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Borowski, Walter S (2008): (Table 3) Gas hydrates collected within the Blake Ridge region, DSDP/ODP data [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.706208, Supplement to: Borowski, WS (2004): A review of methane and gas hydrates in the dynamic, stratified system of the Blake Ridge region, offshore southeastern North America. Chemical Geology, 205(3-4), 311-346, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2003.12.022

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Abstract:
The Blake Ridge region lies on the passive margin of southeastern North America and contains a large amount of methane gas hydrate. The methane and methane gas hydrate are predominantly biogenic, apparently produced by CO2 reduction. Reflection seismics indicate that bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs) enclose ~55,000 sq. km, with high-amplitude BSRs covering ~26,000 sq. km.
Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 164 drilled three deep holes on a 10-km-long transect (Sites 994, 995, and 997; water depth 2770-2798 m). Based on sampling and geochemical, thermal, seismic, and borehole geophysical measurements, gas hydrates are most likely present between ~190 and 450 m in sediment column. Gas hydrate is most often disseminated throughout the sediment column, although concentrations occur within specific sedimentary horizons, within supposed fault zones, and at the base of gas hydrate stability (BGHS) where methane recycling produces more pervasive concentrations of gas hydrate. Estimates of gas hydrate inventory are based on a variety of methods including geochemical proxies, vertical seismic profiling, electric logging, and measurements of in situ methane. Over the entire sediment column, at least ~2-4% of pore space volume (1-2% sediment volume) is occupied by methane gas hydrates, but average and maximum estimates are 5.4% and 12%, respectively. Extrapolation of vertical gas hydrate and methane inventory over the area containing high-amplitude BSRs yields estimates of 67-406 Gt (gigatons, 10**15 g) of methane gas hydrate (or 9-52 Gt of methane) and 2.6-27 Gt of methane occurring as gas bubbles below the BGHS. Average values are 185 Gt of gas hydrate and 24 Gt of methane as gas hydrate. Any gas hydrate occurring outside the area underlain by BSRs (as suggested by geochemical evidence) or that associated with low-amplitude BSRs may increase these estimates by an unknown factor.
Various data give conflicting pictures of mass transport with Blake Ridge sediments. The data can be reconciled by viewing the upper sedimentary section (<~150 m) as dominated by diffusion, and the lower section characterized by buoyant advection (migration) of gaseous methane with both modes of transport overprinting generally low rates of pore-fluid movement (~20 cm/ky). Methane migration seems necessary to produce observed gas hydrate distribution and inventory estimates.
Accumulation of gas hydrate in the Blake Ridge sediments depends on the amount of methane leaving the system versus the amount of methane entering the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) over geologic time. Although there are some point sources of methane loss from the sediments (e.g., seafloor seeps, ODP Site 996) of unknown magnitude, most of the documented methane loss occurs through diffusion and consumption at the sulfate-methane interface (SMI) by anaerobic methane oxidation (AMO; ~2?10**8 mol/year). Methane entering the GHSZ at a rate of ~1.3?10**9 mol/year indicates a methane-trapping efficiency of ~85%. 129I measurements suggest that the Blake Ridge system has accumulated gas hydrate over as much as 55 million years.
Coverage:
Median Latitude: 31.833697 * Median Longitude: -75.524153 * South-bound Latitude: 31.260000 * West-bound Longitude: -76.190900 * North-bound Latitude: 32.493883 * East-bound Longitude: -74.869800
Date/Time Start: 1980-10-13T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 1995-12-17T00:00:00
Minimum DEPTH, sediment/rock: 0.00 m * Maximum DEPTH, sediment/rock: 331.00 m
Event(s):
76-533A  * Latitude: 31.260000 * Longitude: -74.869800 * Date/Time: 1980-10-13T00:00:00 * Elevation: -3191.0 m * Penetration: 399 m * Recovery: 209.6 m * Location: North Atlantic/RIDGE * Campaign: Leg76 * Basis: Glomar Challenger * Method/Device: Drilling/drill rig (DRILL) * Comment: 29 cores; 258.7 m cored; 0 m drilled; 81 % recovery
164-994  * Latitude: 31.785700 * Longitude: -75.545817 * Date/Time Start: 1995-11-07T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 1995-11-20T00:00:00 * Elevation: -2798.4 m * Penetration: 1161.8 m * Recovery: 615.1 m * Location: South Atlantic Ocean * Campaign: Leg164 * Basis: Joides Resolution * Method/Device: Composite Core (COMPCORE) * Comment: 98 cores; 833 m cored; 0 m drilled; 73.8% recovery
164-994B  * Latitude: 31.785700 * Longitude: -75.545700 * Date/Time Start: 1995-11-08T23:50:00 * Date/Time End: 1995-11-08T00:45:00 * Elevation: -2797.6 m * Penetration: 6.9 m * Recovery: 6.94 m * Location: South Atlantic Ocean * Campaign: Leg164 * Basis: Joides Resolution * Method/Device: Drilling/drill rig (DRILL) * Comment: 1 core; 6.9 m cored; 0 m drilled; 100.6 % recovery
Parameter(s):
#NameShort NameUnitPrincipal InvestigatorMethod/DeviceComment
Event labelEvent
Latitude of eventLatitude
Longitude of eventLongitude
DEPTH, sediment/rockDepth sedmGeocode
Sample code/labelSample labelBorowski, Walter SDSDP/ODP/IODP sample designation
DescriptionDescriptionBorowski, Walter S
MethaneCH4%Borowski, Walter Svolume %
EthaneC2H6ppmvBorowski, Walter Svolume ppm
PropaneC3H8ppmvBorowski, Walter Svolume ppm
10 Carbon dioxideCO2%Borowski, Walter Svolume %
11 δ13C, methaneδ13C CH4‰ PDBBorowski, Walter SPDB
12 δ Deuterium, methaneδD CH4‰ SMOWBorowski, Walter SSMOW
13 δ13Cδ13C‰ PDBBorowski, Walter Sof CO2, PDB
Size:
163 data points

