胶州湾沉积物中有机硫来源及成因机制的研究

有机硫是海洋沉积物中重要的硫形态,其中成岩有机硫对有机质保存和微量元素形态具有重要影响。利用化学提取及硫稳定同位素研究了胶州湾沉积物中碱可提取的腐殖酸硫(HA-S)、富里酸硫(FA-S)以及铬不可还原有机硫(non-CROS)的垂直分布、来源及形成机制。结果表明,non-CROS、HA-S以及FA-S的含量范围分别为19.1~52.6、3.35~7.82和27.3~38.6μmol/g,均处于其他许多近海沉积物中含量的低值区,且3者均为海洋生物有机硫和成岩有机硫的混合物。HA-S和nonCROS以海洋生物有机硫为主,其份数分别为65%~68%和67%~77%,而FA-S则以成岩有机硫为主(54%~73%)。相对于生物有机硫,成岩有机硫更易被碱和酸性Cr(Ⅱ)溶液提取,因此腐殖质硫和non-CROS都不能全面反映沉积物中有机硫的组成和来源。黄铁矿和腐殖质中成岩有机硫含量随深度的同步增加表明黄铁矿形成并未明显地竞争性抑制有机质硫化。     

Large-scale depositional characteristics of the Ulleung Basin and its impact on electrical resistivity and Archie-parameters for gas hydrate saturation estimates

Gas hydrate saturation estimates were obtained from an Archie-analysis of the Logging-While-Drilling (LWD) electrical resistivity logs under consideration of the regional geological framework of sediment deposition in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, of Korea. Porosity was determined from the LWD bulk density log and core-derived values of grain density. In situ measurements of pore-fluid salinity as well as formation temperature define a background trend for pore-fluid resistivity at each drill site. The LWD data were used to define sets of empirical Archie-constants for different depth-intervals of the logged borehole at all sites drilled during the second Ulleung Basin Gas Hydrate Drilling Expedition (UBGH2). A clustering of data with distinctly different trend-lines is evident in the cross-plot of porosity and formation factor for all sites drilled during UBGH2. The reason for the clustering is related to the difference between hemipelagic sediments (mostly covering the top ∼100 mbsf) and mass-transport deposits (MTD) and/or the occurrence of biogenic opal. For sites located in the north-eastern portion of the Ulleung Basin a set of individual Archie-parameters for a shallow depth interval (hemipelagic) and a deeper MTD zone was achieved. The deeper zone shows typically higher resistivities for the same range of porosities seen in the upper zone, reflecting a shift in sediment properties. The presence of large amounts of biogenic opal (up to and often over 50% as defined by XRD data) was especially observed at Sites UBGH2-2_1 and UBGH2-2_2 (as well as UBGH1-9 from a previous drilling expedition in 2007). The boundary between these two zones can also easily be identified in gamma-ray logs, which also show unusually low readings in the opal-rich interval. Only by incorporating different Archie-parameters for the different zones a reasonable estimate of gas hydrate saturation was achieved that also matches results from other techniques such as pore-fluid freshening, velocity-based calculations, and pressure-core degassing experiments. Seismically, individual boundaries between zones were determined using a grid of regional 2D seismic data. Zoning from the Archie-analysis for sites in the south-western portion of the Ulleung Basin was also observed, but at these sites it is linked to individually stacked MTDs only and does not reflect a mineralogical occurrence of biogenic opal or hemipelagic sedimentation. The individual MTD events represent differently compacted material often associated with a strong decrease in porosity (and increase in density), warranting a separate set of empirical Archie-parameters.     

