Cold seep-carbonates are the microbially mediated by-products of the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) at seafloor cold seeps, and are widespread about modern continental margins and in the geologic record. Some modern and Miocene examples of cold seep-carbonates from the East Coast Basin, North Island, New Zealand have been analysed in this study, to characterise and determine their carbonate fabrics, elemental and mineralogical composition, and stable δ18O and δ13C isotope signatures, so as to provide insights into the diagenetic changes associated with the lithification and burial of seep-carbonates. The ancient samples were collected from the onshore middle Miocene Tauwhareparae (TWP) seep deposit, while the modern samples were obtained from the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) Cruise TAN0616 (November 2006) from Ritchie Ridge, offshore Hikurangi Margin. A paragenetic sequence of diagenetic events involving early aragonitic phases, followed by late calcitic phases is defined for the seep-carbonates. This sequence likely has relevance for understanding the fluid-cement histories of seep-carbonates more widely. Two main carbonate mineralogies occur in each of the sample groups - modern samples are aragonitic or dolomitic, while the ancient ones consist dominantly of either aragonite or calcite. Thus, aragonite common to both sample groups, and is interpreted to represent the initial primary carbonate precipitate in hydrocarbon seep provinces under specific fluid flux and local pore-water chemistry conditions. Aragonite morphologies range from microcrystalline carbonate ('micarb'), to acicular aragonites that may form botryoids or spherulites. Dolomite occurs in those modern samples which appear to constitute exhumed remnants of a former subsurface 'seep plumbing system', and so are strictly not true seabed 'seep-carbonates', but instead are part of the larger hydrocarbon seep province. Calcite in the ancient samples is either a product of alteration and neomorphic transformation of aragonite, or derives from late stage cementation from burial fluids. As a result of their formation processes, the calcites are generally recrystallised and have equant or 'cellular' textures. Stable δ13C and δ18O isotope cross-plots reveal a large spread of values for the sample groups. Ancient samples range from δ13C -8 to -50 PDB and δ18O -5.5 to +2 PDB. Modern samples have δ13C values from -6 to -41 PDB and δ18O values ranging from +2.6 to +6.7 PDB. The δ13C values suggest the majority of the methane that formed these seep-carbonates is of thermogenic origin, although some mixing from other carbon sources may have occurred. The positive δ18O signatures are suggestive of carbonate formation during dissociation of gas hydrates, while the negative values possibly indicate that some of the formation fluids were warmer than normal in the 17 - 30 C range.

L’architecture change parce que le monde change. L’impact des enjeux environnementaux sur la pensée de l’architecture, sur les idées et sur les formes architecturales est le sujet de cette recherche. Le secteur du bâtiment est aujourd’hui considéré comme un levier important pour résoudre la crise environnementale. Cependant, des décalages s’affirment entre des impératifs urgents et règlementaires d’atteindre des objectifs quantitatifs précis, et la nécessité pour l’architecture d’être pensée en lien avec une nouvelle culture environnementale. Transition énergétique. Transition environnementale. Transition architecturale ? Dans quel processus de néomorphisation sommes-nous ? Ce travail de recherche concerne la période de transition engagée à la fin des années 1990 et dont les scénarios se construisent à horizon 2050. L’objectif est de définir des concepts et des outils, pour caractériser de façon ouverte et pluridisciplinaire la transition architecturale vers une architecture environnementale et fournir matière à penser. Les concepts de néomorphisme architectural et de Potentiel Néomorphique (PN) sont créés, pour répondre au contexte d’une transition en cours. Par analogie avec le néologisme désignant un mot nouveau qui renouvelle et enrichit le langage, le néomorphisme architectural désigne une forme nouvelle. Il est de la même façon issu d’un processus morphologique créatif, expérimental, riche et complexe, propre aux périodes de transition. Les Potentiels Néomorphiques de l’architecture environnementale qui en découlent, désignent les nouvelles idées à l’origine des nouvelles formes architecturales. La spécificité de ce travail de recherche repose sur une approche originale de la pensée de l’architecture, des idées aux formes et des formes aux idées, et sur la création d’espaces analogiques. Les espaces analogiques sont constitués à partir de la confrontation de trois corpus : un corpus d’idées (les PN), un corpus de formes architecturales manifestes et un corpus de formes artistiques subversives. Ils sont conçus pour nourrir le débat, questionner la notion de justesse et pour stimuler la pensée de l’architecture, la soustraire au prêt-à-penser et permettre l’impensé. Ces éléments théoriques sont réinvestis dans la réalisation de la maquette d’un thésaurus. Le « Thésaurus de l’architecture environnementale, des idées aux formes et des formes aux idées » est un outil de veille et de connaissance. Il permet de découvrir, s’approprier et penser l’architecture environnementale à travers un nouveau cadre descriptif et des espaces analogiques. Proposé sur le principe d’un outil collaboratif en ligne, il invite à une approche pluriculturelle de l’architecture et permet le partage d’un savoir vivant et réactif. La maquette du Thésaurus de l’architecture environnementale ouvre la voie à des prolongements pédagogiques orientés sur l’identification de nouvelles références. Son ambition est de contribuer à la construction d’une histoire contemporaine des idées et des formes de l’architecture environnementale. / Architecture is changing because the world is changing.The impact of environmental issues on the way of thinking architecture, and also on architectural ideas and architectural forms, is the subject of this research.The building sector is now considered as an important tool in order to solve the environmental crisis. However, discrepancies are increasing between, on the one hand, urgent and regulatory requirements to achieve specific quantitative targets and, on the other, the need for architecture to be thought of in connection with a new environmental culture.Energy transition. Environmental transition. Architectural transition?How to define this neomorphisation process.This research concerns the transition period that started in the late 1990s and where the scenarios are projected up to the 2050s. The objective is to define concepts and tools, to characterize the architectural transition towards an environmental architecture, in an open and multidisciplinary manner, and to provide food for thought.The concepts of “architectural neomorphism” and “Neomorphic Potential” (PN) are created, in response to the context of a transition in progress. By analogy with the neologism which designates a new word that renews and enriches language, architectural neomorphism indicates a new form. In the same way, it results from a morphological process, creative, experimental, rich and complex, specific to transition periods. The resulting “Neomorphic Potentials” of environmental architecture describe the ideas which are behind the new architectural forms.The specific quality of this research work is based on an original approach to architectural thought, from ideas to forms and from forms to ideas, and on the creation of “analogical spaces”. They are composed as a result of the confrontation of three corpora : a corpus of ideas (PN), a corpus of manifest architectural forms and a corpus of subversive artistic forms. They are designed to active debate, to question the concept of accuracy and to stimulate our thinking about architecture, to escape standard ways of thinking and to promote outside-the-box thinking.These theoretical elements are reinvested in making a model of a thesaurus.The "Thesaurus of environmental architecture, from ideas to forms and from forms to ideas" is both a monitoring tool and a resource centre. It gives the opportunity to discover, to take on board and to think environmental architecture through a new descriptive framework using analogical spaces. Offered on the principle of an online collaborative tool, it calls for a multicultural approach to architecture so that knowledge can be shared in a lively, interactive way.The model of the Thesaurus of environmental architecture opens up the way for new teaching methods directed towards the identification of new references. Its ambition is to contribute to a contemporary history of ideas and forms of environmental architecture.