Geochemistry of mud volcano fluids in the Taiwan accretionary prism

Taiwan is located at the collision boundary between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Asian Continental Plate and is one of the most active orogenic belts in the world. Fluids sampled from 9 sub-aerial mud volcanoes distributed along two major geological structures in southwestern Taiwan, the Chishan fault and the Gutingkeng anticline, were analyzed to evaluate possible sources of water and the degree of fluid-sediment interaction at depth in an accretionary prism. Overall, the Taiwanese mud volcano fluids are characterized by high Cl contents, up to 347 mM, suggesting a marine origin from actively de-watering sedimentary pore waters along major structures on land. The fluids obtained from the Gutingkeng anticline, as well as from the Coastal Plain area, show high Cl, Na, K, Ca, Mg and NH₄, but low SO₄ and B concentrations. In contrast, the Chishan fault fluids are much less saline (1/4 seawater value), but show much heavier O isotope compositions (δ¹⁸O=5.1–6.5 ‰). A simplified scenario of mixing between sedimentary pore fluids and waters affected by clay dehydration released at depth can explain several crucial observations including heavy O isotopes, radiogenic Sr contents (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.71136–0.71283), and relatively low salinities in the Chishan fluids. Gases isolated from the mud volcanoes are predominantly CH₄ and CO₂, where the CH₄–C isotopic compositions show a thermogenic component of δ¹³C=−38 ‰. These results demonstrate that active mud volcano de-watering in Taiwan is a direct product of intense sediment accretion and plate collision in the region.     

Geochemical characteristics of mud volcano fluids in the southern margin of the Junggar basin,NW China: implications for fluid origin and mud volcano formation mechanisms

Mud volcanoes can provide important information about the underlying strata, hydrocarbon accumulation, and recent neotectonic movements in an area. The fluids erupting from mud volcanoes provide important information about their formation and evolution. The ion concentration and the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of the fluids that were erupted from the three mud volcano groups, Baiyanggou, Aiqigou, and Dushanzi, and nearby rivers in the southern margin of the Junggar basin, northwestern China, are studied. The concentrations of Na and Cl in mud volcano fluids are clearly elevated, displayed as the Na-Cl type. The δD and δ18O values of the fluids are similar between the Baiyanggou and Dushanzi mud volcanoes, which are mainly from ancient sedimentary pore water. However, the Aiqigou mud volcano is depleted in dissolved Cl and shows lower δ18O values with mixed sources, including deep pore and local meteoric water. Two types of mud volcanoes are proposed in this study. One type is low-energy mud volcanoes with a low volume of fluid of deep origin on the hillcrest, which display as mud pool/pie/hole. The other type is high-energy mud volcanoes having mixed fluid origin in the valley and formed in the shape of a mud cone (dome).     

Origin of light volatile hydrocarbon gases in mud volcano fluids, Gulf of Cadiz — Evidence for multiple sources and transport mechanisms in active sedimentary wedges

Widespread mud volcanism across the thick (≤ 14 km) seismically active sedimentary prism of the Gulf of Cadiz is driven by tectonic activity along extensive strike–slip faults and thrusts associated with the accommodation of the Africa–Eurasia convergence and building of the Arc of Gibraltar, respectively. An investigation of eleven active sites located on the Moroccan Margin and in deeper waters across the wedge showed that light volatile hydrocarbon gases vented at the mud volcanoes (MVs) have distinct, mainly thermogenic, origins. Gases of higher and lower thermal maturities are mixed at Ginsburg and Mercator MVs on the Moroccan Margin, probably because high maturity gases that are trapped beneath evaporite deposits are transported upwards at the MVs and mixed with shallower, less mature, thermogenic gases during migration. At all other sites except for the westernmost Porto MV, δ¹³C–CH₄ and δ²H–CH₄ values of ~ − 50‰ and − 200‰, respectively, suggest a common origin for methane; however, the ratio of CH₄/(C₂H₆ + C₃H₈) varies from ~ 10 to > 7000 between sites. Mixing of shallow biogenic and deep thermogenic gases cannot account for the observed compositions which instead result mainly from extensive migration of thermogenic gases in the deeply-buried sediments, possibly associated with biodegradation of C₂₊ homologues and secondary methane production at Captain Arutyunov and Carlos Ribeiro MVs. At the deep-water Bonjardim, Olenin and Carlos Ribeiro MVs, generation of C₂₊-enriched gases is probably promoted by high heat flux anomalies which have been measured in the western area of the wedge. At Porto MV, gases are highly enriched in CH₄ having δ¹³C–CH₄ ~ − 50‰, as at most sites, but markedly lower δ²H–CH₄ values < − 250‰, suggesting that it is not generated by thermal cracking of n-alkanes but rather that it has a deep Archaeal origin. The presence of petroleum-type hydrocarbons is consistent with a thermogenic origin, and at sites where CH₄ is predominant support the suggestion that gases have experienced extensive transport during which they mobilized oil from sediments ~ 2–4 km deep. These fluids then migrate into shallower, thermally immature muds, driving their mobilization and extrusion at the seafloor. At Porto MV, the limited presence of petroleum in mud breccia sediments further supports the hypothesis of a predominantly deep microbial origin of CH₄.     

