentrated along the
micrite-biofilm-rich layers and within the degass-
Fig. 5. Authigenic carbonate type U2. (A) Lower surface of a slab subtype U2b, which consists of carbonate-cemented sapropelic Unit 2; note
the centimetric degassing vesicles commonly filled with dark microbial mat; (B) thin section image perpendicular to lamination showing clayey
layers separated by thin and almost uninterrupted microbial biofilm and micrite-rich layers; (C) thin section image taken perpendicular to
lamination of well-cemented slab shows alternated pellets-clay-rich and well-grown calcite crystals; (D) SEM image showing vesicle
perpendicularly cross-cutting the sedimentary layers (white solid line) with internal biofilm coating; white dashed line indicates the trend of
lamination. White arrows indicate clay-rich intervals; dark grey arrows indicate the micrite-rich intervals and black arrows point to the biofilm
coating.
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181166
ing vesicles that cross-cut the clay-rich layers.
Ostracods were observed in greater amounts than
in type U1 and were mostly horizontally oriented
along the sedimentary layers. Degassing-like
features, perpendicularly cross-cutting the sedi-
mentary layers, are commonly observed with an
internal biofilm coating (Fig. 5D).
!Type U3—This type consists of only one single
sample composed of poorly micrite-cemented
finely laminated Unit 3. Under the microscope,
well-defined alternating darker and lighter laminae
were observed, the surfaces of which were traced
by pyrite framboids. SEM microscopy highlights
the presence of microbial biofilm. Despite the poor
cementation, the porosity of the sample is very
low.
!Type MB–Carbonate cemented mud breccia (type
MB) was retrieved at several stations from the
Kazakov mud volcano (Fig. 6A). The underwater
TV survey and the samples collected show mud
breccia crust pavements either on the floor, or
capped and cemented together with semi-lithified
sedimentary Unit 1 (cemented subtype U1a), or by
thicker micritic slabs (type MSa, see following
description). These brownish grey fragments of
type MB were mostly friable and irregularly
shaped. Carbonate cement is coarser if compared
with that observed in the previous slabs, and binds
the fine fraction of the matrix and the mud breccia
clasts of different size (millimetric to centimetric),
roundness, and lithology together. Larger calcite
crystals commonly appear around the numerous
pores and the degassing features present in the
mud breccia deposits (Fig. 6B). Pyrite framboids
were mostly observed around the degassing
vesicles and in the vicinity of the microbial biofilm
(Fig. 6C).
!Type MS—Type MS comprises two subtypes:
subtype MSa and subtype MSb. Both the subtypes
look petrographically similar, consisting of struc-
Fig. 6. Authigenic carbonate type MB. (A) Irregularly shaped fragment of carbonate-cemented mud breccia showing fine matrix and clasts; (B)
thin section image showing detail of well grown calcite crystals that precipitated around a larger degassing features; (C) SEM image showing
degassing vesicles coated with biofilm and pyrite framboids (black arrows indicate some of the framboids around one of the vesicles).
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181 167
tureless micrite-cemented clayey and pelletoidal
fraction with rare microfossils. During the under-
water TV survey, Subtype MSa (Fig. 7A) was
observed on the sea floor as grey smooth slabs
clearly rising above the surrounding sediment,
sometimes for several centimetres and often
capping mud breccia sediment (Fig. 7B). The top
external surfaces appear very porous and covered
by microvesicles, which coating suggests micro-
bial activity possibly linked to seepage. In the
areas where cavities and the microvesicles are
predominant, thin section observations reveal large
amounts of pyrite framboids, small sparite crystals,
and biofilm coating (Fig. 7C). SEM microscopy
Fig. 7. Authigenic carbonate type MS. (A) Upper surface of smoothed slab subtype MSa; visible microvesicles often filled with microbial mat;
(B) lower surface of a slab showing cemented mud breccia sediment (type MB); the upper surface shows authigenic carbonate Subtype MSa;
(C) thin section image showing a microvesicle with high concentration of pyrite framboids (dark clots), micrite (black arrow), and biofilm
(white arrow); (D) SEM image showing micritic texture with examples of microvesicles on the right side of the image; (E) thin section image
showing the micritic texture and the pervasive pyrite framboids.
