Submarine landslide identified in MD179 cores,off-Joetsu area,eastern margin of the Sea of Japan

Gas hydrate is exposed on the sea floor and is buried in shallow sediments in the off-Joetsu area at the eastern margin of the Sea of Japan. Sediment cores recovered from topographic highs of the Joetsu Knoll and Umitaka Spur show pockmarks and mounds formed by gas hydrate dissociation, but those from the Un-named ridge have no such topographic features. All topographic highs and pockmarks mainly comprise bioturbated layers interbedded with thinly laminated (TL) layers, which are common Sea of Japan sediments. Recovered sediments are, however, mostly disturbed by submarine landslides, showing tilted horizons, faults, slump folds, and breccia, except that from the Un-named ridge. The timing of events is well constrained by identification of the number of TL layers in some sediment cores. Landslides occurred both during the cold glacial period of the late MIS3 to the last glacial maximum (LGM) and during the warm interglacial period of the post-LGM. All were caused by the explosive rise of gas hydrate formed at very shallow depths of the sea bottom by the supply of gas from the depth of the gas hydrate stability zone through gas chimney passages developed under the pockmarks. Seismic activity demands consideration as a factor because the off-Joetsu area is tectonically active.     

Rio Muni盆地第四纪陆坡地震地貌学

基于Rio Muni盆地深水区1 400 km2的高分辨率三维地震资料,对第四纪陆坡开展地形、地貌单元的构型、成因及演化研究。主要取得3点结论:①依据海底坡度,研究区海底地形具有东西分带,南北分区的特点。②研究区发育水道（顺直水道和弯曲水道）、滑坡（陆坡滑坡和水道壁滑坡）及海底麻坑（孤立麻坑和条带状麻坑）3类典型地貌单元。上陆坡主要发育顺直水道,弯曲水道带发育在中-下陆坡。弯曲水道主要分布在南北2区,而顺直水道在南中北3区均有发育。水道的弯曲程度与海底坡度、重力流供给密切相关。③条带状海底麻坑主要分布在南北2区,孤立麻坑3区均发育。单一麻坑任意方向的剖面均具有“U”形或“V”形特征,其下方的气烟囱具有振幅增强,同相轴下拉特征。条带状麻坑分布在古水道上方或两侧的海底, 其走向剖面具有脊-槽相间地形特征。古水道和浅层气的逸散是形成条带状海底麻坑的主要因素。     

Fluid escape features as relevant players in the enhancement of seafloor stability?

Fluid migration within the sedimentary column contributes significantly to slope failure and pockmark formation and can be an effective triggering mechanism to generate submarine landslides. Pockmarks are thus commonly listed among geohazards. Contrary to these accepted notions, we propose here an alternative view of pockmarks with an example from the Eastern Niger Submarine Delta: Pockmarks and associated chimneys may increase or modify the shear strength of sedimentary layers and locally enhance seafloor stability. The analysis of two 3D seismic volumes shows that a landslide deposit divides into two branches around a cluster of three pockmark chimneys, interpreted to impede its further development. The morphological characteristics of a slide constrained by fluid seepage features show the potential role of fluid escape in marine sediment strengthening.     

Seismic characteristics and mechanism of fluid flow structures in the central depression of Qiongdongnan basin,northern margin of South China Sea

ABSTRACT

Understanding fluid flow structures in a rifted basin may enhance our knowledge of their origination and evolution. Through geochemical analysis and seismic interpretation, different fluid flow features are identified in the central depression of Qiongdongnan basin, northern South China Sea. These structures include mud diapir, gas chimney, hydrothermal pipes, faults, blowout pipes, and associated extrusions. Mud diapirs are primarily located on the slope belts, whereas gas chimneys are on the basement highs in the southwest of the study area. Their distribution appears closely controlled by tectonic stress field and overpressure, the later is caused by hydrocarbon generation and compaction disequilibrium. High sediment overloading, weak post-rift tectonic activity, and high average geothermal gradient may contribute to the compaction disequilibrium. The occurrence of gas chimneys on the basement high suggests that lateral transportation and relief of overpressure is a significant factor. Distribution of broad hydrothermal pipes is related with the thinning continental crust and pre-existing boundary faults in the central depression. They are probably attributed to intruded sills dissolution and were caused by hydrothermal fluids vertically. Geochemical data from gas reservoirs analysis indicates that mud diapirs and gas chimneys are critical pathways for thermogenic gases, whereas hydrothermal pipes and part of the faults may act as pathways of both thermogenic and inorganic gases. The blowout pipes mainly occur in the northwestern central depression near the continental slope, where fluid flows ascend gradually from a series of Pliocene-current prograding wedge-formed units with a hydraulic fracture in shallow. Hundreds of seafloor pockmarks and mounds associated with blowout pipes located above the NE-SW elongated Pliocene-Quaternary slope-break belts. These extrusive structures indicate that fluids ascend through blowout pipes and were expelled at the present seabed. Our results indicate that fluid flow structures are probably responsible for fluid activities and must be taken into account when assessing the hydrocarbon potential, geologic hazard, and benthic ecosystem.     

