Organic carbon isotope gradient and ocean stratification across the late Ediacaran-Early Cambrian Yangtze Platform

Organic carbon isotope(δ13Corg) data from two well-preserved sections across a shallow-to-deep water transect of the late Ediacaran-Early Cambrian Yangtze Platform in South China show significant temporal and spatial variations. In the shallow-water Jiulongwan-Jijiapo section, δ13Corg values of the late Ediacaran Dengying Formation range from -29‰ to -24‰. In the deep-water Longbizui section, δ13Corg values from time-equivalent strata of the Dengying Formation are mostly between –35‰ and -32‰. These new data, in combination with δ13Corg data reported from other sections in South China, reveal a 6‰–8‰ shallow-to-deep water δ13Corg gradient. High δ13Corg values(-30‰) occur mostly in shallow-water carbonate rocks, whereas low δ13Corg values(-32‰) dominate the deep-water black shale and chert. The large temporal and spatial δ13Corg variations imply limited buffering effect from a large dissolved organic carbon(DOC) reservoir that was inferred to have existed in Ediacaran-Early Cambrian oceans. Instead, δ13Corg variations between platform and basin sections are more likely caused by differential microbial biomass contribution to total organic matter. High δ13Corg values(-30‰) documented from shallow-water carbonates are within the range of typical Phanerozoic δ13Corg data and may record the isotope signature of organic matter from primary(photosynthetic) production. In contrast, low δ13Corg values(-32‰) from deep-water sections may have resulted from higher chemoautotrophic or methanotrophic biomass contribution to bulk organic matter in anoxic environments. The δ13Corg data provide indirect evidence for ocean stratification and episodic chemocline fluctuations in the Ediacaran-Early Cambrian Yangtze Platform.     

Organic matter enrichment in the first member of the Xiagou formation of the lower Cretaceous in the Jiuquan Basin,China

The sources and enrichment of organic matter in a sediment core in the first member of the Xiagou Formation(K_1g~1) from the Chang 2-2 borehole of the Jiuquan Basin,NW China,have been examined using Rock-Eval,maceral,carbon isotopes and biomarker data.This data indicates that highly variable organic matter sources and preservation conditions in response to climate change.TOC content,HI,and δ~(13)C value were strongly correlated with the abundance of gammacerane,woody organic matter content,steranes/hopanes ratio,and C_(29) sterane content.This correlation demonstrates the importance that the control of the salinity of the depositional environment and organic matter sources can have upon the enrichment,type,and carbon isotopic composition of organic matter.In the Jiuquan Basin's relatively high temperature and arid climate,high salinity lakes with high primary productivity of algae,planktons,and bacteria,and good organic matter preservation conditions(anoxic bottom water) resulted in the enrichment of isotopically-light algae-bacterial organic matter.In the Jiuquan Basin's regions with a relatively low temperature and wet climate,fresh lakes with low primary productivity of algae,planktons,and bacteria received significant terrigenous high plants input,resulting in the deposition of a low abundance of isotopically heavier terrestrial organic matter.     

The distribution characteristic and its significance of compound specific isotopic composition of aromatic hydrocarbon from marine source rock and oil in the Tarim Basin,western China

Aromatic hydrocarbons are generally main distillation of crude oil and organic extract of source rocks. Bicyclic and tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can be purified by two-step method of chromatography on alumina. Carbon isotopic composition of individual aromatic hydrocarbons is affected not only by thermal maturity, but also by organic matter input, depositional environment, and hydrocarbon generation process based on the GC-IRMS analysis of Upper Ordovician, Lower Ordovician, and Cambrian source rocks in different areas in the Tarim Basin, western China. The subgroups of aromatic hydrocarbons as well as individual aromatic compound, such as 1-MP, 9-MP, and 2,6-DMP from Cambrian-Lower Ordovician section show more depleted 13 C distribution. The 13 C value difference between Cambrian-Lower Ordovician section and Upper Ordovician source rocks is up to 16.1‰ for subgroups and 14‰ for individual compounds. It can provide strong evidence for oil source correlation by combing the 13 C value and biomarker distribution of different oil and source rocks from different strata in the Tarim Basin. Most oils from Tazhong area have geochemical characteristics such as more negative 13C9-MP value, poor gammacerane, and abundant homohopanes, which indicate that Upper Ordovician source rock is the main source rock. In contrast, oils from Tadong area and some oils from Tazhong area have geochemical characteristics such as high 13C9-MP value, abundant gammacerane, and poor homohopanes, which suggest that the major contributor is Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rock.     

