Hydrocarbons in waters and particulate material from hydrothermal environments at the East Pacific Rise, 13/sup 0/N

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Org. Geochem.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(88)90259-8· OSTI ID:7054702

Brault, M; Simoneit, B R.T.; Marty, J C; Saliot, A

Associated with the fast spreading East Pacific Rise are massive sulfide deposits and large communities of animals. The main food source of these benthic organisms is supplied by symbiotic chemosynthetic activity of sulfur oxidizing bacteria. Biomarker lipids such as hydrocarbons, were analyzed to describe their sources and composition and also the relationships among microorganisms, biological communities, and dissolved and particulate organic materials in this productive area. The organic matter of vent waters is both quantitatively and qualitatively different from the non-vent bottom water. Dissolved hydrocarbon concentrations in warm water from fissures in basalts and hot clear water from smokers are 100 and 400 times more concentrated, respectively, than the water outside active areas. The biomarker compounds from hot clear water are characteristic of thermally mature organic matter as indicated by the 17..cap alpha..(H)->17..beta..(H)-hopane series, and the dominance of 5..cap alpha..(H),14..beta..(H),17..beta..(H)-steranes over the 5..cap alpha..(H),14..cap alpha..(H),17..cap alpha..(H),20R-steranes. The dissolved hydrocarbons from the warm waters may be correlated with bacterial lipid residues as indicated by the presence of isoprenoid hydrocarbons (pristane > phytane) and low molecular weight cyclic hydrocarbons. The water column samples collected near hydrothermally active areas contain bicyclic alkanes with drimane and rearranged drimane skeletons and mature biomarkers. The dissolved lipid matter is found to be degraded more rapidly by microbial activity and thermal processes, especially in the warm water effluent and in the water column around hydrothermal vents, than the lipids of the particulate matter.

• Research Organization: Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7054702
• Journal Information: Org. Geochem.; (United States), Vol. 12:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
BENTHOS
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
LIPIDS
MATURATION
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC MATTER
PACIFIC OCEAN
PARTICULATES
QUANTITY RATIO
SULFIDES
SULFUR-OXIDIZING BACTERIA
WATER CHEMISTRY
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BACTERIA
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
SEAS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
150302* - Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology- Geochemical Techniques & Surveys