Formation of nodules on continental slopes in thenortheast of the South China Sea and itsimplications for cold seep

LU Yi; CHU Fengyou; DONG Yanhui; ZHU Zhimin; ZHU Jihao; LU Jianggu

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1001-909X.2020.02.003

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Journal of Marine Sciences ›› 2020, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (2) : 16-25. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-909X.2020.02.003

Formation of nodules on continental slopes in thenortheast of the South China Sea and itsimplications for cold seep

LU Yi^1,2, CHU Fengyou^*1,2, DONG Yanhui^1,2, ZHU Zhimin^1,2, ZHU Jihao^1,2, LU Jianggu^1,2

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Abstract

The polymetallic nodule samples were analyzed for their mineralogical and geochemical features, which were acquired on the northeastern slope of the South China Sea using the ROV named as Sea Dragon III. The results showed that the nodules in the study area were predominantly by rod-shaped with a two-layer structure. The outer layer of the polymetallic nodules was mineralogically and geochemically similar to hydrogenic nodules. While the inner layer was porously and composed of goethite with residual minor pyrite. Geochemically, the inner layer was characterized by high concentration of Fe and As but extremely low concentration of Mn, REE and other elements. The inner layer carbon isotopes ( δ¹³C ) of sample NH-2 was -30.91‰. The study presented that the early forming process of the nodules was related to the activities of cold seep, but the pyrite was oxidized following the extinction of cold seep. Under the influences of contour current in the area, the ferromanganese oxides continued to grow in the outer layer of the nodules.

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cold seep / South China Sea / Dongsha / continental slopes

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LU Yi, CHU Fengyou, DONG Yanhui, ZHU Zhimin, ZHU Jihao, LU Jianggu. Formation of nodules on continental slopes in thenortheast of the South China Sea and itsimplications for cold seep[J]. Journal of Marine Sciences. 2020, 38(2): 16-25 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-909X.2020.02.003

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