Iron-controlled oxidative sulfur cycling recorded in the distribution and isotopic composition of sulfur species in glacially influenced fjord sediments of west Svalbard

• Published in: Chemical Geology
• Main Authors: Wehrmann, Laura M., Riedinger, Natascha, Brunner, Benjamin, Kamyshny, Alexey, Hubert, Casey R. J., Herbert, Lisa C., Bruechert, Volker, Jorgensen, Bo Barker, Ferdelman, Timothy G., Formolo, Michael J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Sediment biogeochemistry; Oxidative sulfur cycling; Arctic fjords; Sulfur and oxygen isotopes; Iron geochemistry; BACTERIAL SULFATE REDUCTION; ARCTIC MARINE-SEDIMENTS; ORGANIC-MATTER; ELEMENTAL SULFUR; OXYGEN-ISOTOPE; PYRITE FORMATION; REDUCING BACTERIA; SULFIDE OXIDATION; STABLE SULFUR; DISSIMILATORY SULFATE; Arctic; Smeerenburgfjorden; Svalbard; Van Mijenfjorden; Kongsfjord*; Kongsfjorden; Smeerenburgfjord*
• Online Access: https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/publications/fc94f00b-189a-4fab-abc8-9924c8434876; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2017.06.013

This study investigates how glacially delivered reactive iron (oxyhydr) oxide and manganese oxide phases influence the biogeochemical cycling of sulfur in sediments of three Arctic fjords and how the biogeochemical signatures of these processes are preserved. Results reveal differences in the concentrations of dissolved iron and manganese in pore-waters and the concentration of solid-phase sulfur species within individual fjords and amongst the three fjords, likely controlled by the varying input of reactive iron (oxyhydr) oxides to the sediment. Broadly, the stations can be divided into three categories based on their biogeochemical signals. Stations in the first category, located in Smeerenburgfjorden, are characterized by relatively low concentrations of (easily) reducible particulate iron phases, increasing concentrations of iron monosulfides, pyrite, and elemental sulfur with depth, and low pore-water dissolved iron and manganese concentrations. Biogeochemical processes at these stations are primarily driven by organoclastic sulfate reduction, sulfur disproportionation and the subsequent reaction and sequestration of sulfide in the sediment as iron monosulfide and pyrite. Sulfur and oxygen isotope values of sulfate display progressive enrichment in heavy isotopes with depth at these stations. In contrast, concentrations of (easily) reducible particulate iron phases and pore-water dissolved iron (up to 850 mu M) and manganese (up to 650 mu M) are very high at stations of the second and third category, located in Kongsfjorden and Van Mijenfjorden, while iron monosulfide and pyrite contents are extremely low. The amount of pyrite and its isotope values in conjunction with organic sulfur compounds provide evidence for a detrital origin of a fraction of these sulfur compounds. At the Kongsfjorden and Van Mijenfjorden stations, oxidative pathways of the sedimentary sulfur cycle, controlled by the high availability of reducible particulate iron phases, play an important role, leading to the effective recycling of ...