Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characteristics of authigenic pyrites in shallow core sediments in the Shenhu area of the northern South China Sea: Implications for a possible mud volcano environment

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Science China Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Distinct pyrites have been recovered from a shallow sediment core from Site 4B in the Shenhu area of the northern South China Sea. Based on the lithology, texture and structure of sediments, the stable sulfur isotope of pyrite and the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration of the sediments, a distinctive sediment interface is identified at a depth of about 1 m below the seafloor in the core sediments. The pyrites only accumulate in the lower part of the core as rods and foraminifera-infillings, and mainly within three intervals marked by high pyrite concentrations. The amount of pyrite in the sediments shows no remarkable correlation with TOC in the Site 4B core sediments. The stable sulfur isotopes of the pyrite have extremely negative values ranging from −41.69‰ to −49.16‰. They are considered to be the mutual product of sulfate bacterial reduction and sulfur bacterial disproportionation. Our research proposes that Site 4B might be located in or near a possible mud volcano sedimentary environment; a large amount of methane could migrate from deep to shallow sediments in an active mud volcano and thereby play a key role in the intensity of sulfate bacterial reduction and the amount of pyrite formed at Site 4B. Further, the variation in flux of deep methane fluid by intermittent mud volcanic eruptions might result in the deposition of authigenic pyrite intervals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zhang J L, Zhang P Z. A discussion of pyrite catalysis on the hydrocarbon generation progress (in Chinese). Adv Earth Sci, 1996, 11: 282–287

    Google Scholar 

  2. Rasmussen B. Evidence for pervasive petroleum generation and migration in 3.2 and 2.63 Ga shales. Geology, 2005, 33: 497–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Liu J, Lu H F, Liao Z L, et al. Distribution of sulfides in shallow sediments in Dongsha area, South China Sea, and its relationship to gas hydrates (in Chinese). Earth Sci Front, 2005, 12: 258–262

    Google Scholar 

  4. Chen D F, Feng D, Su Z, et al. Pyrite crystallization in seep carbonates at gas vent and hydrate site. Mater Sci Eng C, 2006, 26: 602–605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chen Z, Yan W, Chen M H, et al. Formation of authigenic gypsum and pyrite assemblage and its significance to gas venting in Nansha trough, South China Sea (in Chinese). Mar Geol Quat Geol, 2007, 27: 91–100

    Google Scholar 

  6. Pu X Q, Zhong S J, Yu W Q, et al. Authigenic sulfide minerals and their sulfur isotopes in sediments of the northern continental slope of the South China Sea and their implications for methane flux and gas hydrate formation. Chin Sci Bull, 2007, 52: 401–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Wignall P B, Newton R. Pyrite framboid diameter as a measure of oxygen deficiency in ancient mudrocks. Am J Sci, 1998, 298: 537–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bond D P G, Wignall P B. Pyrite framboid study of marine Permian-Triassic boundary sections: A complex anoxic event and its relationship to contemporaneous mass extinction. Geol Soc Am Bull, 2010, 122: 1265–1279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Sassen R, MacDonald I R, Guinasso N L J, et al. Bacterial methane oxidation in sea-floor gas hydrate: Significance to life in extreme environments. Geology, 1998, 26: 851–854

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Schieber J. Sedimentary pyrite: A window into the microbial past. Geology, 2002, 30: 531–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Xiao S H, Schiffbauer J D, McFadden K A, et al. Petrographic and SIMS pyrite sulfur isotope analyses of Ediacaran chert nodules: Implications for microbial processes in pyrite rim formation, silicification, and exceptional fossil preservation. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 2010, 297: 481–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Chambers L A, Trudinger P A. Microbiological fractionation of stable sulfur isotopes: A review and critique. Geomicrobiol J, 1979, 1: 249–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Berner R A. Early Diagenesis: A Theoretical Approach. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1980. 1–239

    Google Scholar 

  14. Berner R A. Sedimentary pyrite formation: An update. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1984, 48: 605–615

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ohmoto H, Kaiser C J, Geer K A. Systematics of sulphur isotopes in recent marine sediments and ancient sediment-hosted basemetal deposits. In: Herbert H M, Ho S E, eds. Stable Isotopes and Fluid Processes in Mineralization. Perth: The University Western Australia Press, 1990. 70–120

    Google Scholar 

  16. Habicht K S, Canfield D E. Isotope fractionation by sulfate-reducing natural populations and the isotopic composition of sulfide in marine sediments. Geology, 2001, 29: 555–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Chang H J, Chu X L, Huang J, et al. Sulfur isotope fractionation accompanying bacterial action under sedimentary condition (in Chinese). Geol Rev, 2007, 53: 807–813

    Google Scholar 

  18. Chen F, Su X, Nurnberg D, et al. Lithologic features of sediments characterized by high sedimentation rates since the last glacial maximum from Dongsha Area of the South China Sea (in Chinese). Mar Geol Quat Geol, 2006, 26: 9–17

    Google Scholar 

  19. Luan X W, Peng X C, Qiu Y. Tectonic Control on the Formation of High-deposition-rate Sediment Drift in the Northern Slope of the South China Sea (in Chinese). Geoscience 2009, 23: 183–198

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lu H F, Liu J, Chen F, et al. Authigenic pyrites from the shallow sediments in Dongsha Area of South China Sea: Implications for gas hydrates occurrence (in Chinese). Geol Res South China Sea, 2007, 1: 48–53

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lu H F, Chen F, Liao Z L, et al. Authigenic pyrite rods from the core HD196A in the northeastern South China Sea (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 2007, 81: 519–525

