4.7 Article

Insights into the origin of ferromanganese-rich deposits associated with South China Sea contourite depositional systems

Journal

MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
Volume 133, Issue -, Pages -

Publisher

ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2021.105257

Keywords

Contourite depositional systems; Fluid venting; Deep-water circulation; Northern South China Sea; Sr-Nd isotopes

Funding

  1. National Natural Science Foundation of China [41806063, 41976065]
  2. Laboratory for the Marine Geology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology [MGQNLM201818]
  3. Open Fund of the Key Labo-ratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sci-ences [MGE2018KG05]
  4. Shenzhen Science and Technology Program [KQTD20170810111725321]

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The study revealed abundant Fe-rich nodules along the continental margin of the South China Sea, which may be influenced by deep-seated hydrocarbon reservoirs. Another type of ferromanganese nodule forming along the lower slope is connected to a distinct deep-water flow from the North Pacific.
Contourites are globally-distributed features along continental margins where deep-water masses come across the seafloor; however, the genesis and metal-sources of marine mineral deposits associated with contourite deposits remain largely unknown. Abundant Fe-rich nodules were recovered along the continental margin of the South China Sea, where extensive cold-seep systems were also discovered. We measured synthetically geochemical elements, delta 13C, Sr and Nd isotopic data and organic proxies in Fe-oxy-hydroxide deposits from the upper and lower slope. Fe-rich nodules recovered from the upper slope represent the effect of an integrated diagenetic-hydrogenetic formation environment, in which fluid venting from deep-seated hydrocarbon reservoirs and deep-water erosion and chemistry could play an important role. In contrast, another kind of ferromanganese nodule forming along the lower slope and predominantly hydrogenetic is connected to a distinct deep-water flow from the North Pacific. These results give us a new insight into the mineralization processes associated with Fe oxidation-reduction processes on continental margins affected by contourite systems with abundant hydrocarbon seep, bottom water, and terrigenous inputs.

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