南海北部陆坡区神狐海域构造特征及对水合物的控制

通过对南海北部陆坡区神狐海域高精度2D和3D地震资料的精细解释,在研究区共识别出4种构造类型,分别为气烟囱(流体底辟)、区域大尺度断层、深水扇中的正断层和滑移体中的滑脱断层。气烟囱具有直立的通道形态,其内部结构可划分为杂乱反射带、模糊反射带和顶部强振幅区域。大尺度断层位于水合物钻探区的西北部和东北部,断层规模大,对深部地层表现出明显的控制作用。深水扇中的正断层广泛发育于上新世的深水扇中,特别是在水合物钻探区西部进积特征明显的深水扇中,正断层的数量更多。滑移体中的滑脱断层在神狐海域的第四纪地层中非常常见,在剖面上呈雁列式分布。研究结果表明,大尺度断层由于和水合物钻探区的距离较远,对于水合物的成藏可能不起控制作用。气烟囱和规模小数量多的断裂体系为含气流体的运移提供了垂向和侧向的输送通道,构成了水合物的流体运移体系。当富含甲烷气体的流体通过这些垂向-侧向的运移通道时,在合适的温压条件下,被适于水合物聚集的沉积体所捕获,就有可能形成水合物。水合物钻探区内东西部构造特征的差异,使得研究区内形成了不同的流体运移体系,这可能是控制钻探区水合物不均匀性分布的一个关键因素。     

天然气水合物调查区微地貌特征探测成果

本文介绍了利用近海底探测设备声学深拖和ROV遥控潜水器在天然气水合物调查区进行的微地貌探测成果。结合前期地震调查成果,在地震剖面上显示的三个贯穿海底的气烟囱区域对应的海底探测到麻坑、海底丘状体。另外,在水合物喷发的冷泉区,首先使用搭载在声学深拖上的侧扫声呐对目标区进行较大范围的调查,利用声呐图像上的"亮斑异常"确定冷泉喷口的位置,再利用ROV遥控潜水器开展精准下潜探测,在冷泉区识别出碳酸盐岩结壳、泥火山特征地貌、羽状流现象和一些典型的生物特征。     

天然气水合物发育的构造背景分析

大量的钻孔资料和地震剖面显示主动大陆边缘的增生楔和被动大陆边缘的俯冲-增生楔、断裂-褶皱系、底辟构造或泥火山、滑塌构造、海底扇、"麻坑"构造和陆地多年冻土区等多种地质构造背景是形成天然气水合物的有利场所,可形成构造圈闭型天然气水合物矿藏。这些地质构造背景一方面大多是深部热成因气、生物成因气或混合成因气体或流体向上运移到海底的通道,形成天然气水合物矿藏;另一方面也可能造成天然气水合物的温压环境改变,致使天然气水合物分解。海底滑塌亦可能是天然气水合物分解所致,是潜在的地质灾害。     

南海西沙海域东岛北峡谷体系形态、演化及其成因机制

海底峡谷是全球大陆边缘分布较广泛的地貌单元,是地形地貌、深水沉积和海洋地质灾害领域研究的重要内容。本研究基于高分辨率多波束测深和二维地震资料,以南海西沙东部海域为研究区,深入剖析了东岛北海底峡谷体系。东岛北海底峡谷分布在水深1000～3150 m范围,长度137 km,下切深度70～400 m,表现出西高东低的地形特征,总体由一条主峡谷和4条分支峡谷构成。峡谷上游有东岛西北部Ⅰ区和永兴海台东部Ⅱ区的沉积物供给,峡谷中游加入了东岛东北部Ⅲ区供给的沉积物。3个物源区的沉积物供应以线状的峡谷、水道和面状的块体流沉积类型为主。主峡谷北坡周缘分布有大量的海底麻坑,侧壁呈阶梯状不断后撤垮塌,因重力驱动作用和水流侵蚀,使峡谷壁外缘发育呈不规则小型“枝杈”状水道;主峡谷南岸因浊流作用,发育沉积物波。NE走向主断裂,控制着主干峡谷NE方向延伸,而峡谷南岸分布海山和海丘地形、岩浆底辟,影响主峡谷各分段的转向;同时峡谷和周缘下部地层发育的断层,控制峡谷侧壁向谷底呈阶梯状下降。     