Interactions between sediment chemistry and frenulate pogonophores (Annelida) in the north-east Atlantic

The small frenulate pogonophores (Annelida: Pogonophora a.k.a. Siboglinidae) typically inhabit muddy sediments on the continental slope, although a few species occur near hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. We present data on the distribution and habitat characteristics of several species on the European continental shelf and slope from 48°N to 75°N and show how the animals interact with the chemistry of the sediments. The environments inhabited include: shallow (30 m), organic-rich, fjord sediments; slope sediments (1000–2200 m) and methane seeps at 330 m depth. All the species studied obtain nutrition from endosymbiotic bacteria. They take up reduced sulphur species, or in one case, methane, through the posterior parts of their tubes buried in the anoxic sediment. We conclude that most species undertake sulphide ‘mining’, a mechanism previously demonstrated in the bivalves Lucinoma borealis and Thyasira sarsi. These pogonophores participate in the sulphur cycle and effectively lower the sulphide content of the sediments. Our results show that the abundance of frenulate pogonophores increases with increasing sedimentation and with decreasing abundance of other benthos, particularly bioturbating organisms. The maximum sustainable carrying capacity of non-seep sediments for frenulate pogonophores is limited by the rate of sulphate reduction.     

深圳湾海域表层和柱样沉积物中的重金属分布特征

分析深圳湾表层沉积物中锌、铬、镉、镍、铅、铜等6种重金属元素的含量发现它们的浓度均值已全部超过广东省海岸带沉积物背景值。根据潜在生态危害法,在6种重金属中镉造成的污染最严重,从潜在的生态危害指数评价看镉的含量已达到很高的污染水平。从面状分布看,重金属污染危害指数值在深圳河口区最低,在蛇口段居中等水平,在深圳湾内侧的近岸水域最大。柱样沉积物的浓度变化以1950年为界划分为两部分:1950年以来的现代沉积物中有较强的人类活动干扰痕迹,表现为重金属元素的浓度增长幅度大,且浓度很高,其均值全部大于广东省海岸带的背景值;1950年以前的近代沉积物中有稍弱的人类活动干扰痕迹。研究认为沉积物粒度特征、沉积速率、人类活动与重金属在沉积物中的浓度高低有直接相关关系,并直接影响到重金属在沉积物中的污染水平。     

An experimental study on microscopic characteristics of gas-bearing sediments under different gas reservoir pressures

Gas-bearing sediments are widely distributed in five continents all over the world. Most of the gases exist in the soil skeleton in the form of discrete large bubbles. The existence of gas-phase may increase or decrease the strength of the soil skeleton. So far, bubbles’ structural morphology and evolution characteristics in soil skeleton lack research, and the influence of different gas reservoir pressures on bubbles are still unclear. The micro characteristics of bubbles in the same sediment sample were studied using an industrial CT scanning test system to solve these problems. Using the image processing software, the micro variation characteristics of gas-bearing sediments in gas reservoir pressure change are obtained. The results show that the number and volume of bubbles in different equivalent radius ranges will change regularly under different gas reservoir pressure. With the increase of gas reservoir pressure, the number and volume of tiny bubbles decrease. In contrast, the number and volume of large bubbles increase, and the gas content in different positions increases and occupies a dominant position, driving the reduction of pore water and soil skeleton movement.     

The impact of shrimp trawling and associated sediment resuspension in mud dominated, shallow estuaries

To address the relative importance of shrimp trawling on seabed resuspension and bottom characteristics in shallow estuaries, a series of disturbance and monitoring experiments were conducted at a bay bottom mud site (2.5 m depth) in Galveston Bay, Texas in July 1998 and May 1999. Based on pre- and post-trawl sediment profiles of ⁷Be; pore water dissolved oxygen and sulfide concentration; and bulk sediment properties, it was estimated that the trawl rig, including the net, trawl doors, and “tickler chain,” excavate the seabed to a maximum depth of approximately 1.5 cm, with most areas displaying considerably less disturbance. Water column profile data in the turbid plume left by the trawl in these underconsolidated muds (85–90% porosity; <0.25 kPa undrained shear strength) demonstrate that suspended sediment inventories of up to 85–90 mg/cm² are produced immediately behind the trawl net; an order of magnitude higher than pre-trawl inventories and comparable to those observed during a 9–10 m/s wind event at the study site. Plume settling and dispersion caused suspended sediment inventories to return to pre-trawl values about 14 min after trawl passage in two separate experiments, indicating particles re-settle primarily as flocs before they can be widely dispersed by local currents. As a result of the passage of the trawl rig across the seabed, shear strength of the sediment surface showed no significant increase, suggesting that bed armoring is not taking place and the trawled areas will not show an increase in critical shear stress.     

