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1.
The processes involved in the interaction between organic fluids and carbonates, and the resulting effect on reservoir quality during the evolution and maturation of organic matter remain unclear despite the fact that these processes influence the carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of carbonates. Here, we provide new insights into these processes using data obtained from a detailed analysis of a mixed dolomitic–clastic and organic-rich sedimentary sequence within the middle Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Junggar Basin of NW China. The techniques used during this study include drillcore observations, thin section petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe microanalysis, and carbon and oxygen isotope analyses. Oil grades and total organic carbon (TOC) contents represent the amount of oil charging and the abundance of organic fluids within a reservoir, respectively, and both negatively correlate with the whole-rock δ13C and δ18O of the carbonates in the study area, indicating that organic fluids have affected the reservoir rocks. Secondary carbonates, including sparry calcite and dolomite overgrowths and cements, are common within the Lucaogou Formation. Well-developed sparry calcite is present within dark mudstone whereas the other two forms of secondary carbonates are present within the dolomite-rich reservoir rocks in this formation. Comparing thin section petrology with δ13C compositions suggests that the carbon isotopic composition of matrix carbonates varies little over small distances within a given horizon but varies significantly with stratigraphic height as a result of the development of secondary carbonates. The net change in whole-rock δ13C as a result of these secondary carbonates ranges from 1.8‰ to 4.6‰, with the secondary carbonates having calculated δ13C compositions from −18.6‰ to −8.5‰ that are indicative of an organic origin. The positive correlation between the concentration of Fe within matrix and secondary carbonates within one of the samples suggests that the diagenetic system within the Lucaogou Formation was relatively closed. The correlation between δ13C and δ18O in carbonates is commonly thought to be strengthened by the influence of meteoric water as well as organic fluids. However, good initial correlation between δ13C and δ18O of whole rock carbonates within the Lucaogou Formation (resulted from the evaporitic sedimentary environment) was reduced by organic fluids to some extent. Consequently, the δ13C–δ18O covariations within these sediments are not always reliable indicators of diagenetic alteration by organic fluids or meteoric water.The characteristics and δ13C compositions of the sparry calcite within the formation is indicative of a genetic relationship with organic acids as a result of the addition of organic CO2 to the reservoir. Further analysis suggests that both carbonate and feldspar were dissolved by interaction with organic CO2. However, dissolved carbonate reprecipitated as secondary carbonates, meaning that the interaction between organic fluids and dolomites did not directly improve reservoir quality, although this process did enhance the dissolution of feldspar and increase porosity. This indicates that the δ13C and δ18O of secondary carbonates and their influence on whole-rock carbonate isotopic values can be used to geochemically identify the effect of organic fluids on closed carbonate-rich reservoir systems. 相似文献
2.
为深入研究南海北部表层沉积物中碳酸盐的来源及其控制因素,采用湿筛法,对南海北部珠江口、陆架、陆坡及海盆表层沉积物中碳酸盐的含量、δ18O和δ13C及其粒度分布特征进行了研究。结果表明,南海北部表层沉积物中的碳酸盐可能主要以海洋自生碳酸盐为主,其含量在空间上以陆坡显著高于海盆、陆架及珠江口为特征。粒度上,陆架(水深80 m)和浅陆坡(水深550 m)处碳酸盐的粒度分布相对平均,但在珠江口及730 m以深,76.9%~84.5%的碳酸盐分布于小于32 μm的粒级中。另外,珠江口和陆架与陆坡和海盆碳酸盐δ18O和δ13C的空间及粒度分布特征显著不同。珠江口陆架区,在空间上从珠江口向陆架,全样碳酸盐的δ18O和δ13C由轻变重。粒度上,碳酸盐的δ18O和δ13C随着粒径的增大而变重,并且δ18O和δ13C之间正相关,主要受珠江淡水的δ18O及其δ13CDIC控制。陆坡海盆区,空间上,从陆坡向海盆,δ18O略有变轻,δ13C基本不变。粒度上,碳酸盐的δ18O和δ13C随着粒度的增大没有明显的变化趋势,并且δ18O与δ13C之间不相关或负相关。其δ18O可能主要受表层海水的温度控制,其δ13C可能主要受海水δ13CDIC控制。 相似文献
3.
