Gas hydrate associated with mud diapirs in southern Okinawa Trough

Many mud diapirs have been recognized in southern Okinawa Trough by a multi-channel seismic surveying on R/V KEXUE I in 2001. Gas hydrates have been identified, by the seismic reflection characteristics, the velocity analysis and the impedance inversion. Geothermal heat flow around the central of the mud diapir has been determined theoretically by the Bottom Simulating Reflectors (BSRs). Comparing the BSR derived and the measured heat flow values, we infer that the BSR immediately at the top of the mud diapirs indicate the base of the saturated gas hydrate formation zone (BSGHFZ), but not, as we ordinarily know, the base of the gas hydrate stability zone (BGHSZ), which could be explained by the abnormal regional background heat flow and free gas flux associated with mud diapirs. As a result, it helps us to better understand the generation mechanism of the gas hydrates associated with mud diapirs and to predict the gas hydrate potential in the southern Okinawa Trough.     

Mineralogy,geochemistry, and sulfur isotope characteristics of sediment-hosted hydrothermal sulfide minerals from the southern Okinawa Trough

Studies of the mineralogy and sulfur isotope composition of sediment-hosted hydrothermal sulfide minerals in cores are important for understanding the seafloor mineralization environment and material source and reconstructing the hydrothermal history. However, the source of ore-forming materials and the history of hydrothermal activity in the southern Okinawa Trough (SOT) remain unclear. Here, the mineralogy and sulfur isotope characteristics of sulfides from gravity core HOBAB4-S2, collected between the Yonaguni Knoll IV hydrothermal field (HF) and the Tangyin HF, was investigated. Enrichments in Zn (up to 321×10?6), Cu (up to 73.7×10?6), and Pb (up to 160×10?6) and the presence of pyrite, galena, pyrrhotite and minor sphalerite and chalcopyrite provide evidence for the input of hydrothermal materials into the sediments. The pyrite morphologies include disseminated cubic, pentagonal dodecahedron, and framboidal forms. Except for minor framboidal pyrite, euhedral pyrite from core HOBAB4-S2 is mainly of hydrothermal origin with Co/Ni ratios >1 and S/Fe atomic ratios <2 in the Cu-Zn-Pb-rich layers. The occurrences of hexagonal pyrrhotite, high-Co (up to 0.17%) pyrite and high-Fe sphalerite indicate that the hydrothermal precipitates formed at medium-high temperatures and low-sulfur fugacity (fS₂) environments. The δ34S values of sulfides (0.21‰–3.45‰) with low- fS₂ mineral assemblages (e.g., pyrrhotite ± high-Fe sphalerite) in the core are significantly lower than those of magmatic rocks and seawater, indicating possible incorporation of previously formed biogenic sulfur in the sediment. Combined with the age model of the core, it is suggested that hydrothermal activity likely began in the Tangyin HF before AD 1445–1483 and that at least three active episodes may have occurred since then.     

冲绳海槽南部两万年来碳酸盐溶跃面的变迁

对冲绳海槽南部表层沉积和晚第四纪沉积柱状样中百余个样品进行了浮游及底栖有孔虫、翼足类等微体化石定量分析。通过表层沉积样品中底栖有孔虫占有孔虫全群比例、底栖有孔虫群中胶结质壳比例、浮游有孔虫碎壳率和浮游及底栖有孔虫丰度等多种标志的水深变化,确定冲绳海槽现代的碳酸盐溶跃面位于水深１５００～１６００ｍ处。进而,在高分辨率地层学基础上,检验这些指示溶解作用的标志和翼足类丰度等在柱状样中的变化,结果发现末次冰期冲绳海槽碳酸盐溶解作用显著减弱,碳酸盐溶跃面和文石补偿深度急剧变深;至冰后期碳酸盐溶解作用又急剧增强,溶跃面和文石补偿深度又变浅至与现代相当的位置。这些变化与南海等西太平洋其他海区的特征相一致。     

南沙海槽南部海区表层沉积物的碳酸盐沉积特征

南海的深海碳酸盐沉积及溶解作用包含极其丰富的信息,既由于陆源物质供应而关系到陆地风化作用速度及气候问题,又通过海水生产力和碱度涉及大气CO₂含量的变化[1～2].南沙海槽位于加里曼丹岛西北部大陆坡与南沙台阶之间,构造上处在南沙海槽北断裂和南沙海槽南断裂之间的断堑带,南沙台阶有众多的海山、礁盘与槽谷,东南坡直下南沙海槽,其坡度变化为5°47'-2°23'-1°57'[3].研究区为7°Ｎ以南至曾母暗沙浅滩、112°E以东至加里曼丹岛西北大陆坡的海区,本文称之为南沙海槽南部海区.     