Diel variation of benthic respiration in a coral reef sediment (Reunion Island,Indian Ocean)

Oxygen and total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) fluxes at the water–sediment interface were measured using benthic chambers to assess the short-term variations of community respiration (CR) in the back reef sediments of Reunion Island (Indian Ocean). Benthic CR had a daily cycle of minimal (6:00 AM) and maximal values (6:00 PM), showing increases of oxygen and DIC fluxes of 2.8- and 3.8-fold, respectively. Average CR values were observed at midday and midnight. The evolution of fluxes was positively related to oxygen concentration in ambient water, but not to temperature changes. In the study area, high daytime primary production augments the amount of energy available for community metabolism and increases benthic respiration. The benthic communities are therefore subjected to short-term variable environmental conditions with oxygen supersaturation during the day, and moderately hypoxic conditions at the end of the night.     

大连湾附近海域表层沉积物粒度特征及水动力环境指示

对大连湾、大窑湾外及其附近海域表层沉积物进行了粒度分析,揭示了该区域大致的沉积特征。结合相关的地质水文资料,探讨了其控制因素,同时对沉积环境进行了初步分析。研究区沉积物粒度组分以砂(平均含量34%)和粉砂(平均含量52%)为主,粘土含量比较少(平均含量14%),且主要分布在研究区中部水下台地之上,各组分相对含量呈东西向条带状分布,与地形分布趋势较为一致。北部近岸水下岸坡区,水深较浅,距离物源区较近且水动力条件复杂,沉积物粒度较粗;向南随水深增加水动力减弱,东部为一水下台地,沉积物粒径偏细。分选较好,粉砂和粘土组分在该区域最为富集,沉积物可能来自于通过东部海域自西向东进入研究区的远源物质;研究区南部水深增加,又出现一水下岸坡,其下地形趋于平坦,该区域在黄海环流体系的作用下,接受了较多来自包括山东半岛水下三角洲的粗颗粒物质。     

Hydrothermal Metalliferous Sediments and Waters Off the Lesser Antilles

Abstract

Considerable metal enrichments have been found in hydrothermal fluids and metalliferous sediments off the central Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc. The elements variably enriched in the fluids as a result of the hydrothermal activity are Fe, Mn, As, Si, B, Li and in the sediments, Fe, P, Mo, As, Sb, Hg, Cu and Pb. Variations in the concentrations of these elements in both fluids and sediments along the arc result from a number of factors, the most important of which is the stage that each island's volcano has reached in its eruptive cycle. Although hydrothermal mineralization on the sea floor off the islands is only low grade, phase separation in the hydrothermal fluids at depth could be leading to higher grade stockwork mineralization below the vent fields or the discharge of metal rich brines on the lower flanks of the volcanic islands.     

Wave‐induced pore pressure in relation to ocean floor stability of cohesionless soils

One of the important geotechnical considerations for many engineering installations, such as pipelines and anchors, in an oceanic environment involving sand deposits is that of potential ocean floor instability due to the development of high pore pressures caused by the direct action of waves. This article presents a procedure for evaluating the magnitude and distribution of wave‐induced pore pressures in ocean floor deposits. The method takes into account the distribution of wave‐induced pore pressures in ocean floor deposits. The method takes into account the distribution of cyclic shear stresses in the soil profile as well as the important factor of pore‐pressure dissipation. The variation of properties within the soil profile can also be easily incorporated into the analytical procedure. The analysis provides the complete time history of pore‐pressure response and shows clearly that failure to include the pore‐pressure dissipation effects would lead to radically conservative design. The results also provide a basis for designing remedial measures, if required, to avert the development of high pore pressures and their deleterious effects.