The formation mechanism of mud diapirs and gas chimneys and their relationship with natural gas hydrates: insights from the deep-water area of Qiongdongnan Basin,northern South China Sea

ABSTRACT

Mud diapirs and gas chimneys are widely developed in continental slope areas, which can provide sufficient gas for hydrate formation, and they are important for finding natural gas hydrates. Based on the interpretation and analysis of high-resolution 2D and 3D seismic data covering the deep-water area in the Qiongdongnan Basin (QDNB), northern South China Sea, we studied the formation mechanism of mud diapirs and gas chimneys and their relationship with natural gas hydrates. Mud diapirs and gas chimneys are columnar and domelike in shape and the internal regions of these bodies have abnormal reflections characterized by fuzzy, chaotic, and blanking zones. The reflection events terminate at the rims of mud diapirs and gas chimneys with pull-up reflections and pull-down reflections, respectively. In addition, ‘bright spots’ and diapiric-associated faults occur adjacent to mud diapirs and gas chimneys. The rapidly deposited and deeply buried fine sediments filling in the Tertiary in deep-water areas of the QDNB and overpressure potential derived from undercompacted mudstones, as well as from the pressurization of organic matter and hydrocarbon generation, provide abundant materials and intensive driving forces for the formation of mud diapirs and gas chimneys. Bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) with strong amplitude and high or poor continuity were recognized atop the mud diapirs and gas chimneys and in the structural highs within the same region, indicating that they have a close relationship with each other. The mud diapirs and gas chimneys and associated high-angle faults provide favourable vertical pathways for the hydrocarbons migrating from deep strata to shallow natural gas hydrate stability zones where natural gas hydrates accumulate; however, some BSRs are characterized by weak amplitude and poor continuity, which can be affected by high temperature and overpressure in the process of the mud diapir and gas chimney activities. This mutually restricting relationship must be taken into consideration in the process of gas hydrate exploration in QDNB.     

Amplitude versus offset analyses of the deep sedimentary structures at the northern flank of the Porcupine Basin,SW of Ireland

This paper represents an attempt of analysing the amplitude versus offset (AVO) behaviour and specific seismic attributes of sedimentary structures from the Porcupine Basin, SW of Ireland. During the last decade, a huge number of carbonate mounds were investigated in this region in water depths of 600–1,000 m, but the genesis and growth of these mounds are still not clearly identified. The aim of this paper is to give a better understanding of the connection between fluid migration pathways in the deeper underground and surface expressions of their fluid expulsions like gas chimneys and pockmarks through which the mounds may generate themselves. The data used in this study to determine boundary conditions for the physical properties of the underlaying strata were gathered from the northern flank of the Porcupine Basin, where a huge amount of fluid and/or gas chimneys covers the seabed. Marine seismic reflection data contain information about the elastic properties of the underlying earth, mainly based on the observed variations in the seismic reflection amplitude at different shot–receiver offsets. To extract elastic parameters from the data, inversion techniques were used, which presume that input amplitudes are proportional to reflection coefficients for plane wave reflection. To calibrate the AVO analyses with the existing stratigraphy in the working area we have used the well logs from several bore holes in the region. The results of this study show clearly that the investigated and identified pockmarks on the seafloor are the surface expression of hydrocarbon seepage in the deeper sedimentary underground.     