    Google Scholar 

  22. Wu S G, Liu Z, Wang W Y, et al. Late Cenozoic tectonic deformation in the Dongsha Islands and adjacent sea area. Chin J Oceanol Limnol, 2003, 21: 377–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Yao B C, Wan L, Wu N Y. Cenozoic plate tectonic activities in the Great South China Sea area (in Chinese). Geol Chin, 2004, 31: 113–122

    Google Scholar 

  24. Li Q Y, Zheng H B, Zhong G F, et al. Tectonic events indicated by late oligocene slumped deposits from the South China Sea (in Chinese). Earth Sci, 2005, 30: 19–24

    Google Scholar 

  25. Shao L, Pang X, Zhang G C. Late Oligocene tectonic event in the Northern South China Sea and its implications (in Chinese). Earth Sci, 2009, 34: 717–724

    Google Scholar 

  26. Huang Y Y, Suess E, Wu N Y, et al. Marine and Gas Hydrate Geology of the Northern South China Sea: Sino-German Cooperative SO-177 Cruise Report (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 2008

    Google Scholar 

  27. Su X, Chen F, Yu X H, et al. A pilot study on Miocene through Holocene sediments from the continental slope of the South China Sea in correlation with possible distribution of gas hydrates (in Chinese). Geoscience, 2005, 19: 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  28. Wu N Y, Zhang H Q, Yang S X, et al. Preliminary discussion on natural Gas Hydrate (NGH) reservoir system of Shenhu Area, north slope of South China Sea (in Chinese). Nat Gas Indust, 2007, 27: 1–6

    Google Scholar 

  29. Su Z, Pang X, Zhong Z H, et al. Dynamics of Tertiary tectonic evolution of the Baiyun Sag in the Pearl River Mouth Basin (in Chinese). Earth Sci Front, 2005, 12: 489–498

    Google Scholar 

  30. Wang J H, Pang X, Wang H B, et al. Discovery and Recognition of the central diapiric zone in Baiyun Depression, Pearl River Mouth Basin. Earth Sci, 2006, 31: 209–213

    Google Scholar 

  31. Shi W Z, Song Z F, Wang X L, et al. Diapir structure and its origin in the Baiyun Depression, Pearl River Mouth Basin (in Chinese). Chin Earth Sci, 2009, 34: 778–784

    Google Scholar 

  32. Wu N Y, Yang S X, Wang H B, et al. Gas-bearing fluid influx sub-system for gas hydrate geological system in Shenhu Area, Northern South China Sea (in Chinese). Chin J Geophys, 2009, 52: 1641–1650

    Google Scholar 

  33. Wang P X, Prell W L, Blum P, et al. Proceedings of Ocean Drilling Program, Initial Reports Volume 184, 2000

    Google Scholar 

  34. Lu H F. Mineralogical and geochemical studies on sediments from Dongsha Area, South China Sea: Evidence for gas hydrate occurrence. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Guangzhou: Sun Yat-Sen University, 2007

    Google Scholar 

  35. Lim Y C, Lin S, Yang T F, et al. Variations of methane induced pyrite formation in the accretionary wedge sediments offshore southwestern Taiwan. Mar Petrol Geol, 2011, 28: 1829–1837

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Goldhaber M B, Kaplan I R. Controls and consequences of sulfate reduction rates in recent marine sediments. Soil Sci, 1975, 119: 42–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Habicht K S, Canfield D E. Sulfur isotope fractionation during bacterial sulfate reduction in organic-rich sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1997, 61: 5351–5361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Rees C E, Jenkins W J, Monster J. The sulphur isotopic composition of ocean water sulphate. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1978, 42: 377–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Detmers J, Brüchert V, Habicht K S, et al. Diversity of sulfur isotope fractionations by sulfate-reducing prokaryotes. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2001, 67: 888–894

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Canfield D E, Thamdrup B. The production of 34S-depleted sulfide during bacterial disproportionation of elemental sulfur. Science, 1994, 266: 1973–1975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Huang H G, Di P F, Chen D F, et al. Global distribution and research progress of mud volcanoes (in Chinese). Bull Miner Petrol Geochem, 2011, 30: 189–197

    Google Scholar 

  42. He J X, Zhu Y H, Weng J N, et al. Characters of north-west mud diapir volcanoes in South China Sea and relatiohship between their accumulation and migration of oil and gas. Earth Sci, 2010, 35: 75–86

    Google Scholar 

  43. Milkov A V. Worldwide distribution of submarine mud volcanoes and associated gas hydrates. Mar Geol, 2000, 167: 29–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Wang L F, Sha Z B, Liang J Q, et al. Analysis of gas hydrate absence induced by the late-stage diapir domination in the borehole Sh5 of shenhu area. Geoscience, 2010, 24: 450–456

    Google Scholar 

  45. Zhang M, Sun X M, Lu Y, et al. Mineralogy of authigenic tube pyrite from the Southwest Taiwan Basin of South China Sea and its tracing significance for gas hydrates. Miner Depos, 2011, 30: 725–734

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology (China University of Geosciences), Wuhan, 430074, China

    Lei Xie & JiaSheng Wang

  2. Faculty of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Lei Xie, JiaSheng Wang, Zhou Wang, Jun Hu, HongRen Chen & Qi Lin

  3. Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    NengYou Wu & DaiDai Wu

  4. Guangzhou Center for Gas Hydrate Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    NengYou Wu, DaiDai Wu & XiaoWei Zhu

  5. Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    XiaoWei Zhu

Authors
  1. Lei Xie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. JiaSheng Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. NengYou Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. DaiDai Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zhou Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. XiaoWei Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jun Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. HongRen Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Qi Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to JiaSheng Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xie, L., Wang, J., Wu, N. et al. Characteristics of authigenic pyrites in shallow core sediments in the Shenhu area of the northern South China Sea: Implications for a possible mud volcano environment. Sci. China Earth Sci. 56, 541–548 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4511-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4511-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation