Chih‐Hsien Sun

The University of Texas at Dallas

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Saulwood Lin

National Taiwan University

Chen‐Feng You

National Cheng Kung University

Robert J. Stern

The University of Texas at Dallas

Pei‐Chuan Chuang

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

San‐Hsiung Chung

Ministry of Economic Affairs

Andrew W. Dale

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

Tsanyao Frank Yang

National Taiwan University

Nai‐Chen Chen

National Taiwan University

Hsuan‐Wen Chen

National Taiwan University

Tsanyao Frank Yang

National Taiwan University

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National Taiwan University

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

National Cheng Kung University

Central Geological Survey, MOEA

Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica

Clinical Research Center Kiel

Technische Universität Berlin

GEOMAR Technologie GmbH - GTG

National Taiwan Ocean University

National Central University

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Estimation of methane flux offshore SW Taiwan and the influence of tectonics on gas hydrate accumulation

Geofluids (2010)

Pei‐Chuan Chuang Tsanyao Frank Yang Wei‐Li Hong Saulwood Lin Chih‐Hsien Sun

Abstract Widely distributed bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) imply the potential existence of gas hydrates offshore southwestern Taiwan. To compare the distribution of methane concentrations along passive and active margins in the region, bottom waters and cored sediments were collected during four cruises from 2005 to 2006. The results reveal that sites with high methane concentrations are predominantly distributed in the active margin and site GS5 is the only site that contains very high methane concentrations in the passive margin of studied area. Anomalously high methane fluxes still can be obtained from the calculation of diffusive methane flux, although there might be some gas leakage during or after sampling procedures. The profiles of methane and sulfate concentration reveal very shallow depths of the sulfate–methane interface (SMI) at some sites. There is evidence that sulfate reduction is mainly driven by the process of anaerobic methane oxidation. Thus, sulfate fluxes can be used as a proxy for methane fluxes through the use of diffusion equations; and the results show that the fluxes are very high in offshore southwestern Taiwan. The depths of the SMI are different at sites GH6 and C; however, both methane profiles reveal parallel methane gradients below the SMI. This might be because of methane migration to surface sediments from the same reservoir with the same diffusion rates. Although BSRs are widely distributed both in the active margin and in the passive margin, most sites with high methane concentrations have been found in the active margin. Therefore, the specific tectonic settings in offshore SW Taiwan might strongly control the stability of gas hydrates, and thus affect the methane concentrations and fluxes of the sediments and sea waters. Furthermore, the carbon isotopic composition of methane shows that a biogenic gas source is dominant at shallower depth; however, some thermogenic gases might be introduced through the fracture/fault zones from deeper source in the active region of studied area.

Clathrate hydrate

10.1111/j.1468-8123.2010.00313.x

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Citations (54)

Gases in Taiwan mud volcanoes: Chemical composition, methane carbon isotopes, and gas fluxes

Applied Geochemistry (2010)

Hung-Chun Chao Chen‐Feng You Chih‐Hsien Sun

Mud volcano

Volcanic Gases

10.1016/j.apgeochem.2009.12.009

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Chemical Diversity of the Ueno Basalts, Central Japan: Identification of Mantle and Crustal Contributions to Arc Basalts

Journal of Petrology (2002)

Jun‐Ichi Kimura William I. Manton Chih‐Hsien Sun Shigeru Iizumi Takeyoshi Yoshida

The Ueno Basalts of central Japan comprise a monogenetic volcanic cone complex that was active between 2·76 and 1·34 Ma. Basalts were erupted at more than 14 centers scattered over a region 40 km in diameter. Alkali basalt was erupted first, followed by sub-alkaline basalt. Quasi-concentric expansion of eruption centers coinciding with uplift and with decreasing alkalinity of the lavas suggests that Ueno magmatism originated from a mantle diapir as it mushroomed at the base of the lithosphere. Depleted asthenospheric mantle (alkali basalt), enriched lithospheric mantle (sub-alkaline basalt), and crustal components are identified as chemical end-members in the petrogenesis of the Ueno Basalts. Incompatible trace element abundances indicate that the Ueno alkali basalts are typical within-plate basalts, whereas the sub-alkaline basalts show strong affinities with normal arc lavas. Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions indicate that the mantle source of the alkali basalts was more depleted than that of the sub-alkaline basalts. About 7% melting of asthenospheric mantle in the garnet-lherzolite stability field produced the primitive alkali basalts and 12% melting of spinel lherzolite within the subcontinental lithosphere produced the primitive sub-alkaline basalts. Isotopic compositions and fluid mobile/immobile element ratios broadly covary with SiO2 contents in the sub-alkaline suite, and increasing silica content is associated with stronger EMII (Enriched Mantle II) isotope affinities and fluid mobile element abundances. A progressive AFC (assimilation–fractional crystallization) model assuming assimilation of a low-K silicic melt reproduces the chemical variations observed in the sub-alkaline suite. Melting of a flattening mantle diapir at the base of the lithosphere is the dominant cause of Ueno magmatism, accompanied by the assimilation of older arc crust.

Alkali basalt

Fractional crystallization (geology)

Silicic

Incompatible element

Petrogenesis

10.1093/petrology/43.10.1923

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Citations (44)

Relating sulfate and methane dynamics to geology: Accretionary prism offshore SW Taiwan

Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems (2013)

Pei‐Chuan Chuang Andrew W. Dale Klaus Wallmann Matthias Haeckel Tsanyao Frank Yang

Geochemical data (CH 4 , SO 4 2− , I − , Cl − , particulate organic carbon (POC), δ 13 C‐CH 4 , and δ 13 C‐CO 2 ) are presented from the upper 30 m of marine sediment on a tectonic submarine accretionary wedge offshore southwest Taiwan. The sampling stations covered three ridges (Tai‐Nan, Yung‐An, and Good Weather), each characterized by bottom simulating reflectors, acoustic turbidity, and different types of faulting and anticlines. Sulfate and iodide concentrations varied little from seawater‐like values in the upper 1–3 m of sediment at all stations; a feature that is consistent with irrigation of seawater by gas bubbles rising through the soft surface sediments. Below this depth, sulfate was rapidly consumed within 5–10 m by anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) at the sulfate‐methane transition. Carbon isotopic data imply a mainly biogenic methane source. A numerical transport‐reaction model was used to identify the supply pathways of methane and estimate depth‐integrated turnover rates at the three ridges. Methane gas ascending from deep layers, facilitated by thrusts and faults, was by far the dominant term in the methane budget at all sites. Differences in the proximity of the sampling sites to the faults and anticlines mainly accounted for the variability in gas fluxes and depth‐integrated AOM rates. By comparison, methane produced in situ by POC degradation within the modeled sediment column was unimportant. This study demonstrates that the geochemical trends in the continental margins offshore SW Taiwan are closely related to the different geological settings.

Accretionary wedge

Anticline

Seafloor Spreading

10.1002/ggge.20168

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Plutonic and metamorphic rocks from the Keraf Suture (NE Sudan): a glimpse of Neoproterozoic tectonic evolution on the NE margin of W. Gondwana

Precambrian Research (2003)

T Bailo H. Schandelmeier Gerhard Franz Chih‐Hsien Sun Robert J. Stern

10.1016/s0301-9268(03)00044-5

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Citations (35)