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181168
clearly shows the presence of cavities and vesicles
in the internal structure, conferring a light weight
to the sample (Fig. 7D). Subtype MSb consisted
of tabular-shaped samples retrieved below thin
homogeneous layers of pure clay cross cutting
Unit 3. The biggest samples were found in
slumped bodies within Unit 3; they appeared with
irregular and smoothed shape similar to that
described for subtype MSa and revealed thin
microbial remains coating the external surface.
No microvesicles, either on the external surfaces or
in the internal structure, were observed, suggesting
compaction and gradual infill of the pores by the
micritic cement. Pervasive pyrite framboids were
observed throughout the samples (Fig. 7E).
5.4.2. Mineralogy of the carbonates
Compositional analyses of the carbonates revealed
three different mineralogical types of cement: high
Mg calcite (HMC, with MgCO
3
N5 mol%), low Mg
calcite (LMC, with MgCO3 from 0 to 4 mol%), and
dolomite (DOL) in one instance. The siliciclastic
admixture in the samples has been removed in the
calculations and all the results normalised to 100%
(Table 1). The percentage distribution of the cements
indicates that the majority of the carbonate cements
consist of HMC (authigenic carbonate), while varia-
tions in LMC% are ascribed to the presence of
biogenic carbonate (e.g., coccoliths in type U1) as
confirmed by SEM microprobe analyses.
5.4.3. Oxygen and carbon stable isotopes on authi-
genic carbonates
Samples retrieved from the same structure share
common or comparable stable isotope values regard-
less of the slab type (Table 1). Most of the samples
analysed can be divided into two main clusters (Fig. 8).
The first group includes the samples from Area 1
(stations BS-306 and BS-308), from the diapiric
structure sampled at station BS-324, and from the
NIOZ and Odessa mud volcanoes (Area 3). These are
characterised by d
13
C on average lower than 40x
and d
18
O values mostly comprised between 2.3xand
0.6x. More detailed observations of Area 1 samples
show a downcore increase in
13
C depletion for type U1
slabs that shift from a mean d
13
C=43.7xto a mean
d
13
C=46.5x. An exception was a single sample of
type MS authigenic carbonate that gave a negative
d
18
O value (2.5x) and isotopically heavier carbon
values (from 26.8xto 25.6x) based on replicates.
The second group includes samples from the
Vassoevich, Kovalevsky (Area 2) and Kazakov (Area
3) mud volcanoes that showed d
13
C values mostly
between 24.5xand 15.5xand the majority of
Fig. 8. Carbon and oxygen stable isotope values of authigenic carbonate cements.
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181 169
Fig. 9. (A) Distribution of the Mg/Cl ratio in pore waters along cores (station number and structure name are indicated). Three examples of Mg/
Cl distribution: I—drastic decrease indicating high content of mud volcano fluids; II—mixed sea water and mud volcano fluids; III—small
variation from initial seawater composition; (B) distribution of the chloride (Cl
) content along cores sampled from mud volcanic structures.
The Kovalevsky mud volcano shows big anomalies while the Kazakov and Odessa mud volcanoes show small variation in Cl content. Dotted
line indicates seawater concentration (right) and highest anomaly (left).
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181170
d
18
O values clustered between 0.2xand 2.1x.In
particular, the different types of authigenic carbonate
samples from the Vassoevich mud volcano show a
downcore increase in
13
C depletion and clustered
d
18
O values. In fact, type U1 crusts recovered showed
moderately depleted d
13
C values (from 8.5xto
10.5x) when compared with subtype U2a retrieved
at greater depth (from 16.4xto 24.5x).
5.5. The mud volcanic fluid composition
Attention was focused on the pore water analyses
of the Kovalevsky (Area 2), Kazakov, and Odessa
mud volcanoes (Area 3).
Fig. 9A shows three examples of differing Mg/Cl
distribution. The pore water analyses (I) from the
Kazakov mud volcano show a decreasing Mg/Cl ratio
with depth while the curve (II) from the Kovalevsky
mud volcano reveals a less dramatic decrease. The last
curve (III) from the Odessa mud volcano shows small
deviations from the initial Mg/Cl seawater ratio.