The Xiamaling oil shale generated through Rhodophyta over 800 Ma ago

A suit of oil shales, predominated by black argillaceous silicalite and finely laminated black-brown shale, has been discovered in a set of carbonaceous-siliceous mudstone formations (350 m in thickness) in the third member of Xiamaling Formation of the Upper Proterozoic Qingbaikou Series (900―873 MaBP), Xiahuayuan, Hebei Province, China. The oil shale, combustible with strong bitumen odour, has su- per-high TOC contents ranging from 21.4% to 22.9%, bitumen “A” contents from 0.58% to 0.88% and oil length from 5.29% to 10.57%. The ultrathin section observation of the shale and the identification of its kerogen demonstrate that its hydrocarbon-generative parent material is mainly benthonic Rhodophyta whose specific tetrasporangia are legible and abundant. It is rarely reported in the literature that such a hydrocarbon-generative parent material, composed mainly of Rhodophyta and with extraordinarily high contents of TOC and bitumen “A”, developed into a set of high-quality source rocks. The extracts of the oil shale are characteristic of richness in 17α(H)-diahopanes and n-alkyl tricyclic terpenoids but low in steranes. Such a biomarker feature is obviously different from that of the extracts from other Proterozoic marine carbonate source rocks of the studied area. Since the biological constitution of this oil shale is rather simple, it is clear that these biomarkers most likely represent to certain extent the specific mo- lecular constitutions of the benthonic Rhodophyta identified in the ultrathin sections of the samples. Studies on its lithologic association and depositional sequences suggest that this suit of the carbona- ceous-siliceous mudstone formation, which contains oil shales, was probably developed in an under- compensation deep-bay environment when a maximum transgression occurred during the formation of the third member of Xiamaling Formation. The high concentration of SiO2 in this organic-rich rock and the positive correlation between TOC and some trace elements such as P, Cu, Ni, W and Mo indicate that this suit of rocks was affected by activities of bottom thermal currents as deposited.     

Distribution and origin of brine-type Li-Rb mineralization in the Qaidam Basin,NW China

The Qaidam Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is well endowed with a variety of critical metals,such as Li and Rb.However,little is known about the distribution,source,and enrichment mechanisms of these elements.In this paper,we present results of systematic geochemical and H-O-B isotopic analyses of brines in the Tertiary and Quaternary sediments of the Qaidam basin.The results reveal that the paleobrines from oil-bearing anticlines at Dafengshan,Nanyishan,Youquanzi,Jiandingshan,and Jianshishan are significantly enriched in Li and Rb,whose contents are 81.1-128.9 mg L^-1and 4.5-29.2 mg L^-1,respectively,reaching levels of economic significance.High Rb contents(up to 12.5 mg L^-1)and well-endowment of Li also characterize the Dongtai,Xitai,Yiliping,and Senie salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin.The Tertiary paleobrine average inδD andδ18O at-40.7‰and 2.84‰,respectively.The paleobrine with the highest Li and Rb hasδD andδ¹⁸O values close to magmatic water.Theδ¹¹B values are lower than those of river water but close to those of geothermal fluids,suggesting that replenishment by deep magmatic hydrothermal fluid is most likely the key mechanism for the anomalous enrichment of these elements in the paleobrines,though evaporation and water-rock reactions have contributed to the critical metal mineralization.The anomalous enrichment of Li and Rb in modern salt lake brines is closely related to the input of volcanic geothermal water.The relatively high Li and Rb contents of intercrystalline brines in salt lakes of the western Qaidam Basin and the increase of Li and Rb contents with increasing depth were caused by upwelling of local paleobrines along the fault zones.     