Modeling of the temperature regime of mud volcano gryphons

This paper is devoted to modeling of the dynamics of the temperature regime of mud volcano gryphons. The model is elaborated on the basis of a nonstationary equation of thermal conductivity with a convective component and describes well the observed regularities of thermal regime of South Sakhalin mud volcano gryphons. It is shown that anomalous changes in the temperature of the water-mud mixture after the Gornozavodsk and Nevelsk earthquakes in 2006–2007 are caused by variations in motion velocity of the mixture in the supply pipes of gryphons. It also has been shown that influx of deep geofluids cannot be considered as the main reason for thermal anomalies.     

Mud volcano gas hydrates in the Gulf of Cadiz

ABSTRACT This paper presents new geochemical data on gas-hydrate-bearing mud volcanoes discovered for the first time in the Gulf of Cadiz during cruises TTR9 and TTR10 of the R/V Professor Logachev in 1999–2000. The estimated gas hydrate content is 3–16% of sediment volume and 5–31% of pore space volume. Estimated values of the water isotopic composition for the Ginsburg mud volcano are very heavy for δ¹⁸O (up to +53‰) and light for δD (up to − 210‰). Gas released from the hydrates contains 81% of C₁ and 19% of C₂₊. The inferred source of the gas in the hydrates is enriched in C₂–C₆ (≤ 5%), indicating that the gas has a thermogenic origin. Gas hydrate of cubic structure II should be formed from a gas of such composition. It is interpreted that the composition of the mud volcano fluid corresponds to deep oil basins below the Gulf of Cadiz.     

Sources of volatiles for a subduction zone volcano: Mutnovsky volcano,Kamchatka

Mass balance calculations of volatiles were performed for Mutnovsky volcano, Kamchatka, by comparing the chemical and isotopic compositions of gas emissions with the compositions of the main geochemical reservoirs in the subduction zone using a simple mixing model. The predominant deep component (up to 73% in the highest temperature fumaroles) is composed of slab fluid released during dehydration of the Pacific Plate. The mantle component does not exceed 2.1%. The fraction of gases from the continental crust varies from 0.5 to 5% depending on the composition of the crustal endmember that was used in the calculations. In terms of the gas composition, Mutnovsky volcano is a typical subduction volcano, but its fluid system has a complex structure. The observed compositional pattern in the volcanic fumaroles can be explained by degassing of two independent magma bodies.     

Geochemical characteristics of the mud volcano fluids in southwestern Taiwan and their possible linkage to elevated arsenic concentration in Chianan plain groundwater

Fluid and mud samples were collected from Wushanting (WST), Hsiaokunshui (HKS), Yenshuikeng (YSK), Kuantzeling (KZL), and Kunshuiping (KSP) mud volcanoes of southwestern Taiwan. Concentrations of major ions and trace elements in mud volcanic fluids were analyzed to find the possible linkage to elevated arsenic (As) concentrations in the Chianan plain groundwater. The elevated Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl⁻ concentrations indicated possible marine origin of the fluids. The trace element concentrations in the mud volcanic fluids were generally low, but the As concentrations were up to 0.12 mg/L. High contents of As, Fe, and Mn were observed in the mud samples. Saturation index calculations indicated that both carbonate and oxide minerals acted as potential sinks for As in the mud volcanic fluids. Arsenic in the dewatering fluids and muds may be transported by the subsurface flow and surface streams as suspended solids and eventually deposited in the Chianan plain aquifers. Under reducing conditions, As may be released from the host minerals (such as Fe- and Mn-oxides/hydroxides), thereby causing widespread groundwater As pollution.     

