Naturally occurring, microbially induced smectite-to-illite reaction

Authors

Jinwook Kim, Yonsei University
Hailiang Dong, China University of Geosciences, Beijing
Kiho Yang, Yonsei University
Hanbeom Park, Yonsei University
W. Crawford Elliott, Georgia State University
Arthur Spivack, University of Rhode Island
Tae hee Koo, Yonsei University
Gilyoung Kim, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
Yuki Morono, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Susann Henkel, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Fumio Inagaki, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Qiang Zeng, China University of Geosciences, Beijing
Tatsuhiko Hoshino, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Verena B. Heuer, MARUM – Zen­trum für Ma­ri­ne Um­welt­wis­sen­schaf­ten

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

6-1-2019

Abstract

The occurrence of microbially induced smectite-to-illite (S-I) reaction has challenged both the notions of solely inorganic chemical control for this reaction and the conventional concept of a semiquantitative illite geothermometer for the reconstruction of the thermal and tectonic histories of sedimentary basins. Here, we present evidence for a naturally occurring microbially induced S-I transition, via biotic reduction of phyllosilicate structural Fe(III), in mudstones buried at the Nankai Trough, offshore Japan (International Ocean Discovery Program Site C0023). Biotic S-I reaction is a consequence of a bacterial survival and growth strategy at diagenetic temperatures up to 80 °C within the Nankai Trough mudstones. These results have considerable implications for petroleum exploration, modification of fault behavior, and the understanding of microbial communities in the deep biosphere.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Geology

Volume

47

Issue

6

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Kim, Jinwook, Hailiang Dong, Kiho Yang, Hanbeom Park, W. C. Elliott, Arthur Spivack, Tae hee Koo, Gilyoung Kim, Yuki Morono, Susann Henkel, Fumio Inagaki, Qiang Zeng, Tatsuhiko Hoshino, and Verena B. Heuer. "Naturally occurring, microbially induced smectite-to-illite reaction." Geology 47, 6 (2019). doi: 10.1130/G46122.1.