Organic biogeochemistry of the Darwin Mounds, a deep-water coral ecosystem, of the NE Atlantic

The Darwin Mounds are a series of small (5 m high, 75–100 m diameter) sandy features located in the northern Rockall Trough. They provide a habitat for communities of Lophelia pertusa and associated fauna. Suspended particulate organic matter (sPOM) reaching the deep-sea floor, which could potentially fuel this deep-water coral (DWC) ecosystem, was collected during summer 2000. This was relatively “fresh” (i.e. dominated by labile lipids such as polyunsaturated fatty acids) and was derived largely from phytoplankton remains and faecal pellets, with contributions from bacteria and microzooplankton. Labile sPOM components were enriched in the benthic boundary layer (10 m above bottom (mab)) relative to 150 mab. The action of certain benthic fauna that are exclusively associated with the DWC ecosystem (e.g. echiuran worms) leads to the subduction of fresh organic material into the sediments. The mound surface sediments are enriched in organic carbon, relative to off-mound sites. There is no evidence for hydrocarbon venting at this location.     

冲绳海槽海底硫化物中微生物矿化研究

报道了冲绳海槽伊平屋海洼海底黑烟囱样品中保留完好的矿化微生物群,它们的形态完好。主要有四种不同类型的丝状体,这些丝状体可能是硫或者铁氧化化能自养细菌和真菌矿化而成。对这些微生物矿化过程的研究表明,它们主要经过了两个阶段的矿化:(1)生物控制矿化阶段;(2)生物诱导矿化阶段。早期以生物控制矿化为主,晚期以生物诱导矿化为主。形成的矿物与热液成分以及微生物种类有关。     

东海蛾螺科(软体动物:腹足纲)一新记录属和一新记录种

通过整理分类中国科学院海洋生物标本馆历年采集的蛾螺科标本,发现了在东海大陆架生物资源调查时于冲绳海槽水深850—1685m深海处采集的3号蛾螺科标本。经研究发现为一新记录属深海蛾螺属Bathyancistrolepis的一新记录种车轴深海蛾螺Bathyancistrolepis trochoideus(Dall,1907)。文中对其贝壳的形态特征进行了详细描述,对齿舌进行了解剖学研究,并对其分类地位进行了讨论。     

冲绳海槽海底地形的补偿模式研究Ⅰ.理论均衡响应函数的计算

本文从区域补偿和实验均衡出发,导出了上部负载和下部负载相关时理论均衡响应函数的计算公式,计算了弹性板有效厚度不同以及上部负载和下部负载的比例不同时的理论均衡响应函数曲线,并对曲线形态进行了初步的讨论．     

冲绳海槽中部表层沉积物的重矿物分布和来源

根据冲绳海槽表层沉积物的重矿物含量变化、物源、成因、地貌和沉积特征划分出东海陆坡、琉球岛坡和海槽槽底三个矿物组合区以及六个矿物组合亚区，并对其物质来源和影响范围作了讨论。     

冲绳海槽南部橄揽拉斑玄武岩研究

1995年夏季航次冲绳海槽地质、地球物理调查对海底岩石实施拖网取样，在与那国海底洼地西南边线采集到新鲜玄武岩样品。对岩石样品进行了薄片鉴定、岩石化学分析、稀土和微量元素分析以及银同位素分析等。结果表明，岩石为橄榄拉斑玄武岩，岩石微量元素和稀土元素分布具有地慢柱洋中脊玄武岩的特点；成岩熔浆来自上地慢，分异程度较低，混合作用较弱，结晶液线温度为1150－1200℃。