Spatial variation in fluid flow and geochemical fluxes across the sediment-seawater interface at the Carlos Ribeiro mud volcano (Gulf of Cadiz)

Submarine mud volcanism is an important pathway for transfer of deep-sourced fluids enriched in hydrocarbons and other elements into the ocean. Numerous mud volcanoes (MVs) have been discovered along oceanic plate margins, and integrated elemental fluxes are potentially significant for oceanic chemical budgets. Here, we present the first detailed study of the spatial variation in fluid and chemical fluxes at the Carlos Ribeiro MV in the Gulf of Cadiz. To this end, we combine analyses of the chemical composition of pore fluids with a 1-D transport-reaction model to quantify fluid fluxes, and fluxes of boron, lithium and methane, across the sediment-seawater interface. The pore fluids are significantly depleted in chloride, but enriched in lithium, boron and hydrocarbons, relative to seawater. Pore water profiles of sulphate, hydrogen sulphide and total alkalinity indicate that anaerobic oxidation of methane occurs at 34-180 cm depth below seafloor. Clay mineral dehydration, and in particular the transformation of smectite to illite, produces pore fluids that are depleted in chloride and potassium. Profiles of boron, lithium and potassium are closely related, which suggests that lithium and boron are released from the sediments during this transformation. Pore fluids are expelled into the water column by advection; fluid flow velocities are 4 cm yr⁻¹ at the apex of the MV but they rapidly decrease to 0.4 cm yr⁻¹ at the periphery. The associated fluxes of boron, lithium and methane vary between 7-301, 0.5-6 and 0-806 mmol m⁻² yr⁻¹, respectively. We demonstrate that fluxes of Li and B due to mud volcanism may be important on a global scale, however, release of methane into the overlying water column is suppressed by microbial methanotrophy.     

台湾西南部乌山顶泥火山的成因机制初探

乌山顶泥火山位于台湾西南部旗山断层沿线.由于台湾西南部具有独特的地质构造背景,沿着古亭坑背斜和旗山断层沿线分布了许多泥火山.本文以乌山顶泥火山为例,研究泥火山的成因.在了解泥火山地质背景、活动现状的基础上,分析了喷出物的矿物组成、古生物组合、流体地球化学特征.喷出的主要矿物有石英、伊利石、高岭石-蒙脱石混层矿物、伊利石-蒙脱石混层矿物,古生物有Reticulofenestra minuta、 Sphenolithus abies等,流体中的离子主要是Cl-、Na+等.由此探讨了泥浆来源和成因机制,认为泥火山的活动与深部古亭坑组地层存在异常高压有关,构造活动是泥火山活动的主要诱发因素.     

Generation of fluorine-bearing fluids in hydrothermal experiments

Fluorine-bearing fluids can be generated by breakdown of PdF₂ in hydrothermal experiments. This promising technique allows addition of a fixed amount of F without affecting the composition of the rest of the system. The method is simpler, more flexible and potentially yields better results than most other techniques of F addition. Melting and crystallization experiments using natural starting materials are particularly well suited to application of this method.     