Water chloride analyses revealed variations in each
structure (Fig. 9B). The chloride content for pelagic
sediment pore water (sample usually taken at 0-cm
depth) and from seawater was similar (approximately
355 mM). The greatest variations were observed in
gas hydrate-bearing sediments from the Kovalevsky
mud volcano where the values range from 355 to 240
mM. Gas hydrate-bearing intervals of the bottom
sediment recovered from the Kazakov and Odessa
mud volcanoes were characterised by very small
negative chloride anomalies.
6. Discussion
6.1. Carbon sources and the origin of hydrocarbons
associated with authigenic carbonates
The two main clusters observed with the stable
isotope analyses suggest that the carbonate d
13
C
signature is likely to be the result of the mixture in
variable proportions of different sources with distinct
carbon isotopic composition. These sources comprise
carbon primarily derived from methane via AOM
(typically ranging between 90xbd
13
Cb30x)
(Claypool and Kaplan, 1974), from the oxidation of
marine organic matter (usually d
13
Ci20x) and
from inorganic carbon present in the sea water
(0.5xbd
13
Cb2x) (e.g., Irwin et al., 1977).
The intimate association between methane and
carbonate deposits is shown by d
13
C
CH
4
and
d
13
C
CaCO
3
carbon stable isotope results that reveal a
parallel trend for all the studied structures (Fig. 10),
confirming previously reported observation by Iva-
nov et al. (2003). The remarkably constant shift in
13
C depletion (around 25–30xaccording to dis-
cussed data and around 30–40xaccording to
estimations of Ivanov et al., 2003) between carbo-
nates and methane is attributed to a combination of
two main factors: transportation processes and kinetic
fractionation of carbon during AOM. Although the
variability of transport and reaction processes (i.e.,
advection rates and fractionation factors) at the
studied sites is not known, these results suggest that
the carbonate crusts were built under fairly constant
hydrological and biogeochemical conditions, as
suggested by recent biogeochemical modelling (Luff
et al., 2004). The two clusters indicated by the
d
13
C
CH
4
suggest at least two possible options. The
relatively heavy carbon present in the second cluster
of data could be the result of a stronger input of
thermogenic gas from depth, suggesting that these
structures are more active, or that the roots of the
structures are much deeper as suggested by Ivanov et
al. (2003). As an alternative, Rayleigh fractionation
of carbon at sites where methane is consumed in
significant amounts (i.e., via AOM) would result in
an enrichment of isotopically heavy carbon in the
residual methane (Whiticar and Faber, 1986; Suess
and Whiticar, 1989; Whiticar, 1996). Nevertheless,
significant microbial activity of SRB and archaea
(Stadnitskaia et al., 2003) and hence higher methane
consumption, was observed at locations where iso-
topically lighter methane occurs (i.e., NIOZ and
Odessa mud volcanoes). Thus, it seems that AOM
does not impact the carbon stable isotope composi-
tion of the methane significantly. We conclude that
the isotopically heavier methane sampled, e.g., at the
Kazakov mud volcano is likely to imply a thermo-
genic source, rather than isotopic fractionation in a
partially or totally closed system.
When considering the features in and above the
sapropelic units, a contribution of gas from decayed
organic matter present in the sapropel sediment (e.g.,
Coleman and Ballard, 2001), mixed with deeper-
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181 171
rooted gas rising from greater depth, is plausible.
However, there is little doubt that the majority of the
fluids are rising along the feeder channel of the mud
volcanoes. Previous studies (Ivanov et al., 1996) and
seismic profiles acquired during this survey (Kenyon
et al., 2002) showed that most of the structures have
roots located at great depth, below single-channel
seismic penetration, suggesting that most probably
the deep (4–6 km) roots of the mud volcanoes lie in
the Maikopian Formation (and below?). These sedi-
ments are highly enriched with organic matter and
therefore with a high potential to generate hydro-
Fig. 10. Comparison of carbon isotopic values from methane (top) and authigenic carbonates (bottom) measured from various structures indicate
a similar trend for all the structures. A stronger depletion in
13
C is visible for the diapiric structure in Area 1, NIOZ, and Odessa mud volcanoes,
while higher values are recorded for the other structures.
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181172
carbons (Ivanov et al., 1996). However, hydrocarbon
gas compositional analyses indicate that inputs of
different hydrocarbons are mixed in the sediments
(Fig. 11).
