The oxidation and reduction that occur during early diagenesis of sediments
has been studied in the interstitial waters of a rapidly accumulating sedi
mentary sequence from the Mediterranean margin of Spain. A series of reacti
ons that are mediated by progressively lower free energy derived from oxida
tion of organic matter is evident in the sedimentary sequence. Iron and man
ganese are rapidly reduced. Phosphate and alkalinity maxima at a subbottom
depth of 15 m indicate maximal organic matter degradation. Methane first ap
pears at similar to 20 m subbottom after sulfate is depleted, and its conce
ntrations quickly climb.