Submarine origin for the Neoproterozoic Wonoka canyons,South Australia

An examination of the deeply incised Ediacaran Wonoka canyons in the Adelaide Geosyncline (most recently interpreted as subaerial valleys) demonstrates their submarine origin, and confirms them as some of the best examples of ancient outcropping submarine canyons in the world. The entire canyon-fill succession is interpreted to be of deep-water (below wave base) origin, consisting of calcareous shale and siltstone together with a variety of mass-flow deposits including turbidites, grain flows and debris flows. The canyon fill lacks definitive shallow-water structures (e.g. mud cracks, fenestral fabrics or wave ripples) at all stratigraphic levels. Canyon-lining carbonate crusts that have previously been interpreted as non-marine calcretes or tufas (and used to suggest a non-marine origin for the canyons) are argued to be of deep-water, marine, microbial origin. Extremely negative carbon isotope values from the canyon-fill and canyon-lining crusts have a primary marine origin. Previously interpreted deepening upward trends in the canyon fill (used as evidence of a subaerial erosion episode followed by drowning) are suggested to be fining upward trends, caused by the transition from canyon cutting to canyon filling, with the majority of the fill being of deep-water slope origin. The basal conglomeratic canyon-fill sediments represent the last vestiges of the high-energy, deep-water, canyon-erosion environment in which the incisions formed. A deep-water origin for the canyons is consistent with all previous stratigraphic observations of the Wonoka canyons, including the conspicuous lack of regional unconformities in the lower Wonoka Formation, and their emanation from the deep-water facies of the Wonoka Formation. A submarine canyon origin also removes the need for extreme (~ 1 km) relative sea level fluctuation and associated problems (i.e. an enclosed basin with Messinian-style evaporative drawdown or thermal uplift above a migrating mantle plume) required by the subaerial valley hypotheses.     

珠江口盆地白云凹陷陆坡限制型海底峡谷群成因机制探讨

珠江口盆地白云凹陷北部陆坡发育着17条近似NNW-SSE走向的海底峡谷,构成了区域内的陆坡限制型海底峡谷群。基于研究区内高密度覆盖的2D地震资料,通过外部形态、内部结构等反射特征的描述和刻画,建立了第四纪以来的高精度层序地层格架,将沉积充填序列划分为三个体系域,即低位体系域（LST）、海侵体系域（TST）和高位体系域（HST）。根据陆坡进积特征、垂向地层叠加样式、侵蚀特征变化、连续性强振幅同相轴的识别和空间追踪,将高位体系域进一步划分为两个沉积旋回单元,HST-I和HST-II。研究表明,白云凹陷陆坡限制型海底峡谷群发育在高位体系域晚期沉积旋回（HST-II）中。在此基础上,分别讨论了沉积物供给、沉积物失稳作用、限制型地形和流体渗漏作用对峡谷群形成和演化的影响。第四纪以来珠江水系携带的大量沉积物经由陆架进入到陆坡区域,为海底峡谷群的发育和演化提供了充足的沉积物来源。在第四纪高位体系域早期水道形成的限制型“负地形”基础上,大量的沉积物在沿着陆坡坡降方向自北向南的输送过程中发生向下的侵蚀、沉积物失稳,导致了陆坡限制型海底峡谷群的发育。研究区内广泛分布的气烟囱构造,暗示了含气流体的垂向运移和渗漏,可能促进了海底峡谷群的进一步演化。     

南海中西部地貌单元划分及其特征和成因分析

南海中西部处于南海北部和南部的过渡带,夹持于印支地块和南海海底扩张中心之间,其特殊的地貌对于研究整个南海地质地貌有重要意义。本文基于广州海洋地质调查局在南海中西部海洋地质调查项目获取的水深、底质调查及地震剖面数据,结合该海域以往研究成果,提取了有关地貌的信息,编制了南海中西部地貌图。把研究区划分出陆架、陆坡和深海盆地三个二级地貌单元,以及水下岸坡、水下浅滩、海岭、峡谷、麻坑、阶地、盆地、海台、海山、深海扇、深海平原等众多次级地貌单元。文章详细描述了该海域各地貌单元的特征,提出了断层、火山、构造隆起和浊流等地质作用是本区地貌形成的主要因素。     

An ancient submarine canyon in the Oligocene-Miocene of the western Niger Delta

ABSTRACT
An anomalous sequence of thick fossiliferous marine shale of late Oligocene-early Miocene age, here termed the Opuama Shale Member, occurs within the paralic Agbada Formation in the subsurface of the western Niger Delta. The Opuama Shale fills a deep palaeochannel which was cut into Eocene-early Oligocene paralic beds. Planktonic and benthic foraminifera suggest that deposition in the channel began in the late Oligocene-early Miocene at outer shelf-slope depths, and that by the late early Miocene the channel had filled to shallow neritic depths. The channel, which is believed to be of submarine origin, is termed the Opuama canyon. The Opuama canyon originated during the pronounced early-Middle Oligocene drop in sea-level, and was cut by turbidity currents. It was filled, during the major late Oligocene-early Miocene rise of sea-level.
The location of the Opuama canyon in the western re-entrant of the Niger Delta supports Burke's (1972) conclusion that the western and eastern (where ancient submarine canyon fills are known) re-entrants of the delta are potential sites for ancient submarine canyons. Burke based his conclusion on the observation that the eastern and western re-entrants of the modern delta are areas where opposing longshore drifts converge and generate turbidity currents which cut submarine canyons.     

