Geochemical and C-O isotopic study of ophiolite-altered carbonates of
the Barzaman Formation, Oman: Evidence of natural CO2 sequestration via
carbonation of ultramafic clasts
Abstract
Carbonate mineral precipitation via capture of atmospheric
CO2 by alkaline-hyperalkaline waters offers a potential
strategy-referred to as carbon capture and storage-to mitigate
anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Oman ophiolite produces
high-pH waters characterized by continuous sequestration of atmospheric
CO2. The geochemical and isotopic data of carbonates are
utilized to assess the CO2 stored in dolomite-calcite
assemblage of the Barzaman Formation. PAAS-normalized REE+Y patterns
display increasing LREE, flat HREE, and a positive Eu-anomaly, identical
to those of the bulk ocean crust and lower crust. Further, La(+), Ce(-),
and Y(+) anomalies in studied samples are missing in the ocean crust,
however, present in local groundwater and modern seawater. Carbon and
oxygen isotopes show two distinct end-members, heavier dolomite than
calcite. The estimated carbonate growth temperatures (18℃ to 65℃) are
indistinguishable from literature values. The C-O isotope model of
dolomite-calcite assemblage, water, and atmospheric CO2
demonstrates that the C-budget of ophiolite-derived carbonates represent
an unequivocal contribution from the latter. Meanwhile, the remaining
contributors may include dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in waters
closely associated with travertines and ophiolite-derived soil
exhibiting large variations in their C-O isotope compositions caused by
kinetic fractionation leading to isotopic disequilibrium. Taken
together, REE+Y patterns and isotopic compositions verify that the
carbonates were formed under oxic conditions through alterations
triggered by the reaction between ophiolite and meteoric water. A
detailed groundwater study is recommended to assess the contribution of
atmospheric CO2 in DIC for a thorough estimation of the
amount of CO2 sequestered by carbonates of the Barzaman
Formation.