Data

Download dataset as tab-delimited text — use the following character encoding:


Event

Latitude

Longitude

Depth sed [m]

Sample label

Description

CH4 [%]

C2H6 [ppmv]

C3H8 [ppmv]
10 
CO2 [%]
11 
δ13C CH4 [‰ PDB]
12 
δD CH4 [‰ SMOW]
13 
δ13C [‰ PDB]
164-994 31.7857-75.5458261.05994D-4X-1, 5-6 cmNodular, 1 cm diameter; small (<1 mm) white specks12.69290.31.2
164-994B 31.7857-75.5457259.90994C-31X-7, 10-50Nodular, 5 cm diameter98.78862.01.2-67.0-5.7
164-994B31.7857-75.5457259.90994C-31X-7, 10-50Nodular, 5 cm diameter99.92135.0-69.7-205.0
164-994B31.7857-75.5457259.90994C-31X-7, 10-50Nodular, 5 cm diameter99.9752.0-67.4-5.7
164-994B31.7857-75.5457259.90994C-31X-7, 10-50Nodular, 5 cm diameter63.5
164-996 32.4939-76.19090.00996C-1H-1Cylindrical nodule99.467197.30.4-65.9-26.9
164-99632.4939-76.19090.10996A-1H-199.31101012.00.4
164-99632.4939-76.19090.20996B-1H-1Nodule99.30390969.00.6199.7
164-99632.4939-76.19090.20996B-1H-1Nodule99.4190753.00.5-65.8-136.0
164-99632.4939-76.19090.20996D-1HNodules
164-99632.4939-76.19090.20996D-1HNodules-66.6-175.0
164-99632.4939-76.19091.51996C-1H-2, 0-1Cylindrical nodule99.8385715.80.0
164-99632.4939-76.19092.40996C-2H-CCCylindrical, 5-8 cm length-65.9-26.9
164-99632.4939-76.190932.10996D-5X-199.6674718.30.3
164-99632.4939-76.190941.70996D-6H-1Veins99.6074410.90.3
164-99632.4939-76.190945.90996D-6H-5Veins-66.6-175.0-22.3
164-99632.4939-76.190946.70996E-6X-5Elongated nodules99.6074410.90.3
164-99632.4939-76.190952.50996A-8H-4Veins99.927720.50.0-63.9-23.2
164-99632.4939-76.190961.30996E-7H-CC99.707196.90.270.7-193.0-219.0
164-99632.4939-76.190963.80996A-9H-CCVeins99.927546.80.0-67.4-19.9
164-997 31.8432-75.4685331.00997A-42X-2Three cylindrical pieces, 5, 7 and 15 cm long; 4-6 cm diameter98.431963.81.6-65.8-196.0-21.2
164-99731.8432-75.4685331.00997A-42X-2Three cylindrical pieces, 5, 7 and 15 cm long; 4-6 cm diameter99.98190.0-66.2-201.0
164-99731.8432-75.4685331.00997A-42X-2Three cylindrical pieces, 5, 7 and 15 cm long; 4-6 cm diameter99.95146.0-66.1-206.0
164-99731.8432-75.4685331.00997A-42X-2Three cylindrical pieces, 5, 7 and 15 cm long; 4-6 cm diameter99.9774.0-66.5
164-99731.8432-75.4685331.00997A-42X-2Three cylindrical pieces, 5, 7 and 15 cm long; 4-6 cm diameter99.9970.0-65.9
76-533A 31.2600-74.8698237.76533A-13H-1, 26Matlike crystals contained in 1-2 cm layer of sediment36.001232.00.5-70.0