南海北部冷泉碳酸盐岩的矿物、岩石及地球化学研究进展*

doi:10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2012.05.007

Abstract

Abstract: Cold seep carbonates are known to be commonly developed in the northern South China Sea. Authigenic carbonate samples were collected from thirty sites in the region. These carbonates consist of concretions, nodules, chimneys, fragments or massive blocks. Mineralogically, the carbonates are dominated by aragonite and Mg calcite. However, a certain amount of dolomites are present in some samples. The carbon isotopic compositions (δ¹³CPDB) of the carbonates range from ?29.6‰ to ?13.3‰ in the Xisha samples, from ?40.4‰ to ?38.7‰ in the Shenhu samples, from ?36.1‰ to ?18.2‰ in the southwestern Dongsha samples, from ?61.4‰ to ?32.8‰ in the northeastern Dongsha samples, and from ?57.6‰ to ?35.7‰ in the southwestern Taiwan samples. The variable δ¹³C values indicate complex carbon sources that include ¹³C-depleted biogenic and thermogenic methane. A similarly large variability in δ¹⁸OPDB values (0.4‰ to 7.5‰) demonstrates ¹⁸ O-enriched fluids possibly associated with dissociation of locally abundant gas hydrate. The shale-normalized REE (rare earth element) patterns of the carbonates from Jiulong methane reef in northeastern Dongsha and from Shenhu show both positive and negative Cerium anomalies, suggesting that the redox conditions changed significantly. Samples from different regions and from the same sites show variations in mineralogical, isotopic and elemental features, indicating that different regions, even the same sites, developed various seep fluids and gas hydrate stability.

Key words: Seep carbonate, petrology, carbon and oxygen isotope, rare earth element, northern South China Sea

CLC Number:

P736.3

TONG Hong-peng,FENG Dong,CHEN Duo-fu,. Progresses on petrology, mineralogy and geochemistry of cold seep carbonates in the northern South China Sea[J].Journal of Tropical Oceanography, 2012, 31(5): 45-56.

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Progresses on petrology, mineralogy and geochemistry of cold seep carbonates in the northern South China Sea

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