Volume 39 Issue 11
Nov.  2014
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Chen Fang, Zhuang Chang, Zhang Guangxue, Lu Hongfeng, Duan Xiao, Zhou Yang, Su Xin, Wu Cong, Liu Guanghu, 2014. Abnormal Sedimentary Events and Gas Hydrate Dissociation in Dongsha Area of the South China Sea during Last Glacial Period. Earth Science, 39(11): 1517-1526. doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2014.144
Citation: Chen Fang, Zhuang Chang, Zhang Guangxue, Lu Hongfeng, Duan Xiao, Zhou Yang, Su Xin, Wu Cong, Liu Guanghu, 2014. Abnormal Sedimentary Events and Gas Hydrate Dissociation in Dongsha Area of the South China Sea during Last Glacial Period. Earth Science, 39(11): 1517-1526. doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2014.144

Abnormal Sedimentary Events and Gas Hydrate Dissociation in Dongsha Area of the South China Sea during Last Glacial Period

doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2014.144
  • Received Date: 2014-04-03
  • Publish Date: 2014-11-01
  • Core 973-3 is located at the potential gas hydrate area on the slope within Dongsha area of the South China Sea, with the water depth of 1026m. According to the sedimentology, chronology, isotope and B/Ca ratio of the foraminiferal tests, carbonate and pyrite content, the light δ13C values of planktonic Globigerinoides ruber and benthic Uvigerina peregrine are found in several core layers with the most negative value of -2.03‰. In the δ13C distinctly depleted layers, the concentration of environmental [CO32-] is relatively low, and the pyrites are abundant up to 17%, which indicates abnormal seepage of methane. Below the δ13C depleted layers, the carbonate intensely dissolves, and its content decreases to the bottom. It suggests that it has probably been caused by the gas hydrate dissociation. The seepage and anaerobic oxidation of methane resulted from the dissociation and release of gas hydrates is the primary reason of the depleted δ13C values of foraminiferal tests, carbonate dissolution and the deposits of enormous pyrites. Methane release events occurred in the last glacial period, which implies that the descending sea level induced the gas hydrate dissociation. According to the δ13C depleted record of foraminiferas, it is concluded that there were at least four times release events of methane, and their intensities were almost at the same level.

     

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