In Area 1, the hydrocarbon gas composition and
concentrations analysed from station BS-311G indicate
a strong input of hydrocarbons of thermogenic origin in
the lower part of the core and a high input of biogenic
gas in the upper part where the sapropel unit was
described. Similarly, at station BS-308K, gas isotopic
analyses reveal strong
13
C depletion in the upper part of
the core where the sapropel unit was found.
The ratio of methane to heavier hydrocarbons in
the mud volcanoes from Area 2 and the methane
isotopic values suggests that the studied gas is a mix
of gases of biogenic and thermogenic origin. High
concentrations of hydrocarbons and the presence of
heavy homologues suggest current activity in the
volcanoes as also suggested by Ivanov et al. (1996).
The gas compositional analyses of the three mud
volcanoes sampled in Area 3 suggest different levels
of activity in the structures. The high concentration of
the heavy homologues present in the Kazakov mud
volcano indicates high maturity for the gas mixture
and the combined isotopic values and small amount of
nonsaturated hydrocarbons suggest a higher input of
thermogenic origin for the migrated hydrocarbon
gases. The absence of a hemipelagic veneer covering
the mud breccia supports the idea of recent activity of
the mud volcano. Similar results were obtained on
previous studies from the Kazakov mud volcano
sediments (Ivanov et al., 1998; Stadnitskaia and
Belenkaya, 1998). The authors described high gas
concentration with methane as the dominant compo-
nent comprising 97.7–99.9% from the total hydro-
carbon gases and methane homologues in range of
C
2
–C
5
and in some cases up to C
6
. Analyses from the
Odessa mud volcano suggest a higher admixture of
microbially mediated methane to the deep-generated
heavier gaseous hydrocarbons. The n-/iso-alkanes
ratio indirectly might indicate a dispersal migration
mechanism (Bazhenova, 1989) and a low activity of
the mud volcano in this particular site. In the case of
the NIOZ mud volcano, the absence of alkanes higher
than propane (C
3
) might indicate different source of
the hydrocarbon gases and the lower activity of the
mud volcano if compared with the others studied. The
isotopic composition of methane indicates its micro-
bial origin.
Other carbon sources (e.g., sea water) are reflected
in the stable carbon isotopic signatures of carbonates.
For example, in most of the cores described, strati-
graphic differences were observed in the authigenic
deposits that show a gradual decrease in d
13
C with an
increase in depth, suggesting that the shallower slabs
contain a relatively higher amount of sea water-
derived carbon compared to deeper sited slabs where
CH
4
derived carbon dominates. This is particularly
evident for the type MS that reveals relatively higher
values compared to the other samples from the same
location, suggesting the model in which type MS
forms very close to the seafloor surface or even
directly on the sea floor.
6.2. Authigenic carbonate formation models
Samples that show layered structures (types U1–
U3) vary in lithification and degree of porosity but
they all share common characteristics. The better-
cemented slabs displaying layers of microbial mats on
the lower surfaces were commonly found below a few
centimetres thick homogeneous clay layers. Recent
analyses performed on the microbial mats (mostly
form structures sampled in area 3) indicate the
presence of archaea and sulphate-reducing bacteria
(Stadnitskaia et al., 2003). These observations
strongly suggest that the more impermeable layers
inhibited the rising gas, thriving microbial activity and
Fig. 11. Combined d
13
C
CH
4
and hydrocarbon compositional
analyses (C1/(C2+C3)) plot for the main structures. Oxidation trend
is also indicated.
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181 173
favouring greater carbonate precipitation. Thin section
petrography showed a similar pattern, but at smaller
scale, with almost continuous microbial biofilm
framing thicker clayey laminae. Evidence collected
after macro- and microscopic analyses leads to the
formulation of a model for authigenic carbonate
formation for the layered slabs. Fig. 12Aisa
schematic summary of the alternations of clay and
coccolith-rich layers. The gas (Fig. 12B) will be
mostly inhibited by the impermeable clay-rich layers
and therefore will preferentially move horizontally,
primarily through the more porous, e.g., coccolith-rich
layers. The presence of vertical vesicles that cross-cut
the clayey layers indicates that the gas can locally
seep vertically along microfractures and pore spaces
(e.g., Fig. 5D). These vesicles act as pathways for the
gas that will saturate and distribute in the coccolith-
rich layers. As suggested by other authors for different
locations (Boetius et al., 2000; Michaelis et al., 2002;
Stadnitskaia et al., 2003), microbial colonies (possibly
bacteria and archaea) would then start growing in the
gas-saturated layers along the interfaces and the
vertical vesicles, inducing the precipitation of authi-
genic carbonate via methane oxidation and sulphate
reduction or from the oxidation of organic matter
present in the sediment (Fig. 12C). The pyrite might
represent an early diagenetic product linked with the
activity of sulphate-reducing bacteria in the anoxic
sulphidic zone (Berner, 1984; Hovland et al., 1987;
Ritger et al., 1987; Beauchamp and Savard, 1992).
