Abstract
In 2010 the MD179 project was undertaken aiming at recovery of deep seated gas hydrate, methane induced carbonate, and deep sediments older than 300 ka. Sediment samples were obtained in the Umitaka Spur, Joetsu Channel, Toyama Trough, Japan Basin, Nishi Tsugaru and Okushiri Ridge areas. Small amounts of sandy sediment have been retrieved as thin intercalations in Pleistocene and Holocene muddy layers, where trace fossils and strong bioturbations are commonly observed.
Those sandy sediments consist of very fine- to fine-grained sand grains, and are sometimes tuffaceous. Pore-size distribution measurements and thin-section observations of these sands were undertaken, which indicated that porosities of muddy sediments are around 50 % but those of arenites range from 42 to 52%. Mean pore sizes and permeabilities of those arenites are larger than those of mudstones. While the presence of gas hydrate in intergranular pores of sands has not been confirmed, the soupy occurrence in recovered sediments may strongly indicate the presence of hydrate filling the intergranular pore system of sands. Such arenites have been recognized till now in the Mallik, NW Territory Canada, as well as in the Nankai Trough areas, which are expected common even in the subsurface sandy sediments at the eastern margin of Japan Sea. Concentration of gas hydrate may need primary intergranular pores large enough for gas hydrate to occur within host sediments likely deposited in the sedimentary environment such as deep sea channels. Small amounts of sandy sediment were retrieved as thin intercalations in Pleistocene silty layers, because supplying sediments may not be abundant due to sea level fluctuation during Pleistocene ice age. As time of deposition of coarse-grained sediments can be recognized by the thermoluminescence (TL) dating method, sandy sediments are usually tuffaceous and contain a small amount of quartz grains, and TL dating has been completed only for seven samples, which indicate 48 to 980 ka in age. This study was performed as a part of the MH21 Research Consortium.