铂族元素流体活动性

铂族元素(简称PGE)通常被认为是不活动性元素,可以用来示踪地幔源区和镁铁-超镁铁质岩浆的演化过程。然而,越来越多的野外地质证据和实验研究表明,PGE具有热液活动性,其活动性在指示岩石和矿床成因、地幔交代作用等方面具有重要意义。本文在回顾实际样品中PGE流体活动性的基础上,重点收集和整理了前人有关PGE流体活动性的实验研究和模型计算。大量地质记录显示岩浆活动常常伴随着热液事件发生,并且铂族元素的富集常与岩浆后期热液叠加作用以及大洋或盆地的热液事件有密切联系。溶解度实验结果表明,PGE在富Cl~-流体中的溶解度最高可达100n×10~(-6),而在富HS~-流体中则低几个数量级,仅有n×10~(-12)级别。高温高压实验及模拟计算显示,PGE通常以络合物形式在流体中进行迁移和富集,涉及的主要无机配位阴离子有Cl~-、HS~-、OH~-以及NH_3。这些PGE络合物或络合阴离子团的稳定性受流体的温度、氧逸度、离子浓度、pH等诸多因素的制约。其中,PGE-Cl络合物种型在PGE的浅部迁移中可能贡献最大,其稳定条件为中低温(300℃)、高盐度、高氧逸度、高Cl~-浓度、酸性的地质流体环境。而在还原、碱性、高S~(2-)浓度、相对中低温的流体条件下,PGE-HS种型则占主导。当流体环境为高温和碱性条件时,PGE-OH络合物种型则较为常见。相对其他几种络合物形式,PGE-NH_3对于PGE迁移的贡献较小,其最佳稳定条件为相对中低温、中碱性、相对低氧逸度的地质环境。最后,本文探讨了前人工作的不足以及未来亟需解决的问题。     

Fluid venting from a mud volcano in the Mediterranean Ridge Diapiric Belt

Direct observation of active emission of fluids and mud from a submarine mud volcano were made for the first time in an extensive field of mud diapirs and mud volcanoes on the Mediterranean Ridge using a video camera towed 2 m above the seafloor in 1800 m of water. This recent research using both long range and deep-towed sidescan sonar systems indicates also that diapirism and eruption of mud along the crest of the ridge is more common than previously thought. The southwards increase in age of rock fragments carried within the erupted mud supports the hypothesis that the fluid mud becomes overpressured within a southward-dipping backthrust from the Inner Deformation Front of this accretionary prism.     

羌塘盆地泥火山发育区天然气水合物地球化学勘查

泥火山是天然气水合物赋存的标志之一,是天然气水合物存在的主要证据.羌塘盆地冻土区发育大量泥火山.对泥火山发育区进行了地球化学勘查,结果表明,泥火山周围具有酸解烃、荧光光谱、碳酸盐、蚀变碳酸盐、微量元素等地球化学指标显著异常,甲烷碳同位素和三维荧光结果显示地球化学烃类异常为原油伴生气和凝析油成因,表明泥火山外围烃类富集是由油气藏渗漏形成.该结论对羌塘盆地天然气水合物勘查突破具有重要意义.     

New data on the material composition of mud volcano products on Kerch Peninsula

The results of recent studies of the isotope and chemical composition of the waters and breccias that erupted from mud volcanoes of Kerch Peninsula are presented. It was found that the waters of the volcanoes considered were characterized by low salinity, a chloride–hydrocarbonate–sodium composition, and an increased ¹⁸O content. The breccias were enriched in organic matter and some microelements (Li, Se, Hg, etc.). As for petrogenic elements, depletion of Ca in the breccias is noted.     

Deep structure of the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk mud volcano: Results of multidisciplinary seismic surveys

The paper presents the results of multidisciplinary seismic surveys carried out by refraction and reflection methods for compressional and shear waves on Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk mud volcano. A large extinct (approximately 60–70 years ago) volcano was identified near the active volcano, and its structure was studied. It was found that the recognized intermediate fluid-bearing chambers correlate with the distinguished tectonic dislocations. A supposition was made that the mud volcanism is sequentially developed in the northeastern direction and related to the modern tectonics of the Central Sakhalin Fault.     

