Laboratory Experimental Study on the Formation of Authigenic Carbonates Induced by Microbes in Marine Sediments

Authigenic carbonates are widely distributed in marine sediments, microbes, and anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) play a key role in their formation. The authigenic carbonates in marine sediments have been affected by weathering and diagenesis for a long time, it is difficult to understand their formation process by analyzing the samples collected in situ. A pore water environment with 10 °C, 6 MPa in the marine sediments was built in a bioreactor to study the stages and characteristics of authigenic carbonates formation induced by microbes. In experiments, FeCO3 is formed preferentially, and then FeCO3-MgCO3 complete isomorphous series and a small part of CaCO3 isomorphous mixture are formed. According to this, it is proposed that the formation of authigenic carbonates performed by AOM and related microbes needs to undergo three stages: the rise of alkalinity, the preferential formation of a carbonate mineral, and the formation of carbonate isomorphous series. This work provides experimental experience and reference basis for further understanding the formation mechanism of authigenic carbonates in marine sediments.