Authors: CONTI, S.¹; FONTANA, D.¹; LUCENTE, C.C.²

Source: Sedimentology, Volume 55, Number 2, April 2008 , pp. 471-486(16)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Seep-carbonates (¹³C-depleted) are present at different levels within the Miocene terrigenous succession of Deruta (Marnoso-arenacea Formation, central Italy); they are associated with pebbly sandstones and conglomerates in a tectonically active fan-delta slope depositional system. Most of these seep-carbonates are included in slide/slump horizons as scattered blocks. The occurrence of seep-carbonates is clear evidence of the flow of methane-rich fluids pervading the sediments. Fluids, probably of biogenic origin, may have reached the sea-bottom through thrust faults and selectively infiltrated the more permeable coarse-grained horizons deposited along the slope. Different stages of fluid emissions are documented: slow flux stage, corresponding to the development of large carbonate bodies and dense chemosynthetic communities; and fast fluid flow associated with intense carbonate brecciation, pipes and veins. Large amounts of authigenic carbonates are reworked by slope failures triggered by tectonics and fluids reducing sediment strength; in situ cementation of slide blocks may also have occurred due to remobilization of methane-rich fluids by mass-wasting processes.

Keywords: Coarse-grained deposits; cold-seep; fan-delta slope system; Marnoso-arenacea Formation; northern Apennines; slope failure

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.2007.00910.x

Affiliations: 1: Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy 2: Regione Emilia-Romagna, Servizio Tecnico Bacini Enza, Panaro e Secchia, sede di Modena, Via Fonteraso 15, 41100 Modena, Italy ( )Associate Editor: Daniel Ariztegui, Email: clucente@regione.emilia-romagna.it

Publication date: 2008-04-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Geology
• By this author: CONTI, S. ;  FONTANA, D. ;  LUCENTE, C.C.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers