Sulfidic Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

This book deals with sedimentary sulfides which are the most abundant authigenic minerals in sediments. Special emphasis is given to the biogeochemistry that plays such a central role in the formation of sedimentary sulfides. It will be of interest to scientists in a number of disciplines, including geology, microbiology, chemistry and environmental science. The sulfur system is important to environmental scientists considering the present and future effects of pollution and anoxia. The development of the sulfur system – particularly the characteristics of ocean anoxia over the last 200 Ma – is useful in predicting the future fate of the Earth surface system as well as in understanding the past. The biochemistry and microbiology of the sulfur system are key to understanding microbial ecology and the evolution of life.

1. Introduction to sedimentary sulfide biogeochemistry
2. Sulfur chemistry in aqueous solutions
3. Sedimentary iron biogeochemistry
4. Aqueous metal sulfide chemistry: complexes and clusters
5. Metastable sulfides
6. Pyrite formation
7. Adsorption on iron sulfides
8. Microbial sulfide generation in sediments
9. Microbial sulfide oxidation in sediments
10. Microbial ecology
11. Sulfur stable isotope geochemistry
12. Iron isotope fractionation in sedimentary sulfides
13. Euxinic systems
14. Sulfur in sediments
15. Black shales
16. Evolution of the sulfur biome
17. The global biogeochemical sulfur cycle
18. Epilogue