Causes and consequences of the Cambrian explosion

The Cambrian explosion has long been a basic research frontier that concerns many scientific fields.Here we discuss the cause-effect links of the Cambrian explosion on the basis of first appearances of animal phyla in the fossil record,divergence time,environmental changes,Gene Regulatory Networks,and ecological feedbacks.The first appearances of phyla in the fossil record are obviously diachronous but relatively abrupt,concentrated in the first three stages of the Cambrian period(541–514 Ma).The actual divergence time may be deep or shallow.Since the gene regulatory networks(GRNs)that control the development of metazoans were in place before the divergence,the establishment of GRNs is necessary but insufficient for the Cambrian explosion.Thus the Cambrian explosion required environmental triggers.Nutrient availability,oxygenation,and change of seawater composition were potential environmental triggers.The nutrient input,e.g.,the phosphorus enrichment in the environment,would cause excess primary production,but it is not directly linked with diversity or disparity.Further increase of oxygen level and change of seawater composition during the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition were probably crucial environmental factors that caused the Cambrian explosion,but more detailed geochemical data are required.Many researchers prefer that the Cambrian explosion is an ecological phenomenon,that is,the unprecedented ecological success of metazoans during the Early Cambrian,but ecological effects need diverse and abundant animals.Therefore,the establishment of the ecological complexity among animals,and between animals and environments,is a consequence rather than a cause of the Cambrian explosion.It is no doubt that positive ecological feedbacks could facilitate the increase of biodiversity.In a word,the Cambrian explosion happened when environmental changes crossed critical thresholds,led to the initial formation of the metazoan-dominated ecosystem through a series of knock-on ecological processes,i.e.,"ecological snowball"effects.     

The Silurian-Devonian boundary in East Yunnan (South China) and the minimum constraint for the lungfish-tetrapod split

The Silurian-Devonian interval is an essential period in Earth history for witnessing the rise of sarcopterygian fishes and terrestrial vascular plants. In addition to its implication in global stratigraphic correlation, the precise location of the SilurianDevonian boundary(SDB) in East Yunnan closely relates to the minimal and maximal estimated dates for the lungfish-tetrapod split. Several geochemical indicators including the values and curves of δ13 Corg, δ13 Ccarband TOC are obtained from the continuous SDB sequence in Dahe, Yiliang County, East Yunnan. The results reveal the significant positive δ13 Corgshifts in the upper part of the Yulungssu Formation and the lower part of the Xishancun Formation, and the peak value(-20.0‰) in the sample YD-25 from the lowermost of the Xishancun Formation, replicating the δ13 Corgvariation trend from the uppermost Silurian to the lowermost Devonian worldwide. The δ13 Corgvariation across the SDB at the Dahe Section resembles the SDB curve from the borehole Klonk-1 drilled at the top of the Klonk GSSP in the Prague Basin, Czech Republic. As such, we place the SDB in the Dahe Area between the samples of YD-17 and YD-18 from the lowermost part of the Xishancun Formation. This SDB assignment is corroborated by new findings of Early Devonian thelodont Parathelodus from the lower part of the Xishancun Formation in Qujing Area. The resolution of the SDB in Dahe, coupled with available paleontological data and the biostratigraphic zonation in East Yunnan, has provided vital data for the geological ages of the fish-bearing strata in East Yunnan.The earliest rhipidistian Youngolepis from the Xishancun Formation(Lochkovian, Devonian) and earliest stem-sarcopterygian Psarolepis from the Kuanti Formation(Ludfordian, Silurian) in East Yunnan indicate that the split between lungfish and tetrapods occurred between 426.5 and 416.0 Ma.     

Increased winter-spring precipitation from the last glaciation to the Holocene inferred from a δ~(13)C_(org) record from Yili Basin(Xinjiang,NW China)

The nature and dynamics of climate change in central Asia since the late Pleistocene are controversial. Moreover,most of the published studies focus mainly on the evolution of moisture conditions, and there have been few attempts to address changes in seasonality. In this study, records of δ¹³C_org, TOC, TN, C/N and grain size were obtained from lacustrine sediments at Yili Basin, Xinjiang, NW China. Our aim was to reconstruct the trend in seasonality of precipitation from the last glaciation to the Holocene. The organic matter content of the sediments is derived predominantly from terrestrial plants. The δ¹³C_orgvalues vary from-19.4‰ to-24.8‰, indicating that the vegetation was dominated by C_3 plants. Winter-spring precipitation is identified as the factor determining the relative proportions of C_3 and C_4 plants in the region. A negative trend in δ¹³C_orgcorresponding to an increase in the relative abundance of C_3 plants indicate a trend of increasing winter-spring precipitation from the last glaciation to the Holocene. The increased incidence of wintertime storms in the interior of Asia is suggested to result in the increase of winterspring precipitation in the Holocene.     

Water quality,natural chemical weathering and ecological risk assessment of the contaminated area of vanadium ore in Yinhua River,China:Evidence from major ions and trace elements

There are abundant vanadium ores in the Cambrian strata in southern Shaanxi,China.Many years of mining activities and surface leaching have polluted the surface water to a certain extent,but the researches on the water quality characteristics and pollution degree are relatively weak.This contribution was organized to investigate the surface water quality by general parameters,including TDS,Eh,pH,DO,TOC,COD,and EC,in the vanadium ore belt(Yinhua River basin).Major ions were determined to detect the water type and natural chemical weathering,while trace elements were used to illustrate their geochemical characteristics and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals.The study found that the surface water was weakly alkaline and mainly dominated from normal to pool grade.The particle size with1000–10,000 nm of suspended particles was the main carrier of organic matter.The concentration of HCO₃^-and SO₄^2-in the anions and Ca²⁺and Mg²⁺ions in the cations were relatively high,and the water type was Ca-Mg-HCO₃-SO₄ type.Rock weathering had a great influence on surface water,and the weathering products were mainly silicate and carbonate.Compared with the Type river,the contents of V elements showed an obvious positive anomaly,which may be affected by mining activities of vanadium ore and the annual leaching of the tailings pond.As and Cd in the surface water was polluted seriously.The integrated pollution index suggested that the surface water pollution was serious,and the main stream was more serious with the increasing tailings ponds.     

A comparative study of the specific surface area and pore structure of different shales and their kerogens

The pore structures and controlling factors of several different Paleozoic shales from Southern China and their kerogens were studied using nitrogen adsorption and scanning electron microscopy methods. The results indicate that: 1) The specific surface area is 2.22–3.52 m2/g and has no correlation with the TOC content of the Permian Dalong Formation shales, nanopores are extremely undeveloped in the Dalong Formation kerogens, which have specific surface areas of 20.35–27.49 m2/g; 2) the specific surface area of the Silurian Longmaxi Formation shales is in the range of 17.83–29.49 m2/g and is positively correlated with TOC content, the kerogens from the Longmaxi Formation have well-developed nanopores, with round or elliptical shapes, and the specific surface areas of these kerogens are as high as 279.84–300.3 m2/g; 3) for the Niutitang Formation shales, the specific surface area is 20.12–29.49 m2/grock and increases significantly with increasing TOC and smectite content. The Niutitang Formation kerogens develop a certain amount of nanopores with a specific surface area of 161.2 m2/g. Oil shale was also examined for comparison, and was found to have a specific surface area of 19.99 m2/g. Nanopores are rare in the Youganwo Formation kerogen, which has a specific surface area of only 5.54 m2/g, suggesting that the specific surface area of oil shale is due mainly to the presence of smectite and other clay minerals. The specific surface area and the number of pores present in shales are closely related to TOC, kerogen type and maturity, smectite content, and other factors. Low-maturity kerogen has very few nanopores and therefore has a very low specific surface area, whereas nanopores are abundant in mature to over- mature kerogen, leading to high specific surface areas. The Longmaxi Formation kerogen has more developed nanopores and a higher specific surface area than the Niutitang Formation kerogen, which may be due to differences in the kerogen type and maceral components. A high content of smectite may also contribute to shale surface area. The pore volume and specific surface area of low-maturity kerogens are mainly attributable to pores with diameters above 10 nm. By contrast, the pore volume of mature kerogens consists predominantly of pores with diameters above 10 nm with some contribution from about 4 nm diameter pores, while the specific surface area is due mainly to pores with diameters of less than 4 nm. Through a comparative study of the specific surface area and pore structure characteristics of different shales and their kerogens, we conclude that the Longmaxi Formation shales and Niutitang Formation shales have greater sorption capacities than the Dalong Formation shales.     

