Relationship between crustal degassing and microbial mineralization in active mud volcanoes, hydrocarbon seeps, and other environments

2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K03739
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Snyder Glen 東京大学, 大気海洋研究所, 特任研究員 (90751777)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 柿崎 喜宏 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 特任研究員 (20570633) [Withdrawn] ; 白石 史人 広島大学, 先進理工系科学研究科(理), 准教授 (30626908) ; 松本 良 明治大学, 研究・知財戦略機構(生田), 研究推進員(客員研究員) (40011762) ; 戸丸 仁 千葉大学, 大学院理学研究院, 准教授 (80588244) ; 高畑 直人 東京大学, 大気海洋研究所, 助教 (90345059) ; 伊地知 雄太 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 特任研究員 (10911258)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: gas hydrate / cold seep / noble gas isotopes / helium / argon / stable isotopes / dolomite / calcite

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Analyses were carried out on both gas hydrate microdolomite inclusions and methane derived carbonates.Using the data, we were able to derive a model for radiogenic helium-4 production within the two types of carbonate and determine quantitative differences between gases trapped in seep-related carbonates from Joetsu Basin, offshore Niigata,and Tatar Trough in the northern part of Japan Sea. We also determined the stable isotopic composition of the carbonates to compare with that of the carbon dioxide in the inclusions. The mineralogy of the carbonates was determined through X-ray diffaction.At the Mobara seep sites of Chiba Prefecture microcrystalline carbonates were not recovered but were able to determine the noble gas and stable isotopic composition of the bubbling gases.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

We currently have one paper in press:Shiraishi, F., Akimoto, T., Tomioka, N., Takahashi, Y., Matsumoto, R. and Snyder, G.T. (2023) Microbial traces found in microdolomite associated with seep-related shallow gas hydrate, Front. Earth Sci. Sec. Biogeoscience,11, DOI: 10.3389/feart.2023.1188142 In order to promote outreach with our research, we proposed an action plan for the UN Decade of Ocean Science: "Project COESS: Chemistry, Observation, and Ecology of Submarine Seeps" which was endorsed by UNESCO in September, 2022. Impurities in the carbonates have made it difficult to carry out analysis of stable Mg-isotopes. Despite progress in both analytical and geochemical modelling of our research, we were also unable to coordinate a time to do Field work in Hokkaido and Niigata during 2022.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

Both Snyder (PI) and Shiraishi (co-PI) have seep-related talks at the 2023 JpGU meeting. A final field sampling effort will be carried out, either in Niigata in the Joetsu Basin area, or in Hokkaido near the seeps there. In addition, Snyder is currently guest associate editor of a Frontiers in Earth Science research theme on cold seeps and hydrothermal vents. The following manuscript is in preparation for the journal volume: Snyder et al. "Novel use of noble gas and stable isotope analyses of gas inclusions in authigenic carbonates to reveal past seep activity: A comparison of samples from Tatar Strait, Russia; Joetsu Basin, Japan; and Brejo do Espinho, Brazil." We still have a few samples which we must analyze for noble gas isotopes and stable isotopes before the manuscript is completed.

Causes of Carryover

The amount to be used next year is planned for Open-Access Publication fees. The manuscript, which we planned to complete during the past fiscal year is still in preparation and will be submitted to an international journal in coming months.

Remarks

Snyder is currently Guest Associate Editor for Frontiers in Earth Science Research Topic.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Ocean Dynamics and Methane Plume Activity in Tatar Strait, Far Eastern Federal District, Russia as Revealed by Seawater Chemistry, Hydroacoustics, and Noble Gas Isotopes (2022)
  • Author(s): Snyder, G.T., Yatsuk, A., Takahta, N., Shakirov, R., Tomaru, H., Tanaka, K., Obzhirov, A., Salomatin, A., Aoki, S., Khazanova, E., Maryina, E., Sano, Y, Matsumoto, R.
  • Journal Title: Frontiers in Earth Science Volume: 10 Pages: 1-21
  • DOI: 10.3389/feart.2023.1188142
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Geochemical distribution of helium, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane in Sakhalin Island mud volcanoes, hot springs, and cold seeps (2022)
  • Author(s): Syrbu, N.S., Snyder, G.T., Shakirov, R.B., Kholmogorov, A.O., Zharkov, R.V., Tsunogai, U.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research Volume: 431 Pages: 1-11
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2022.107667
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Hydrocarbon Gases in Seafloor Sediments of the Edge Shelf Zone of the East Siberian Sea and Adjacent Part of the Arctic Ocean (2022)
  • Author(s): Yatsuk, A., Gresov, A., G.T. Snyder
  • Journal Title: Frontiers in Earth Science Volume: 10 Pages: 1-19
  • DOI: 10.3389/feart.2022.856496
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Hydrocarbon seep dynamics revealed by noble gas and stable isotope analysis of gas inclusions of authigenic carbonates: A comparison of samples from Tatar Strait, Russia; Joetsu Basin, Japan; and Brejo do Espinho, Brazil. (2022)
  • Author(s): Snyder, G., Takahata, N., Bowden, S.A., Zhang, N., Shakirov, R.B., Tomaru, H., Shiraishi, F., Sano, Y., Matsumoto, R.
  • Organizer: Japan Geoscience Union Meeting, 2022
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Characteristics of microdolomite associated with gas hydrate (2022)
  • Author(s): Shiraishi, F., Akimto, T., Tomioka, N., Takahashi, Y., Matsumoto, R., Snyder, G.
  • Organizer: Japan Geoscience Union Meeting, 2022
• [Remarks] From Cold Seeps to Hydrothermal Vents
  • URL: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/47648/from-cold-seeps-to-hydrothermal-vents-geology-chemistry-microbiology-and-ecology-in-marine-and-coastal-environments