Rare earth elements determination and distribution patterns in surface marine sediments of the South China Sea by INAA, Malaysia

The mechanical behaviors of hydrate-bearing marine sediments (HBMS) drilled from the seafloor need to be understood in order to safely exploit natural gas from marine hydrate reservoirs. In this study, hydrates were prepared using ice powder and CH4 gas, and HBMS from the Shenhu area in the South China Sea were remolded using a mixed sample preparation method. A series of triaxial tests were conducted on the remolded HBMS to investigate the effects of soil particle gradation and the existence of hydrate on the mechanical properties of hydrate reservoirs. The results show that the stiffness and failure strength of HBMS decrease along with the decrease of mean particle size and soil aggregate morphology change at different drilling depths, and the reduction of failure strength is more than 20% when the drilling depth drops by 30 m. A better particle gradation of marine sediments may boost the stiffness and failure strength of HBMS. In addition, the existence of hydrate plays an important role in the strength behaviors of HBMS. The reduction of failure strength of HBMS with 30% initial hydrate saturation is more than 35% after complete hydrate dissociation.

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Petrographical and Geochemical Signatures Linked to Fe/Mn Reduction in Subsurface Marine Sediments from the Hydrate-Bearing Area, Dongsha, the South China Sea

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min9100624 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 624 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xi Xiao ◽

Qian-Zhi Zhou ◽

Shao-Ying Fu ◽

Qian-Yong Liang ◽

Xiang-Po Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

South China Sea ◽

Marine Sediments ◽

South China ◽

Inorganic Carbon ◽

Solid Phase ◽

The South China Sea ◽

Anaerobic Oxidation Of Methane ◽

The South ◽

China Sea

Fe and Mn oxides and (oxy)-hydroxides are the most abundant solid-phase electron acceptors in marine sediments, and dissimilatory Fe/Mn reduction usually links with the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and organic matter oxidation (OMO) in sediments. In this study, we report the results from subsurface marine sediments in the Dongsha hydrate-bearing area in the South China Sea. The petrological and geochemical signatures show that the Fe/Mn reduction mediated by AOM and OMO might occur in sediments above the sulfate-methane transition zone. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses of sediments indicate that Fe(III)/Mn(IV)-oxides and authigenic carbonate minerals coexisted in the Fe/Mn reduction zone. The lower δ13C values of dissolved inorganic carbon, coupled with an evident increase in total inorganic carbon contents and a decrease in Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations indicate the onset of AOM in this zone, and the greater variation of PO43− and NH4+ concentrations in pore water suggests the higher OMO rates in subsurface sediments. Geochemical and mineralogical analyses suggest that the previously buried Fe(III)/Mn(IV) oxides might be activated and lead to the onset of Fe/Mn reduction induced by AOM and OMO. These findings may extend our understanding of the biogeochemical processes involved in Fe/Mn reduction in continental shelves with abundant methane, organic matter, and terrigenous metal oxides.

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