Genetic features of gas-condensate reservoirs in the Kekeya Field,southwest depression in the Tarim Basin,China

Oils, condensates and natural gases in the Kekeya Field, southeast depression of the Tarim Basin were studied for their geochemical characteristics. According to the distribution analysis of the C₂/C₃ values with C₁/C₂ values, C₂/C₃ values with C₁/C₃ values, as well as C₂/C₃ values with dryness index, there are two different types of natural gases in the studied field, which are spatially regularly distributed. One is the oil cracking gas, located on shallow reservoirs over X ₅ ² reservoir, namely Upper oil legs; the other is kerogen cracking gas, located on X ₇ ² reservoirs, X₈ reservoirs and E₂ k reservoirs, namely Lower oil legs. In addition, the distribution patterns of molar concentration of oils and condensates with different carbon numbers of the n-alkanes in the Kekeya Field indicate that the crude oils have experienced several kinds of secondary alterations, which were closely related to the charging of gaseous hydrocarbons after petroleum accumulation. These results indicate that, based on the research of δ ¹³C values of individual hydrocarbons, heptane values and isoheptane values of light hydrocarbons and aromatic maturity parameters for oils, condensates and natural gases, oils and gases were charged at different geological time in the Kekeya Field.     

Trace elements and stable isotopic geochemistry of an Early Cambrian chert-phosphorite unit from the lower Yurtus Formation of the Sugetbrak section in the Tarim Basin

A chert-phosphorite unit from the Sugetbrak section in the Tarim Basin was analyzed for rare earth elements (Ce, Eu), redox sensitive proxies, and carbon isotopic compositions (δ¹³C_carb and δ ¹³C_org) in the lower Yurtus Formation of the Early Cambrian period. Redox sensitive element ratios (Th/U, V/Cr, Ni/Co, and V/Sc) were employed to determine the palaeoenvironmental conditions during this period. The ratios indicated that the depositional environment of the chert-phosphorite-black shale unit ranged from suboxic to anoxic. Negative Ce and positive Eu anomalies in the chert-phosphorite assemblages of the studied Yurtus Formation indicated the existence of a redox-stratified ocean, similar to that of South China. Overturn or upward expansion of the deep water-mass probably reached the shallow marine zone after the formation of the Yurtus phosphorites. The characteristics of the negative Ce anomaly may be due to phosphoritic inheritance from the Ce-depleted signature of the overlying water column. Subsequent hydrothermal inputs and reduced detrital supplies of the deep water caused by the upwelling affected certain redox sensitive elements in the sedimentary basin. δ ¹³C_carb and δ¹³C_org negative excursions in the Yurtus chert-phosphorite unit may be related to a transgression phase when episodic basinal upwelling moved ¹²C- and P-rich waters from the pelagic basin floor to the continental shelf. Although carbon isotopic compositions in the Yurtus chert-phosphorite assemblages may have suffered from diagenetic alteration, they can be used to probe diagenetic conditions. Multi-proxy geochemical studies indicated that the δ ¹³C_carb values of the Yurtus chert-phosphorite assemblages might be considered reflections of a predominantly suboxic environment that was subsequently affected by hydrothermal inputs due to the upwelling.     