Hydrocarbon-derived carbonate buildups of the northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope: A review of submersible investigations 总被引：15，自引：3，他引：15
Hydrocarbon-derived and microbially mediated authigenic carbonates occur over the entire depth range of the northern Gulf of Mexico slope. These carbonates consist of nodules and incipient nodules in surface sediments, hardgrounds and isolated slabs, and moundlike buildups of up to 10–20 m relief above the surrounding seafloor. The authigenic carbonates are characterized by
13C negative values in the range –18 to –55 (PDB) suggesting mixing of seawater carbon with13C-depleted carbon sources ranging from crude oil to biogenic methane. Near the shelf edge, carbonates are diluted with biogenic material produced by reefs—bioherms developed at low sea level stands. Fossil-poor carbonates over salt diapirs of the upper and middle slope formed in the shallow subsurface and have been exhumed by the combined processes of uplift and physical erosion. Middle and lower slope carbonates are generally rich in fossil shells of chemosynthetic organisms. Mg calcite pelloidal matrix and acicular to botryoidal aragonitic void-filling cements are common petrographic features of these hydrocarbonderived carbonates. At two sites carbonates are mixed with barite. 相似文献
4.
The circulation of methane-rich fluids at cold seeps often leads to the precipitation of seep carbonates close to the seafloor along continental margins, which can be used as records of past fluid seepage. Rare earth element (REE) concentrations in seep carbonates have been used to trace fluid sources and provide information on associated biogeochemical processes at cold seeps. The REE concentrations of a series of carbonates collected from cold seeps in the southwestern Dongsha area of the northern South China Sea are analyzed in this study. The total REE contents (ΣREE) of the seep carbonates analyzed show a wide variation from 17 ppm to 523 ppm with an average ΣREE value of 54 ppm, which are higher than the typical marine carbonate values of ∼28 ppm commonly reported and also higher than those of the carbonates from other cold seep areas. A positive correlation between Fe–Mn content and ΣREE was observed. These results suggest that the seep carbonates of this study were primarily controlled by the methane-derived fluid from which they precipitated. The Fe-rich dolomite and siderite, which are the main components of the carbonates, are responsible for the enrichment of the REE. A slight positive Ce anomaly observed in the shale-normalized REE patterns of the studied seep carbonates suggests that they formed in anoxic conditions, and the correlations between Ce/Ce* and LaN/SmN, Ce/Ce* and DyN/SmN, Ce/Ce* and ΣREE further reveal that the REE characteristics of most seep carbonate samples preserve the original redox conditions in which they precipitated and late diagenesis has had little effect on the REE. However, the REE characteristics of sub-samples DS2-2B, DS1-6A and DS1-7A are very different from those of the other sub-samples, indicating a greater impact of late diagenesis and post-oxidation favored REE enrichment. 相似文献
5.
Authigenic carbonates are frequently associated with methane cold-seep systems, which extensively occur in various geologic settings worldwide. Of interest is the relation between the fluids involved in their formation and the isotopic signals recorded in the carbonate cements. Along the Northern Apennines foothills (Italy), hydrocarbons and connate waters still seeping nowadays are believed to be the primary sources for the formation of fossil authigenic carbonate found in Plio-Pleistocene marine sediments. Four selected outcrops of dolomitic authigenic carbonates were analysed to compare signature of seeping fluids with fractionation of stable carbon and oxygen isotopes recorded in the carbonate.Along the foothills, deep methane-rich fluids spontaneously rise to the surface through mud volcanoes or are exploited in wells drilled nearby to the fossil Plio-Pleistocene authigenic carbonates. The plumbing system providing fluids to present-day cold seeps was structurally achieved in Late Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene. δ13C values of methane, which vary from −51.9 to −43.0‰ VPDB, indicate that gas composition from the deep hydrocarbon reservoirs is relatively uniform along the foothills. On the contrary, δ13C in fossil authigenic carbonates strongly varies among different areas and also within the same outcrop.The different carbon sources that fed the investigated carbonates were identified and include: thermogenic methane from the deep Miocene reservoirs, 13C-enriched CO2 derived from secondary methanogenesis and microbial methane from Pliocene successions buried in the Po Plain. The δ13C variability documented among samples from a single outcrop testifies that the authigenic carbonates might represent a record of varying biogeochemical processes in the hydrocarbon reservoirs. The sources of stable oxygen isotopes in authigenic carbonates are often ascribed to marine water. Oxygen isotopic fractionation in the dolomite cements indicates that marine pore water couldn't be the sole source of oxygen. δ18O values provide a preliminary evidence that connate waters had a role in the carbonates precipitation. The concomitant occurrence of active cold seepages and fossil record of former plumbing systems suggests that generation and migration of hydrocarbons are long-lasting and very effective processes along the Northern Apennines foothills. 相似文献
6.
