Diagenetic processes in carbonate mound sediments at the south-west Rockall Trough margin

Abstract

Cold water coral covered carbonate mounds at the south-west margin of the Rockall Trough form ridges several kilometres long and up to 380 m high. Piston cores obtained at three mound crests reveal the complex internal structure of the mound build up, with alternating unlithified coral-dominated intervals and lithified intervals. The most recent lithified interval is covered by corals embedded in a fine-grained matrix, comprising ca 11 000 years of continuous mound evolution. Before this time 230Th/U dating shows the presence of several hiatuses in mound build-up. Aragonitic coral material is absent or only present as mouldic porosity in the lithified intervals and coccoliths display widespread overgrowth. Downcore X-ray fluorescence scanning, computer tomography scan images and petrographic observations indicate different degrees of diagenetic alteration. The upper boundary of the most recent lithified interval shows some erosional features, but petrographic observations indicate that initial lithification of the sediments is not related to this erosive event or to long-term non-sedimentation, but to earlier sub-surface diagenesis. Organic matter oxidation and the subsequent lowering of the saturation state of the carbonate system drives dissolution of the unstable aragonitic coral skeletons. Depending on the openness of the system, this can lead to precipitation of a more stable low-magnesium carbonate. A model is presented describing the sedimentary and diagenetic processes leading to the formation of lithified intervals.