Also, the fact that flat laminae of gas hydrates were
recovered at the interface between the clayey layers
confirms that the gas (either saturated in pore fluids or
as free gas) preferentially moves horizontally along
these horizons.
Type U2
13
C-depleted slabs showed well-devel-
oped and uniform carbonate cementation of the clayey
layers. This suggests that a greater amount of
carbonate was present at these sites with carbon
derived not only from deep-rooted methane and
Fig. 12. Suggested model for crust formation. A—planar lamination
with alternating coccolith ooze and clayey laminae; B—gas seepage
(dotted line) diffusion along more porous coccolith ooze or weak
layers; C—formation of biofilm (grey solid line) and calcite (light
grey squares) along the interface between the layers and thin section
image showing microbial biofilm, pyrite, and sparitic calcite on the
interface between the layers.
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181174
organic matter but possibly also from in situ microbial
methane formation.
The mud breccia pavements described in this
study (Kazakov mud volcano) contain cement with
calcite crystals better developed than those observed
in the other samples. A possible explanation for this
could be the larger amount of fluids rising from the
feeder channel distributed in the mud breccia deposit,
but more likely the higher porosity available in this
type of sediment is responsible for the size of the
crystals that could grow during time. Similar obser-
vations were made by Aloisi et al. (2000) that
described voids of carbonate-cemented mud breccia
from the Kazan mud volcano displaying large and
rhombohedral sparite crystals. Even in this case, these
pavements form through the oxidation of methane-
charged mud breccia reaching the sea floor. More-
over, numerous samples of mud breccia (type MB)
were recovered with type U1 and MSa cemented
slabs on top (e.g., Fig. 7B). One unique sample
showed the full stratigraphic sequence of the three
types cemented together (from the top: type MSa-U1-
MB). We suggest that these slabs act as barriers to
gas seepage, favouring the precipitation and growth
of authigenic carbonate in the underlying mud
breccia unit.
The underwater TV survey showed type MS slabs
with smoothed surfaces most likely moulded by
strong currents flowing around the seepage sites
(Fig. 7A). The samples retrieved show an absence
of sedimentary structures, high carbonate content, and
have no common features with the other cemented
units described. These slabs are likely to form very
close to the seafloor surface or even directly on the
seafloor similarly to the crust type B described by
Aloisi et al. (2000) forming pavements that can cover
large areas. Assuming a scenario where mud breccia
is situated below a succession of hemipelagic units, a
combined sequence of carbonate crusts is shown in
Fig. 13.
All the Black Sea authigenic carbonate analysed
revealed the presence of calcite (with predominance of
HMC). At seepage sites, the precipitation of calcite is
promoted over aragonite when low sulphate concen-
trations occur (Burton, 1993; Naehr et al., 2000;
Aloisi et al., 2002; Luff and Wallmann, 2003).
Conditions similar to these are encountered in the
Black Sea that is not only less saline than the normal
oceans but the sulphate concentration averages 18
mM, compared with an average of 28.9 mM for the
ocean (Murray et al., 1991). Aragonite, usually
observed at many seepage sites, was never detected
in the present study.
An attempt to calculate the temperatures of
formation of the authigenic carbonates was done
applying the fractionation equation of Friedman and
O’Neil (1977) and assuming isotopic equilibration
with a d
18
O fluid composition of 1.65xV-SMOW
Fig. 13. Sequence of carbonate crusts retrieved (brick pattern) and
related lithological units. From the top: subtype MSa, observed with
the underwater TV camera and supposed to form on the seafloor;
subtype U1a–b, cemented sedimentary Unit 1; subtype U2a–b,
cemented sedimentary Unit 2; type U3, cemented sedimentary Unit
3; subtype MSb, retrieved from the slumped clayey intervals within
Unit 3; type MB, cemented mud breccia observed either on the
seafloor (occasionally with overlying type U1 or subtype MSa), or
below the sedimentary units.
