Unique authigenic mineral assemblages and planktonic foraminifera reveal dynamic cold seepage in the Southern South China sea

Abstract

Many cold seeps and gas hydrate areas have not been discovered beside the Beikan basin in the southern South China Sea (SCS), and their characteristics and histories also remain poorly known. Here we describe authigenic minerals and the carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber from sediment core 2PC, recovered from the gas hydrate zone of the Nansha Trough, southern SCS, to elucidate its history of dynamic cold seepage. We infer that the occurrence of authigenic gypsum crystals and pyrite concretions, and anomalously negative δ13 C values of Globigerinoides ruber, reflect paleo-methane seepage. Two major methane release events were identified, based on remarkable excursions in foraminifera δ13 C at depths of 150–250 cm and 350–370 cm. Euhedral gypsum crystals and tubular pyrite concretions co-occur with extremely negative planktonic foraminifera δ13 C values, indicating a shift in the sulfate methane transition zone and a change in the methane flux. Our data suggest that authigenic mineral assemblages and δ13 C values of planktonic foraminifera provide a valuable tool in elucidating the characteristics of dynamic methane seepage in a marine environment.