Submarine hydrothermal mineralization in the Okinawa Trough, SW of Japan: an overview

The Okinawa Trough is a heavily sedimented, rifted back-arc basin formed in an intracontinental rift zone. Submarine hydrothermal activity is located within the six back-arc rifts located in the middle and southern Okinawa Trough and its distribution is controlled principally by tectonic factors. Subduction of the Daito and Gagua Ridges beneath the Ryukyu Arc has resulted in fracturing of the brittle lithosphere beneath the Okinawa Trough. Hydrothermal activity is strongest in the volcanic arc-rift migration phenomenon (VAMP) area plus the JADE site and Southernmost Part of the Okinawa Trough (SPOT) area which form the prolongation of these two ridges. These areas are characterized by extremely high heat flow locally. Submarine hydrothermal fluids from the Okinawa Trough tend to be strongly influenced by interaction of the hydrothermal fluids with organic matter in the sediment resulting in high alkalinity and NH₄⁺ concentrations of the fluids. The fluids also contain high concentrations of CO₂ of magmatic origin. Submarine hydrothermal mineralization in the trough is diverse. The CLAM site consists principally of carbonate chimneys. Interaction of the hydrothermal fluid with organic matter in the sediment is particularly strong at this site. This is most probably a sediment-hosted deposit in which sulphide minerals have deposited within the sediment column leaving ‘spent ore-fluids’ to emerge at the seafloor. The JADE site consists of active and inactive sulphide–sulphate chimneys and mounds. The Zn–Pb-rich sulphides at this site contain the highest concentrations of Pb, Ag and Au so far recorded in submarine hydrothermal sulphide deposits. At Minami-Ensei Knoll and Hatoma Knoll, active and inactive chimneys consist principally of anhydrite and barite as a result of phase separation of the hydrothermal fluids beneath the seafloor. An intense black smoker has recently been discovered at Yonaguni Knoll in the SPOT area. If it is confirmed that sulphide mineralization is dominant at this site, this could be a highly prospective area. The most prospective areas for economic-grade minerals in the Okinawa Trough appear to be the JADE site and the SPOT area.     

Diapir structure and its constraint on gas hydrate accumulation in the Makran accretionary prism,offshore Pakistan

The Makran accretionary prism is located at the junction of the Eurasian Plate, Arabian Plate and Indian Plate and is rich in natural gas hydrate (NGH) resources. It consists of a narrow continental shelf, a broad continental slope, and a deformation front. The continental slope can be further divided into the upper slope, middle slope, and lower slope. There are three types of diapir structure in the accretionary prism, namely mud diapir, mud volcano, and gas chimney. (1) The mud diapirs can be grouped into two types, namely the ones with low arching amplitude and weak-medium activity energy and the ones with high arching amplitude and medium-strong activity energy. The mud diapirs increase from offshore areas towards onshore areas in general, while the ones favorable for the formation of NGH are mainly distributed on the middle slope in the central and western parts of the accretionary prism. (2) The mud volcanoes are mainly concentrated along the anticline ridges in the southern part of the lower slope and the deformation front. (3) The gas chimneys can be grouped into three types, which are located in piggyback basins, active anticline ridges, and inactive anticline ridges, respectively. They are mainly distributed on the middle slope in the central and western parts of the accretionary prism and most of them are accompanied with thrust faults. The gas chimneys located at different tectonic locations started to be active at different time and pierced different horizons. The mud diapirs, mud volcanoes, and gas chimneys and thrust faults serve as the main pathways of gas migration, and thus are the important factors that control the formation, accumulation, and distribution of NGH in the Makran accretionary prism. Mud diapir/gas chimney type hydrate develop in the middle slope, mud volcano type hydrate develop in the southern lower slope and the deformation front, and stepped accretionary prism type hydrate develop on the central and northern lower slope. The middle slope, lower slope and deformation front in the central and western parts of the Makran accretionary prism jointly constitute the NGH prospect area.     