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181 175
(Swart, 1991). The equilibration temperatures were
calculated for the two extreme d
18
O values recorded
(0.5xand 2.5x). The four values with d
18
O
ranging between 2.5xand 1.5xwere disre-
garded in this calculation. An average value of the
oxygen results was calculated (=0.96x) as well as the
standard deviation (=F0.66x). The two extreme
oxygen values reveal precipitation temperatures
between 12 and 0 8C approximately, while the average
values is 9 8C, which is the actual sea floor temper-
ature in the Black Sea (e.g., Bohrmann et al., 2003).
These results support the model that describes the
authigenic carbonates currently precipitating in the
near subsurface where interstitial marine pore fluids
are present. Nevertheless, we cannot disregard the
contribution of mud volcanic fluids that were mixing
with the marine pore water during the precipitation of
the authigenic carbonates. The dissociation of gas
hydrates could explain the presence of cements
enriched in
18
O that reveal precipitation temperatures
close to 0 8C. The negative d
18
O values observed for
some of the samples (type MSb) indicate temperatures
of carbonate precipitation higher than the actual one
or represent the record of less saline waters. This
option seems to be the most likely as type MSb was
commonly retrieved below Unit 3 and therefore
precipitated before the invasion of high salinity waters
from the Mediterranean.
6.3. Gas hydrates association with authigenic
carbonates
The cores recovered showed that favourable
pressure and temperature conditions for the formation
of gas hydrates are present at various localities in the
near subsurface. It is similarly suggested that in
several cases, there is a relationship between the gas
that formed the hydrates and the precipitation of
authigenic carbonates. In fact, the distribution and the
shape of the gas hydrates and the authigenic carbonate
appear to be controlled by a combination of segrega-
tion processes and by the characteristics of the
sedimentary structures. In mud volcanic structures,
the subrounded hydrates were found with cemented
mud breccia (type MB), with larger calcite crystals in
the cavities present in the heterogeneous sediment or
in the degassing features. The tabular and leaf-shaped
hydrates retrieved in the hemipelagic sediment are
remarkably similar to the micritic calcite that precip-
itates along the sedimentary layer interfaces and that
binds the cemented sedimentary units (type U1, U2,
U3). It is suggested that, in this case, gas hydrates
could locally represent the former phase of methane
hydration within the sediment after migration. As
documented in several publications, cold seeps can
also be fed by the decomposition of gas hydrates that
release methane-rich fluids, inducing the precipitation
of authigenic carbonates. This phenomenon has been
inferred in continental margins (e.g., Bohrmann et al.,
1998) and in mud volcanic fields (e.g., Henry et al.,
1996; Ivanov et al., 1998). However, in the case of the
present study, no strong evidence was recorded to
highlight that the dissolution of gas hydrates con-
tributed significantly to the precipitation of authigenic
carbonates.
6.4. The fluids involved and their origin
Pore water analyses from the different structures
revealed varying fluid compositions. These chemical
diversities are attributed to the mixing of three end
members: sediment pore water, mud volcano fluids
and pure water from gas hydrates. The presence of
mud volcano fluids is directly proportional to the
mud fluid flow that will mix with the sediment
pore water in the uppermost sedimentary layers.
Ginsburg et al. (1999), based on pore water studies
from the Haakon Mosby mud volcano (Norwegian
Sea), showed that the Mg/Cl ratio is an indicator of
the mixing of the mud volcano fluid and seawater:
the higher this ratio, the smaller will be the fraction
of the mud volcano fluid in the water sample.
Similar results were also observed in the Ginsburg
mud volcano sediments from the Gulf of Cadiz
(Mazurenko et al., 2002) and in some structures
described herein. In the Black Sea, the principal
composition of pore water in the mud volcanoes of
the Sorokin Trough has been reported by Belenkaya
(2003). The author described the variety of Cl
,
Ca
+
,Mg
+
, and Al depending on the source of
migrating fluids, presence of gas hydrates, and level
of activity of mud volcano. The composition of
pore water from the Dvurechensky mud volcano
was characterised by extremely high chlorinity
(three times exceeding of sea water), Ca
2+
(2 times
more than sea water) and a low concentration of
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181176
Mg+. This was interpreted to indicate a high level
of mud volcanic activity and a deep source of
extruded fluids (Ivanov, 1999).
