Carbon isotope evidence for widespread methane seeps in the ca. 635 Ma Doushantuo cap carbonate in south China

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 2008 Carbon isotope evidence for widespread methane seeps in the ca. 635 Ma Doushantuo cap carbonate in south China Jiasheng Wang; Jiasheng Wang * 1Faculty of Earth Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of the Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China, and Department of Geosciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA *E-mails: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ganqing Jiang; Ganqing Jiang * 2Department of Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154, USA *E-mails: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Shuhai Xiao; Shuhai Xiao * 3Department of Geosciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA *E-mails: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Qing Li; Qing Li 4Faculty of Earth Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of the Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Qing Wei Qing Wei 5Faculty of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Jiasheng Wang * 1Faculty of Earth Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of the Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China, and Department of Geosciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA Ganqing Jiang * 2Department of Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154, USA Shuhai Xiao * 3Department of Geosciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA Qing Li 4Faculty of Earth Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of the Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China Qing Wei 5Faculty of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China *E-mails: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 22 Oct 2007 Revision Received: 10 Jan 2008 Accepted: 11 Jan 2008 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2008 Geological Society of America Geology (2008) 36 (5): 347–350. https://doi.org/10.1130/G24513A.1 Article history Received: 22 Oct 2007 Revision Received: 10 Jan 2008 Accepted: 11 Jan 2008 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Jiasheng Wang, Ganqing Jiang, Shuhai Xiao, Qing Li, Qing Wei; Carbon isotope evidence for widespread methane seeps in the ca. 635 Ma Doushantuo cap carbonate in south China. Geology 2008;; 36 (5): 347–350. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G24513A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Distinctive sedimentary structures, textures, and extremely negative δ13Ccarb values from the Ediacaran Doushantuo cap carbonate (ca. 635 Ma) in south China were taken as evidence for a methane hydrate destabilization event, but existing data for a methane-derived δ13Ccarb signature were reported from a single locality in the Yangtze Gorges area. Here we report negative δ13Ccarb values as low as −48‰ (Vienna Peedee belemnite) from two additional sections ~6 km and 55 km from the original locality. These negative δ13Ccarb values were obtained from isopachous cements that fill stromatactis-like cavities, sheet cracks, and fractures, and from partially recrystallized carbonate crusts, consistent with carbonate precipitation at cold methane seeps. The new data support a widespread methane release event following the Nantuo glaciation in south China (ca. 635 Ma), which may have contributed to the origin of unusual sedimentary and isotope features of cap carbonates. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.