Microbial methane turnover at mud volcanoes of the Gulf of Cadiz

The Gulf of Cadiz is a tectonically active area of the European continental margin and characterised by a high abundance of mud volcanoes, diapirs, pockmarks and carbonate chimneys. During the R/V SONNE expedition “GAP-Gibraltar Arc Processes (SO-175)” in December 2003, several mud volcanoes were surveyed for gas seepage and associated microbial methane turnover. Pore water analyses and methane oxidation measurements on sediment cores recovered from the centres of the mud volcanoes Captain Arutyunov, Bonjardim, Ginsburg, Gemini and a newly discovered, mud volcano-like structure called “No Name” show that thermogenic methane and associated higher hydrocarbons rising from deeper sediment strata are completely consumed within the seabed. The presence of a distinct sulphate-methane transition zone (SMT) overlapping with high sulphide concentrations suggests that methane oxidation is mediated under anaerobic conditions with sulphate as the electron acceptor. Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and sulphate reduction (SR) rates show maxima at the SMT, which was found between 20 and 200 cm below seafloor at the different mud volcanoes. In comparison to other methane seeps, AOM activity (<383 mmol m⁻² year⁻¹) and diffusive methane fluxes (<321 mmol m⁻² year⁻¹) in mud volcano sediments of the Gulf of Cadiz are low to mid range. Corresponding lipid biomarker and 16S rDNA clone library analysis give evidence that AOM is mediated by a mixed community of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea and associated sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) in the studied mud volcanoes. Little is known about the variability of methane fluxes in this environment. Carbonate crusts littering the seafloor of mud volcanoes in the northern part of the Gulf of Cadiz had strongly ¹³C-depleted lipid signatures indicative of higher seepage activities in the past. However, actual seafloor video observations showed only scarce traces of methane seepage and associated biological processes at the seafloor. No active fluid or free gas escape to the hydrosphere was observed visually at any of the surveyed mud volcanoes, and biogeochemical measurements indicate a complete methane consumption in the seafloor. Our observations suggest that the emission of methane to the hydrosphere from the mud volcano structures studied here may be insignificant at present.     

Geochemistry of diffuse low-temperature hydrothermal fluids in the North Fiji basin

Low-temperature (<13°C) diffuse hydrothermal fluids were sampled directly at the seafloor with a specially designed Hydro Bottom Station in the North Fiji Basin and analyzed for gases, major and minor elements, and a large number of trace metals. The fluids were significantly enriched in CO₂, Si, Li, Rb, Cs, Ba, Mn, and several trace metals compared to ambient seawater, had high CH₄ and H₂S concentrations, and had a slightly decreased salinity. Calculated end-member concentrations of the low-temperature fluids show a strong similarity to the neighboring hot vents, implying that the diffuse fluids are hot vent waters diluted by seawater. According to the chemical composition, the sampled fluids derive from vapor-phase fluids produced by subseafloor boiling and phase separation. Compared to hot vents from other regions, Mn, Fe, and other trace metal concentrations are low. Subsurface metal sulfide precipitation during cooling and dilution with seawater has further decreased the dissolved metal contents of the diffuse fluids, thus creating a very favorable environment for the hydrothermal fauna, as indicated by a very low Fe/H₂S ratio. Therefore, the fluids support high bioproductivity but no hydrothermal mineral precipitation. The emanation of the condensed vapor phase appears to have been stable during the past 10 years; however, the occurrence of metal sulfide particles in some fluid and sediment samples and small areas of dead fauna indicate that the hydrothermal system may be evolving toward the emanation of the stored brine phase.     

稀土元素在热液中的迁移与沉淀

近年来,高新技术产业的不断发展使得全球稀土资源需求不断上涨,此外稀土元素作为研究地球起源与演化等有关地球科学问题的重要工具也深受地球科学界的重视。而热水溶液体系中稀土元素迁移、富集、沉淀及分馏机制等相关理论知识的不断完善对于理解稀土成矿作用、稀土地球化学特征以及微量元素示踪等方面均具有重要意义。本文总结了近年来有关稀土元素在热液体系中迁移、沉淀以及轻、重稀土分馏的最新研究进展,对不同稀土络合物的稳定性、溶解度以及搬运稀土元素的能干性进行了阐述,最后展望了"稀土元素在热液中迁移与沉淀"研究中仍需完善及拓展的方向。     

Simulation of the 2011 South Sakhalin mud volcano eruption based on the GPS data

Sakhalin Island is the only region in the Russian Far East where mud volcanism is manifested on land. The South Sakhalin mud volcano is located in the south of the island in the zone of the Central Sakhalin Fault (upthrow-thrust). The horizontal and vertical displacements of the earth’s surface after this mud volcano erupted in 2011 are revealed for the first time based on the GPS observation data. On the basis of the inversion of the measured displacements for the homogeneous elastic half-space, a model of the finite spherical eruption source is constructed. The coordinates, depth, and possible size of the source are defined and the volumes of the erupted clay rock, water, and gas are estimated.