This article focuses on field- and laboratory-based characterization of vertically persistent fractures that are part of oblique-slip normal fault zones and crosscut the Cretaceous platform and overlaying ramp carbonates outcropping at Maiella Mountain (central Italy). The achieved results show that: (i) fault damage zones are wider and more densely fractured in the platform carbonates than in the ramp ones; (ii) joints and sheared joints composing the fault damage zones are taller, better connected and less spaced within the former rocks than in the ramp carbonates. The aforementioned structural differences are interpreted to be a consequence of the different mechanical properties of the platform and ramp carbonates during failure. At Maiella Mountain, platform carbonates are, indeed, made up of overall stiffer (higher Uniaxial Compressive Strength values) and less porous rocks, due to more abundant intergranular void-filling cement and presence of matrix.In terms of hydrocarbon flow and recovery, geometric and dimensional attributes of fractures suggest that the well-connected network of closely spaced fractures cutting across the platform carbonates may form efficient pathways for both vertical and horizontal hydrocarbon flow. In contrast, the relatively poorly connected and low-density fracture network affecting the ramp carbonates is likely less efficient in providing fairways for flowing hydrocarbons. 相似文献
7.
The five chemical associations ofheavy metals have been extracted continuously using the Tessier extracting method.Results show that Cu,Pb,Fe,Zn and Cr in the sediments are mainly distributed in residual fraction,while the major chemical association of Mn is carbonates.Carbonate heavy metals are converted into Fe-Mn oxides in autunm.And in the low tidal flat,after carbonates have changed into ionic heavy metals,some of the elements are transported to the overlying water,Cu,Pb,Fe and Mn have good correlations with each other,and Zn,Cr also show their similarity of chemical behavior in the sediments. 相似文献
8.
Authigenic carbonates from outcrops of the northern Apennines consist of small and irregular lenses and exhibit numerous features indicative of cold-seep settings. Detailed petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical studies from two Miocene deposits are presented. The first carbonate outcrop, named Fosso Riconi, is located in the foredeep basin of the Apenninic chain, whereas the second deposit represents a satellite basin called Sarsetta. The stable isotope data from specific carbonate minerals show a wide range of values well known from other palaeoseeps of the Apennine Mountains. The majority of seep carbonates are formed by low-Mg calcite and ankerite. Those minerals have δ13C values between ?7 and ?23‰ V-PDB, suggesting variable amounts of carbonate derived from oxidized methane, seawater (dissolved inorganic carbon) and sedimentary organic matter. Dolomite samples have the lowest δ13C values (?30.8 to ?39.0‰ V-PDB), indicating methane as the main carbon source. The findings suggest an evolutionary formation of the seeps and development of authigenic carbonates influenced by the activity of chemosynthetic organisms, of which large lucinid clams are preserved. Bioirrigation by the clams controlled the sediment–water exchange, and is here considered as an explanation for the anomalous Mg content of the calcite. We hypothesize that the seep carbonates were formed during periods of active methane-rich seepage, whereas during periods of slow seepage carbonate formation was reduced. Despite different geological settings, the two examined deposits of Sarsetta and Fosso Riconi show similar features, suggesting that a common pattern of fluid circulation played a major role in carbonate formation at both seep sites. 相似文献
9.
Yasushi Kitano 《Journal of Oceanography》1986,42(5):402-420
It is indeed my great honor to receive the Oceanographical Society of Japan Prize (1986) for my geochemical study on the formation of carbonate sediment. The present article reviews my work on crystal form and minor element distribution in marine biogenic carbonates, which is an important part of my study on the above title. The contents of this article are: (1) outline of my research work, (2) aim of geochemical study on carbonate sediment, (3) basic knowledge for crystal form and minor element distribution in carbonates, (4) influence of chemical constituents dissolved in a parent solution on the polymorphic crystallization of calcium carbonate, (5) crystal form and type of marine biogenic carbonates, (6) synthesis of magnegian calcite in aqueous solution, (7) distribution of minor elements between solution and calcium carbonate precipitate, (8) amount of biogenic carbonate deposition annually in the ocean and (9) role of biogenic carbonate accumulating on the sea floor in the geochemical balance of chemical elements. 相似文献
10.
ZhouWcihua WuYunhua ChenShaoyong YinKedong 《海洋通报(英文版)》2003,5(2):14-21
Concentrations of organic matter, iron and manganese in the deep sea surface sediments in the Nansha Islands sea area, South China Sea are measured, Horizontal and vertical distributions of iron and manganese are discussed. The vertical distribution of iron and manganese in the sediments results from reduction, diffusion, and redeposition of manganese (or iron) oxide and hydroxide in the sediment. There are the maxima of iron and manganese in solid phase in the top of the sediment, which is caused by the penetration of O2 and the upward flux of Mn^2 ( or Fe^2 ). Manganese bacteria play a very important role in the cycle of solid-phase iron and manganese in the ocean environment. Manganese bacteria oxidize Mn^2 ( or Fe^2 ) in dissolved state to Mn^4 ( or Fe^3 ) in oxidized state under the aerobic condition, whereas they reduce iron and manganese in anaerobic conditions. 相似文献
11.