南海北部陆坡高饱和度天然气水合物气源运聚通道控藏作用

气源运聚通道与天然气水合物富集成藏关系密切。利用准三维地震资料并结合钻探成果,深入研究了神狐海域GMGS3钻探区高饱和度水合物站位气源运移疏导通道地质地球物理特征及其控藏作用。结果表明:高饱和度水合物产出站位发育多种类型运移疏导通道,且与BSR空间耦合关系较好;紧邻BSR之下为强振幅反射,强振幅下部游离气体充注现象明显,表明水合物稳定域下部存在气体运移的通道,且深部气体向浅层发生了运移。深大断裂、底辟及气烟囱构成了沟通深部热解气及浅层生物气与浅层温压稳定域的垂向通道,在这些通道上方可以直接形成水合物;浅部滑塌面、水道砂及海底扇构成的高孔渗连续性砂体为浅层生物气及深部运移而来的部分热成因气横向运移通道,气体的侧向运移扩大了气体供给范围,增加了矿体横向展布规模。文章认为,天然气运移疏导系统与其他成藏要素匹配良好的构造和区域是勘探高饱和度水合物的有利目标。     

Distinctive erosional and depositional structures formed at a canyon mouth: A lower Pleistocene deep‐water succession in the Kazusa forearc basin on the Boso Peninsula,Japan

The canyon mouth is an important component of submarine‐fan systems and is thought to play a significant role in the transformation of turbidity currents. However, the depositional and erosional structures that characterize canyon mouths have received less attention than other components of submarine‐fan systems. This study investigates the facies organization and geometry of turbidites that are interpreted to have developed at a canyon mouth in the early Pleistocene Kazusa forearc basin on the Boso Peninsula, Japan. The canyon‐mouth deposits have the following distinctive features: (i) The turbidite succession is thinner than both the canyon‐fill and submarine‐fan successions and is represented by amalgamation of sandstones and pebbly sandstones as a result of bypassing of turbidity currents. (ii) Sandstone beds and bedsets show an overall lenticular geometry and are commonly overlain by mud drapes, which are massive and contain fewer bioturbation structures than do the hemipelagic muddy deposits. (iii) The mud drapes have a microstructure characterized by aggregates of clay particles, which show features similar to those of fluid‐mud deposits, and are interpreted to represent deposition from fluid mud developed from turbidity current clouds. (iv) Large‐scale erosional surfaces are infilled with thick‐bedded to very thick‐bedded turbidites, which show lithofacies quite similar to those of the surrounding deposits, and are considered to be equivalent to scours. (v) Concave‐up erosional surfaces, some of which face in the upslope direction, are overlain by backset bedding, which is associated with many mud clasts. (vi) Tractional structures, some of which are equivalent to coarse‐grained sediment waves, were also developed, and were overlain locally by mud drapes, in association with mud drape‐filled scours, cut and fill structures and backset bedding. The combination of these outcrop‐scale erosional and depositional structures, together with the microstructure of the mud drapes, can be used to identify canyon‐mouth deposits in ancient deep‐water successions.     

Origin and age of pore waters in an actively venting gas hydrate field near Sado Island,Japan Sea: Interpretation of halogen and 129I distributions

A gas hydrate field with highly active venting of methane was recently found near Sado Island in the eastern Japan Sea. Piston cores were collected from active venting sites and nearby locations in the Umitaka Spur–Joetsu Knoll area during two cruises in 2004 (UT04) and 2005 (KY05-08). We report here halogen concentrations and ¹²⁹I/I ratios in pore waters associated with gas hydrates from these expeditions. The strongly biophilic behavior of I and, to a lesser degree, of Br together with the presence of the long-lived iodine radioisotope (¹²⁹I) allow evaluation of potential source materials for methane in gas hydrate systems. Depth profiles of all three halogens, particularly the very rapid downward increases of Br and I concentrations, strongly suggest input of deep fluids enriched in Br and I, but the profiles also display the effects of gas hydrate formation and dissociation. Although the ¹²⁹I/I ratios are modified by ¹²⁹I from seawater and sediments at shallow depth, likely ratios of the deep fluids are estimated to be between 400 × 10^− 15 and 600 × 10^− 15, equivalent to a Late Oligocene to Early Miocene age. Ages in the active methane venting sites typically are closer to the old end of this range than those in the reference sites. This age range suggests that the methane associated with venting and gas hydrate formation in this area is derived from organic materials accumulated during the initial opening of the Japan Sea. The Umitaka Spur–Joetsu Knoll gas hydrate field demonstrates the movement of deep fluids associated with the release of significant amounts of methane from the seafloor, processes which might be important components of mass transfer and carbon cycle in the shallow geosphere.