Shrub morpho-types as indicator for the water flow energy - Tivoli travertine case (Central Italy)

Erthal, Marcelle Marques; Capezzuoli, Enrico; Mancini, Alessandro; Claes, Hannes; Soete, Jeroen; Swennen, Rudy

doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2016.11.008

Cited by 64 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…This conclusion would partly necessitate reconsidering the general interpretation of travertine fabrics; steeply inclined slopes and cascades with high flow velocity are characterized by the sparitic fabric due to more pronounced CO 2 degassing and consequent higher saturation state, leading to the prevalence of abiotic precipitation; while sub-horizontal pools and ponds with low flow velocity are characterized by the micritic fabric due to less pronounced CO 2 degassing and consequent lower saturation state, leading to the prevalence of microbially-influenced precipitation (e.g. Chafetz & Folk, 1984;Guo & Riding, 1998;Chafetz & Guidry, 1999;Rainey & Jones, 2009;Fouke, 2011;Capezzuoli et al, 2014;Della Porta, 2015;De Boever et al, 2017;Della Porta et al, 2017;Erthal et al, 2017). Although CO 2 degassing and a concomitant increase in the CaCO 3 saturation state is a fundamental driving force of travertine deposition, it cannot solely explain the difference between sparitic and micritic fabrics because the saturation state positively correlates with the rates of both crystal growth (leading to sparitic fabric) and crystal nucleation (leading to micritic fabric) (e.g.…”

Section: Influence Of the Flow Velocity On The Depositional Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to their microbial involvement, travertines are often investigated as analogues of stromatolites and laminated benthic microbial deposits; and their fabrics are compared with Precambrian examples to better understand the interaction between microbes and their environment (Walter & Des Marais, 1993;Riding, 2000;Okumura et al, 2011Okumura et al, , 2012Okumura et al, , 2013a. In addition, travertines have recently gained attention as analogues of Pre-Salt oil reservoirs found in the South Atlantic subsurface Cretaceous succession, which are potentially microbial carbonates and often described as stromatolites or shrub framestones/boundstones (Della Porta, 2015;De Boever et al, 2016Claes et al, 2017;Cook & Chafetz, 2017;Della Porta et al, 2017;Erthal et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relative influence of biotic and abiotic processes on travertine fabrics, Satono‐yu hot spring, Japan

et al. 2018

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The relative influences of biotic and abiotic processes on travertine fabrics are still not well understood, despite increasing interest in the last decade to better understand the record of ancient microbial life and sedimentary fabrics in microbial hydrocarbon reservoirs. This study examines travertines at Satono‐yu hot spring in Japan (the temperature of water flowing over the travertine was ca 35°C), to better understand the interaction between depositional, hydrochemical and microbial parameters at different flow settings. Characteristics of the bulk hydrochemistry, mineralogy (exclusively aragonite) and the driving force for precipitation (primarily abiotic CO2 degassing with some photosynthetic microbial contribution) were similar among all of the flow settings. Conversely, the increase in flow velocity suppressed the influence of photosynthesis and enhanced the abiotic precipitation due to the thinner diffusive boundary layer at the travertine surface–water interface. Additionally, the increase in flow velocity changed the microbial composition and decreased the bacterial diversity by reflecting their adhesion efficiency on the travertine substrate. The acidity of the cyanobacterial sheaths controls the aragonite nucleation rate and the resulting calcification, even at significantly high equilibrium CO2 partial pressure (ca 22 to 28 matm), high dissolved inorganic carbon concentration (ca 35 to 38 mmol l−1), and elevated aragonite saturation state (ca 20‐fold to 34‐fold). Therefore, the increase in flow velocity suppresses the microbial influence with respect to the increase in the saturation state, the nucleation site supply and pore space generation. Overall, this results in the predominance of abiotic precipitation under high flow velocities. Consequently, a sparse‐micritic fabric with abundant interlamina porosity forms under lower flow velocity where the microbial influence is effective, while a dense‐sparitic fabric with little inter‐crystalline porosity forms under higher flow velocity where abiotic precipitation prevails. These findings provide an essential base for assessing the formation processes of ancient travertines and comparable deposits from petrological fabrics.

