Articles | Volume 22, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1673-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1673-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
31 Mar 2025
Research article |
| 31 Mar 2025
| 31 Mar 2025
Stable iron isotope signals indicate a “pseudo-abiotic” process driving deep iron release in methanic sediments
Geosciences Department, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
Geosciences Department, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
Michael Staubwasser
Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 49a, 50674 Cologne, Germany
Simone A. Kasemann
MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Str. 8, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Faculty of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Klagenfurter Str., 28359 Bremen, Germany
Anette Meixner
MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Str. 8, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Faculty of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Klagenfurter Str., 28359 Bremen, Germany
David A. Aromokeye
Faculty of Biology/Chemistry, University of Bremen, James-Watt-Str. 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Environment Department, World Bank, Washington, DC 20433, USA
Michael W. Friedrich
MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Str. 8, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Faculty of Biology/Chemistry, University of Bremen, James-Watt-Str. 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Sabine Kasten
Geosciences Department, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Str. 8, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Faculty of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Klagenfurter Str., 28359 Bremen, Germany
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Short summary
We intend to unravel iron (Fe) reduction pathways in high-deposition methanic sediments because pools of Fe minerals could stimulate methane oxidation and also generation. Our data from the North Sea show that Fe release takes place mechanistically differently to Fe reduction in shallow sediments, which typically fractionates Fe isotopes. We conclude that fermentation of organic matter involving interspecies electron transfer, partly through conductive Fe oxides, could play an important role.
We intend to unravel iron (Fe) reduction pathways in high-deposition methanic sediments because...
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