Consistent with the gas analyses, the Mg/Cl ratio
suggests that the Kazakov mud volcano has a more
active fluid flow compared to the Kovalevsky mud
volcano. The comparison of the Mg/Cl ratio and
chloride content curves for the Kovalevsky mud
volcano suggests an input of fluids with low Mg
content. The data for the Odessa mud volcano
suggests that it is in a static phase and that fluid flow
is not very active at the moment, or it could also
indicate that the core was sampled from an inactive
area of the mud volcano.
The pore water salinity (more specifically chlor-
inity) variations have been broadly described as an
indirect indicator for the presence of gas hydrates in
the sediments (Hesse and Harrison, 1981; Ginsburg et
al., 1999). These anomalous chloride concentrations
were also observed in the Black Sea mud volcanoes
(Ginsburg et al., 1990; Ginsburg and Soloviev, 1998)
and explained by the mixing of pore water with fresh
water from gas hydrates. Similarly (Fig. 9B), low
chloride concentrations were measured in the cores
from the Kovalevsky mud volcano (BS-317-G and
BS-319-G), in the intervals where gas hydrates were
observed. Applying the calculations described by,
e.g., Ginsburg et al. (1999) and Mazurenko et al.
(2002), a 105 mM anomaly would correspond to
approximately 15% gas hydrates in the pore spaces.
Nevertheless, such a large amount of hydrates was not
observed after retrieval. This could indicate that a
substantial volume of gas hydrates decomposed in the
sediment due to endothermic reaction or that their size
is significantly small. Another factor that has to be
considered is that during the upward migration, the
deep-sourced mud volcano fluids mixed with fresher
near surface waters that characterise the Pleistocene
isolation of the Black Sea. This would contribute
significantly to reduce the salinity as observed by
Manheim and Chan (1974) in several sites all over the
Black Sea. Despite the substantial amount of hydrates
observed, no significant chloride anomalies were
observed in the Odessa and Kazakov mud volcanoes.
The absence of anomalies could be explained by the
overall high chloride concentrations that characterize
the mud volcano fluids (e.g., Dvurechenskii mud
volcano) in this region of the Sorokin Trough
(Bohrmann and Schenck, 2002; Bohrmann et al.,
2003; Drews et al., 2003).
7. Conclusions
Petrographic and geochemical analyses performed
on authigenic carbonate, gas samples, and pore waters
give results that are consistent with a genetic link
between authigenic carbonates and seepage of meth-
ane-rich fluids. Five different types of authigenic
carbonates are distinguished according to strati-
graphic, petrographic, and textural characteristics.
The carbon stable isotope composition of authigenic
carbonates shows that the primary source of carbon is
derived from the AOM mixed with carbon derived
from the oxidation of organic matter and from sea
water. A proposed formation model for the layered
authigenic carbonates (types U1, U2, U3) suggests
that AOM was concentrated preferentially at the
interface between the clayey layers where authigenic
carbonates precipitated. Nonlayered types form close
or directly on the seafloor (type MS-MB) or can be
capped by overlying slabs or sedimentary units (type
MB). Sedimentary structures often control the distri-
bution and the shape of the gas hydrates. Their spatial
association with authigenic carbonates, as well as the
structural similarities, suggest a genetic connection
between the processes of authigenic carbonate and gas
hydrate formation. There is a constant shift (~25–
30x) between the d
13
C of methane and authigenic
carbonate, suggesting that the investigated carbonates
formed under a restricted range of hydrological and
geochemical conditions.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Giovanni Aloisi,
Reiner Botz, Gert De Langhe, and Martin Hovland
for their critical review of the manuscript and crucial
suggestions. Tony Fallick and Andrew Tait (SUERC)
are thanked for their support during isotopic analy-
ses; we are grateful to R. Kreulen (NIOZ) for
performing methane stable carbon isotopic measure-
ments. We sincerely thank brother Grigorii Akhma-
nov for his everlasting patience and support during
preparation of the manuscript. We would like to
A. Mazzini et al. / Marine Geology 212 (2004) 153–181 177
acknowledge the crew and the Scientific Party of the
TTR-11 cruise and the UNESCO-MSU Centre for
Marine Geosciences.
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