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Analyses of hydrocarbon gases and sulphate in sediments from the King George Basin, Antarctica

Thermogenic hydrocarbons, formed by the thermal alteration of organic matter, are encountered in several piston core stations in the King George Basin, Anatarctica. These hemipelagic sediments are being deposited in an area of active hydrothermalism, associated with the back-arc spreading in the Bransfield Strait. The lateral extent of sediments infiltrated by the hydrothermally influenced interstitial fluids is characterized by basalt diapiric intrusions and is delineated by an acoustically turbid zone in the sediments of the eastern part of the basin. Iron-sulphide-bearing veins and fractures cut across the sediment in several cores; they appear to be conduits for flow of hydrothermally altered fluids. These zones have the highest C2+ and ethene contents. The thermogenic hydrocarbons have molecular C1/(C2 + C3) ratios typically < 50 and delta13CH4 values between -38‰ and -48‰, indicating an organic source which has undergone strong thermal stress. Several sediment cores also have mixed gas signatures, which indicate the presence of substantial amounts of bacterial gas, predominantly methane. Hydrocarbon generation in the King George Basin is thought to be a local phenomenon, resulting from submarine volcanism with temperatures in the range 70-150°C. There are no apparent seepages of hydrocarbons into the water column, and it is not believed that significant accumulation of thermogenic hydrocarbons reside in the basin.

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Cite this as

Whiticar, Michael J, Suess, Erwin (1990). Dataset: Analyses of hydrocarbon gases and sulphate in sediments from the King George Basin, Antarctica. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.707463

DOI retrieved: 1990

Additional Info

Field Value
Imported on November 30, 2024
Last update November 30, 2024
License CC-BY-3.0
Source https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.707463
Author Whiticar, Michael J
Given Name Michael J
Family Name Whiticar
More Authors
Suess, Erwin
Source Creation 1990
Publication Year 1990
Resource Type application/zip - filename: Whiticar_Suess_1990b
Subject Areas
Name: Chemistry

Name: Lithosphere

Related Identifiers
Title: Hydrothermal hydrocarbon gases in the sediments of King George Basin, Bransfield Strait, Antarctica
Identifier: https://doi.org/10.1016/0883-2927(90)90044-6
Type: DOI
Relation: IsSupplementTo
Year: 1990
Source: Applied Geochemistry
Authors: Whiticar Michael J , Suess Erwin .