Sulfur in serpentinized oceanic peridotites: Serpentinization processes and microbial sulfate reduction

Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth
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Abstract

The mineralogy, contents, and isotopic compositions of sulfur in oceanic serpentinites reflect variations in temperatures and fluid fluxes. Serpentinization of <1 Ma peridotites at Hess Deep occurred at high temperatures (200°–400°C) and low water/rock ratios. Oxidation of ferrous iron to magnetite maintained low ƒO2 and produced a reduced, low-sulfur assemblage including NiFe alloy. Small amounts of sulfate reduction by thermophilic microbes occurred as the system cooled, producing low-δ34S sulfide (1.5‰ to −23.7‰). In contrast, serpentinization of Iberian Margin peridotites occurred at low temperatures(∼20°–200°C) and high water/rock ratios. Complete serpentinization and consumption of ferrous iron allowed evolution to higher ƒO2. Microbial reduction of seawater sulfate resulted in addition of low-δ34S sulfide (∼15 to ∼43‰) and formation of higher-sulfur assemblages that include valleriite and pyrite. The high SO4/total S ratio of Hess Deep serpentinites (0.89) results in an increase of total sulfur and high δ34S of total sulfur (mean ∼8‰). In contrast, Iberian Margin serpentinites gained large amounts of 34S-poor sulfide (mean total S = 3800 ppm), and the high sulfide/total S ratio (0.61) results in a net decrease in δ34S of total sulfur (mean ≈ −5‰). Thus serpentinization is a net sink for seawater sulfur, but the amount fixed and its isotopic composition vary significantly. Serpentinization may result in uptake of 0.4–14 × 1012 g S yr−1 from the oceans, comparable to isotopic exchange in mafic rocks of seafloor hydrothermal systems and approaching global fluxes of riverine sulfate input and sedimentary sulfide output.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Sulfur in serpentinized oceanic peridotites: Serpentinization processes and microbial sulfate reduction
Series title Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth
DOI 10.1029/98JB00576
Volume 103
Issue 5
Year Published 1998
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Description 13 p.
First page 9917
Last page 9929
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