Abstract
Over the past 15 years, massive gas hydrate deposits have been studied extensively in Joetsu Basin, Japan Sea, where they are associated primarily with active gas chimney structures. Our research documents the discovery of spheroidal microdolomite aggregates found in association with other impurities inside of these massive gas hydrates. The microdolomites are often conjoined and show dark internal cores occasionally hosting saline fluid inclusions. Bacteroidetes sp. are concentrated on the inner rims of microdolomite grains, where they degrade complex petroleum-macromolecules present as an impurity within yellow methane hydrate. These oils show increasing biodegradation with depth which is consistent with the microbial activity of Bacteroidetes. Further investigation of these microdolomites and their contents can potentially yield insight into the dynamics and microbial ecology of other hydrate localities. If microdolomites are indeed found to be ubiquitous in both present and fossil hydrate settings, the materials preserved within may provide valuable insights into an unusual microhabitat which could have once fostered ancient life.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1876 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Scientific Reports |
| Volume | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 5 Feb 2020 |
Bibliographical note
This study was conducted under the commission of AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan) from 2013–2015 as part of the methane hydrate research project funded by METI (the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan). Ongoing work is currently being carried out thanks to a Grant-in-aid provided by the JSPS and MEXT (Kaken Project # 17K05712). The authors also would like to acknowledge laboratory assistance provided by A. Hiruta, T. Oi, N. Ishida, and R. Warabi (GHRL, Meiji University), Y. Kusaba (AORI, University of Tokyo), S. Motai (Kochi Inst. Core Sample Research, JAMSTEC), and Y. Nakajima (Joetsu Environmental Science Centre).Keywords
- carbon cycle
- marine biology
- marine chemistry
- HIGH METHANE FLUX
- EASTERN MARGIN
- CARBONATES
- OXYGEN-ISOTOPE
- COMMUNITIES
- MARINE-SEDIMENTS
- DOLOMITE
- JOETSU BASIN
- DIVERSITY
- ISOTOPE FRACTIONATION
Access to Document
- Snyder_SciRep_Evidence_VOR
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