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Section: Influence Of the Flow Velocity On The Depositional Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relative influence of biotic and abiotic processes on travertine fabrics, Satono‐yu hot spring, Japan

et al. 2018

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“…Quantitative data about lithofacies' occurrence, distributions, and their related porosity and permeability are key to understanding the reservoir behavior. The sedimentology of continental carbonates has been widely studied [7][8][9][10][11][12][13], but recently the focus of continental carbonate studies shifted towards the rocks' petrophysical properties like porosity, permeability, and acoustic velocities [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Noteworthy is the fact that the permeability inside rocks is strongly dependent on the geometric and topological properties of the porous medium at microscopic scales [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lattice Boltzmann Simulations of Fluid Flow in Continental Carbonate Reservoir Rocks and in Upscaled Rock Models Generated with Multiple-Point Geostatistics

Soete

Claes

et al. 2017

Geofluids

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Microcomputed tomography ( CT) and Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) simulations were applied to continental carbonates to quantify fluid flow. Fluid flow characteristics in these complex carbonates with multiscale pore networks are unique and the applied method allows studying their heterogeneity and anisotropy. 3D pore network models were introduced to single-phase flow simulations in Palabos, a software tool for particle-based modelling of classic computational fluid dynamics. In addition, permeability simulations were also performed on rock models generated with multiple-point geostatistics (MPS). This allowed assessing the applicability of MPS in upscaling high-resolution porosity patterns into large rock models that exceed the volume limitations of the CT. Porosity and tortuosity control fluid flow in these porous media. Micro-and mesopores influence flow properties at larger scales in continental carbonates. Upscaling with MPS is therefore necessary to overcome volume-resolution problems of CT scanning equipment. The presented LBM-MPS workflow is applicable to other lithologies, comprising different pore types, shapes, and pore networks altogether. The lack of straightforward porosity-permeability relationships in complex carbonates highlights the necessity for a 3D approach. 3D fluid flow studies provide the best understanding of flow through porous media, which is of crucial importance in reservoir modelling.

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“…as documented by Erthal et al, 2017) that can laterally, or vertically, grade into the porous deposits where numerous voids from bubbles and other origins are present (Fig. 2).…”

Section: Calcite Veins Versus Travertine Beds/layers (Crystalline Crumentioning

confidence: 90%

Comment on “First records of syn-diagenetic non-tectonic folding in Quaternary thermogene travertines caused by hydrothermal incremental veining” by Billi et al. Tectonophysics 700–701 (2017) 60–79

Alçiçek

Altunel

et al. 2017

Tectonophysics

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Billi et al. (2017) proposed a new interpretation for the origin and internal structure of thermogene travertine deposits. On the basis of evidence from two quarries located in southern Tuscany (Italy), they interpreted some travertine beds as calcite veins and argued that undulating travertine beds formed by syn-diagenetic (i.e. non-tectonic) folding that was caused by laterally-confined volume expansion caused by incremental veining. They assumed that such a process causes changes to the rock properties, including porosity reduction, rock strengthening, and age rejuvenation. The interpretations by Billi et al. (2017) challenge and question the current understanding and interpretation of thermogene travertine deposits. This understanding, based on numerous studies since the 1980s, is that these deposits form from thermal water flowing downslope, and precipitating calcium carbonate. Here, we explain how the comparison with active depositional systems is essential for the understanding the origin of structures in older, inactive travertine deposits, such as those studied by Billi et al. (2017). We further argue that the three-dimensional setting of travertine deposits should be taken into account in order to discuss the possible development of secondary structures. Indeed travertine deposition on slopes typically leads to the formation of terraced morphologies with pools bordered by rounded rims and separated from each other by steep walls. The resulting three-dimensional structures can be misinterpreted as asymmetric folds in two-dimensional views (i.e., in saw-cut walls of quarry). In this paper we debate the interpretations offered by Billi et al. (2017) and their criteria to recognise syn-diagenetic, non-tectonic folds in travertine deposits, and explain why many of their ideas are questionable.

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Shrub morpho-types as indicator for the water flow energy - Tivoli travertine case (Central Italy)

Cited by 64 publications

References 71 publications

Relative influence of biotic and abiotic processes on travertine fabrics, Satono‐yu hot spring, Japan

Relative influence of biotic and abiotic processes on travertine fabrics, Satono‐yu hot spring, Japan

Lattice Boltzmann Simulations of Fluid Flow in Continental Carbonate Reservoir Rocks and in Upscaled Rock Models Generated with Multiple-Point Geostatistics

Comment on “First records of syn-diagenetic non-tectonic folding in Quaternary thermogene travertines caused by hydrothermal incremental veining” by Billi et al. Tectonophysics 700–701 (2017) 60–79

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