Characterization of the negative carbon isotope shift in segment C2, its global implications as a harbinger of OAE1a

Lower Cretaceous C-isotope records show intermittent negative/positive spikes, and consistent patterns of coeval chemostratigraphic curves thus document shifts that signal simultaneous responses of temporal changes in the global carbon reservoir. The standard pattern registered by the δ ¹³C_org and δ ¹³C_carb in Lower Aptian sediments includes distinct isotope segments C1 to C8 (Menegatti et al., 1998). In the El Pui section, Organyà Basin, Spain, C-isotope segment C2 is the longest interval preceding segments C3–C6 associated with oceanic anoxic event 1a (OAE 1a), and reveals a distinct negative shift of ~1.8‰ to ~2.23‰ defining the C-isotope pattern within that interval. Total inorganic carbon (TIC), total organic carbon (TOC), δ ¹³C_org, microfacies, n-alkanes show no difference before, during, or after the negative inflection. The biomarkers indicate that organic matter (OM) mainly originates from algal/microbial sources because short-chain length homologues (≤nC₁₉) dominate. nC₂₀ through nC₂₅ indicate some contribution from aquatic vegetation, but little from higher plants (>nC₂₅), as also suggested by the terrestrial/aquatic ratio of n-alkanes or (TAR) = [(nC₂₇+nC₂₉+nC₃₁)/(nC₁₅+nC₁₇+nC₁₉)] (averages 0.085). We suggest that conjoint pulses of contemporaneous LIPs (Ontong Java) and massive explosive volcanism in northeast Asia, the Songliao Basin (SB-V), best conform to plausible causes of the negative intra-C2 carbon isotopic excursion (CIE) at that time. Because of its apparent common occurrence the intra-C2 inflection could be a useful marker harbinger to the more pronounced CIE C3, the hallmark of OAE1a.     

Genetic features of gas-condensate reservoirs in the Kekeya Field,southwest depression in the Tarim Basin,China

Oils, condensates and natural gases in the Kekeya Field, southeast depression of the Tarim Basin were studied for their geochemical characteristics. According to the distribution analysis of the C₂/C₃ values with C₁/C₂ values, C₂/C₃ values with C₁/C₃ values, as well as C₂/C₃ values with dryness index, there are two different types of natural gases in the studied field, which are spatially regularly distributed. One is the oil cracking gas, located on shallow reservoirs over X ²₅ reservoir, namely Upper oil legs; the other is kerogen cracking gas, located on X ²₇ reservoirs, X₈ reservoirs and E₂ k reservoirs, namely Lower oil legs. In addition, the distribution patterns of molar concentration of oils and condensates with different carbon numbers of the n-alkanes in the Kekeya Field indicate that the crude oils have experienced several kinds of secondary alterations, which were closely related to the charging of gaseous hydrocarbons after petroleum accumulation. These results indicate that, based on the research of δ ¹³C values of individual hydrocarbons, heptane values and isoheptane values of light hydrocarbons and aromatic maturity parameters for oils, condensates and natural gases, oils and gases were charged at different geological time in the Kekeya Field.

