Occurrence and Genesis of <scp>Cold‐Seep</scp> Authigenic Carbonates from the <scp>South‐Eastern</scp> Mediterranean Sea

Methane-derived authigenic seep carbonates occur globally along continental margins. These are important archives to identify dynamics, the source of ascending methane-enriched fluids together with their timing, and an carbon sequestration mechanism. Recently, were discovered in Levant Basin South-Eastern Mediterranean Sea. To elucidate past seepage activity dynamics across basin, different carbonate morphologies (chimneys, crusts pavements) retrieved from mapped based on remotely operating vehicle data analysed using standard sediment petrographic techniques, X-ray diffraction stable oxygen isotope analyses. Carbonate chimneys consist micrite (δ13CVPDB -10 +5 ‰) dispersed barite dolomite crystals, fan-shaped aragonite -52 -30 high-magnesium calcite cements, latter often growing low-magnesium spherules. Botryoidal cements forming small cavities. breccias, nodules -35 -20 partially replaced cements. pavements microsparite, micritic calcite. Fan-shaped is locally present as pore-lining cement. Iron-oxides seen coating calcite, Chimneys crusts, characterised by high amounts aragonite, interpreted have formed through advective methane fluxes. Pavements, quantities dolomite, explained product diffusive flux. Sediment geochemical analysis cement phases therein witness distinct modes fluid fluxes mixing marine porewater and/or seawater during precipitation individual phases.