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Hydrocarbons, Sulphides, and Carbonate Deposits Related to Sublacustrine Hydrothermal Seeps in the North Tanganyika Trough, East African Rift

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Bitumens in Ore Deposits

Part of the book series: Special Publication of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits ((MINERAL DEPOS.,volume 9))

Abstract

Massive sulphides and carbonate mineral deposits as well as hydrocarbons associated with sublacustrine hydrothermal activity were discovered at two sites, Pemba and Cape Banza, along the western side of the north Tanganyika trough (Zaire). This hydrothermal activity was investigated by scuba diving at a maximum depth of 20 m. Results presented here are from mineralogical and geochemical analyses of sulphide and carbonate deposits, hydrothermal fluids, and associated hydrocarbons. At Cape Kalamba, south of Cape Banza, a sublacustrine oil seepage has also been observed, sampled, and analyzed. This oil has a carbon-14 age of 25 000 a B.P. and is a biodegraded residue with biomarkers similar to typical crude oils. There are no hydrothermal poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons detectable.

Present analytical results are interpreted in terms of fluid temperature at depth, nature of organic matter forming the hydrocarbons, and origin of heat.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, URA 1278 Genèse et Evolution des Domaines Océaniques, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, 29287, Brest Cedex, France

    J. -J. Tiercelin

  2. Laboratoire de Géochimie et Métallogénie, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Tour 16-26, 4, Place Jussieu, 75230, Paris Cedex 05, France

    J. Boulègue

  3. College of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    B. R. T. Simoneit

Authors
  1. J. -J. Tiercelin
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  2. J. Boulègue
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  3. B. R. T. Simoneit
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, The Queen’s University of Belfast, BT7 1NN, Belfast, UK

    John Parnell

  2. University of Mining and Metallurgy, A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059, Krakow, Poland

    Henryk Kucha

  3. CREGU, BP 23, F-54501, Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France

    P. Landais

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© 1993 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Tiercelin, J.J., Boulègue, J., Simoneit, B.R.T. (1993). Hydrocarbons, Sulphides, and Carbonate Deposits Related to Sublacustrine Hydrothermal Seeps in the North Tanganyika Trough, East African Rift. In: Parnell, J., Kucha, H., Landais, P. (eds) Bitumens in Ore Deposits. Special Publication of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits, vol 9. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-85806-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-85806-2_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-85808-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-85806-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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