     

Geochemical characteristics and origin of gases from the Upper,Lower Paleozoic and the Mesozoic reservoirs in the Ordos Basin,China

The Ordos Basin, the second largest sedimentary basin in China, contains the broad distribution of natural gas types. So far, several giant gas fields have been discovered in the Upper and Lower Paleozoic in this basin, each having over 1000×10⁸m³ of proven gas reserves, and several gas pools have also been discovered in the Mesozoic. This paper collected the data of natural gases and elucidated the geochemical characteristics of gases from different reservoirs, and then discussed their origin. For hydrocarbons preserved in the Upper Paleozoic, the elevated δ ¹³C values of methane, ethane and propane indicate that the gases would be mainly coal-formed gases; the singular reversal in the stable carbon isotopes of gaseous alkanes suggests the mixed gases from humic sources with different maturity. In the Lower Paleozoic, the δ ¹³C₁ values are mostly similar with those in the Upper Paleozoic, but the δ ¹³C₂ and δ ¹³C₃ values are slightly lighter, suggesting that the gases would be mixing of coal-type gases as a main member and oil-type gases. There are multiple reversals in carbon isotopes for gaseous alkanes, especially abnormal reversal for methane and ethane (i.e. δ ¹³C₁>δ ¹³C₂), inferring that gases would be mixed between high-mature coal-formed gases and oil-type gases. In the Mesozoic, the δ ¹³C values for gaseous alkanes are enriched in ¹²C, indicating that the gases are mainly derived from sapropelic sources; the carbon isotopic reversal for propane and butane in the Mesozoic is caused by microbial oxidation and mixing of gases from sapropelic sources with different maturity. In contrast to the Upper Paleozoic gases, the Mesozoic gases are characterized by heavier carbon isotopes of iso-butane than normal butane, which may be caused by gases generated from different kerogen types. Finally, according to δ ¹³C₁-R ₀ relationship and extremely low total organic carbon contents, the Low Paleozoic gases would not be generated from the Ordovician source as a main gas source, bycontrast, the Upper Paleozoic source as a main gas source is contributed to the Lower Paleozoic gases.     

Terrestrial and marine biomarker estimates of organic matter sources and distributions in surface sediments from the East China Sea shelf

Revealing of the sources and distributions of sedimentary organic matter in the East China Sea (ECS) is important for understanding its carbon cycle, which has significant temporal and spatial variability due to the influences of recent climate changes and anthropogenic activities. In this study, we report the contents of both terrestrial and marine biomarkers including ∑C₂₇+C₂₉+C₃₁n-alkanes (38.6-580 ng/g), C₃₇ alkenones (5.6-124.6 ng/g), brassicasterol (98-913 ng/g) and dinosterol (125-1521 ng/g) from the surface sediments in the Changjiang River Estuary (CRE) and shelf areas of the ECS. Several indices based on biomarker contents and ratios are calculated to assess the spatial distributions of both terrestrial and marine organic matter in the ECS surface sediments, and these results are compared with organic matter distribution patterns revealed by the δ¹³C (−20.1‰ to −22.7‰) and C/N ratio (5-7.5) of total organic matter. The contents of terrestrial biomarkers in the ECS surface sediments decrease seaward, controlled mostly by Changjiang River (CR) inputs and surface currents; while higher contents of the two marine biomarkers (brassicasterol and dinosterol) occur in upwelling areas outside the CRE and in the Zhejiang-Fujian coastal zone, controlled mostly by marine productivity. Four proxies, f_Terr(δ¹³C) (the fraction of terrestrial organic matter in TOC estimated by TOC δ¹³C), odd-alkanes (∑C₂₇+C₂₉+C₃₁n-alkanes), 1/P_mar-aq ((C₂₃+C₂₅+C₂₉+C₃₁)/(C₂₃+C₂₅) n-alkanes) and TMBR (terrestrial and marine biomarker ratio) (C₂₇+C₂₉₊C₃₁n-alkanes)/((C₂₇+C₂₉+C₃₁) n-alkanes+(brassicasterol+dinosterol+alkenones)), reveal a consistent pattern showing the relative contribution of terrestrial organic matter (TOM) is higher in the CRE and along the Zhejiang-Fujian coastline, controlled mostly by CR inputs and currents, but the TOM contribution decreases seaward, as the influences of the CR discharge decrease.     

Natural gas geochemistry and its origins in Kuqa depression

According to gas compositional and carbon isotopic measurement of 114 gas samples from the Kuqa depression, accumulation of the natural gases in the depression is dominated by hydrocarbon gases, with high gas dryness (C₁/C_1–4) at the middle and northern parts of the depression and low one towards east and west sides and southern part. The carbon isotopes of methane and its homologues are relatively enriched in ¹³C, and the distributive range of δ ¹³C₁, δ ¹³C₂ and δ ¹³C₃ is ?32‰–?36‰, ?22‰–?24‰ and ?20‰–?22‰, respectively. In general, the carbon isotopes of gaseous alkanes become less negative with the increase of carbon numbers. The δ ¹³ \(C_{CO_2 } \) value is less than ?10‰ in the Kuqa depression, indicating its organogenic origin. The distributive range of ³He/⁴He ratio is within n × 10^?8 and a decrease in ³He/⁴He ratio from north to south in the depression is observed. Based on the geochemical parameters of natural gas above, natural gas in the Kuqa depression is of characteristics of coal-type gas origin. The possible reasons for the partial reversal of stable carbon isotopes of gaseous alkanes involve the mixing of gases from one common source rock with different thermal maturity or from two separated source rock intervals of similar kerogen type, multistages accumulation of natural gas under high-temperature and over-pressure conditions, and sufficiency and diffusion of natural gas.     

Temporal variations of C,N, δC,and δN in organic matter collected by a sediment trap at Cuenca Alfonso,Bahía de La Paz,SW Gulf of California

To monitor the composition and the vertical flux of particulate matter from the sea surface, a sediment trap was moored in Cuenca Alfonso, Bahía de La Paz, a zone of high productivity in the southwestern Gulf of California. Carbonate-free samples from 2002 to 2005 were analyzed for C_org, N, δ¹³C, and δ¹⁵N. The results show seasonal and interannual variability, with the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values larger in spring and summer than in fall and winter. The C:N ratio and δ¹³C increased by 1.5 units from 2002 to 2003–2005, suggesting a change in the supply of organic matter and-or the use or preferential degradation of N_org. There was no interannual variation in δ¹⁵N. The occasional high δ¹⁵N values suggest that physical mechanisms, such as the shoaling and advection into the bay of ¹⁵N-rich subsurface equatorial water, occur over short time periods. The latter is presumed to be related to the periodic development of a significant cyclonic gyre in the southern Gulf.     

Aliphatic hydrocarbon concentrations in short sediment cores from the southern Okinawa Trough: Implications for lipid deposition in a complex environment

Seven short sediment cores from the southern Okinawa Trough were collected and analyzed for the aliphatic hydrocarbon concentrations by capillary gas chromatography to explore the deposition of hydrocarbons to this area. For all cores studied, ratios of Σhydrocarbons/TOC, (nC₂₇+nC₂₉+nC₃₁)/TOC, terrigenous/aquatic, and diploptene/ΣC_25–33n-alkanes fluctuated around a mean value with coefficients of variation ranging from 9.0% to 19.7%, 4.9% to 20.0%, 27.3% to 129%, and 3.8% to 163%, respectively. For the nC₃₁/(nC₂₇+nC₂₉+nC₃₁) ratio, only station 21 showed fluctuation. Moreover, the carbon preference indexes in the C₂₅–C₃₃n-alkane range also exhibited fluctuating values with coefficients of variation of 1.9–14.4%. These results indicate that concentrations of hydrocarbon inputs to the sampling sites vary with time; this may result from complex current flow and sediment transport, leading to variable lipid deposition. In addition, significant correlation between diploptene (hop-22(29)-ene) and higher plant n-alkanes was found for cores 21, 42 and 46, indicating that diploptene was predominantly from higher plant sources. However, no correlation between diploptene and higher plant n-alkanes was found for cores 20, 36, 43 and 44; autochthonous sources of diploptene in these cores were quite probable.