The southern uplift of the Qiongdongnan Basin is a deepwater area in which no wells have beens drilled. The Miocene-Quaternary strata in the Xisha Islands, which are located 40–100 km to the south, are composed of carbonate reef formations. Paleotectonic and paleogeographic analyses of the basin suggest that the southern uplift experienced favorable geological conditions for the development of carbonate reefs during the Miocene.The high-impedance carbonates have high amplitudes and low frequencies on seismic profiles. The reefs are distributed on paleotectonic highs and are thicker than the contemporaneous formations. A forward model of the variation in carbonate thickness based on lithological and velocity information from wells in nearby regions can simulate the seismic response of carbonates with different thicknesses. We identified several important controlling points for determining the thickness of carbonates from seismic profiles, including the pinchout point,the λ/4 thickness point, and the λ/2 thickness point. We depict a carbonate thickness map in the deepwater area of the southern Qiongdongnan Basin based on this model. The carbonate thickness map, the paleotectonic and paleogeographic background, and the seismic response characteristics of reefs suggest that the carbonates that developed on the southern uplift of the Qiongdongnan Basin during the Miocene were mainly an isolated carbonate platform peninsula and ramp deposits. It consisted of gentle ramp platform, steep slope platform,platform depression, gravity flow, and reef bank facies. 相似文献
12.
Submersible investigations with the ROV Victor 6000 of some pockmark structures on the seafloor of the Congo deep-sea fan
have shown that they are active venting sites of methane-rich fluids, associated with abundant fauna and carbonate crusts.
Moreover, methane hydrates have been observed both outcropping and deep in the sediments in the centre of the “Regab” giant
pockmark. Authigenic carbonates, mostly calcite sometimes mixed with aragonite, are cementing the sedimentary matrix components
and fauna; diatoms are abundant but only as moulds, indicating that biogenic silica dissolution occurred in situ synchronous
with carbonate precipitation. The occurrence of diagenetic barite and pyrite in some carbonate crusts demonstrates that they
can be formed either within the sulphate/methane transition zone or deeper in sulphate-depleted sediments. The oxygen isotopic
compositions of the diagenetic carbonates (3.17–6.01‰ V-PDB) indicate that precipitation occurred with bottom seawater mixed
with a variable contribution of water from gas hydrate decomposition. The very low carbon isotopic compositions of the diagenetic
carbonates (−57.1 to −27.75‰ V-PDB) demonstrate that carbon derives mostly from the microbial oxidation of methane. 相似文献
13.
对碳酸盐岩(台地与生物礁)的研究具有重要的油气地质意义和科学价值。渐新世以来, 礼乐盆地及周缘开始了大规模的碳酸盐建造, 至今还有一定规模生物礁持续发育。文章通过拖网约束、井震对比和地震相类比方法对礼乐盆地周缘碳酸盐岩的发育特征、构造背景和时空分布规律进行系统研究。结果表明, 礼乐盆地主要发育孤立、前隆、掀斜断块型台地及生物礁。碳酸盐岩时空发育特征为: 1) 渐新世—早中新世以构造前隆和掀斜断块控制的开阔台地为主, 生物礁零星发育; 2) 早中新世—中中新世表现为大量孤立台地和生物礁; 3) 中中新世之后, 发生台地和礁的淹没, 盆地内主要发育点礁。结合构造背景和重磁特征分析表明, 古隆起、掀斜断块、前隆迁移和岩浆活动为控制礼乐盆地不同时期碳酸盐岩发育的主要构造要素。现今礼乐盆地及周缘大量生长的珊瑚礁, 主要发育在上新世—更新世岩浆活动形成的海山之上。 相似文献
14.
Ocean Science Journal - Our specific objectives were to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic, Mercury, Zinc, copper, Manganese and Cobalt) in the liver, gill, kidney... 相似文献
15.
《Marine Geology》2007,236(1-2):95-119
Lithified crusts located within the sediment and recovered from the Kebrit Deep (Red Sea) are composed of Fe- and Mn-(hydr)oxides, carbonates, and sulfides. Mineralogical and geochemical features of these crusts suggest that they are metalliferous layers lithified by carbonates and formed in the narrow band where the transition zone between the anoxic brine and deep seawater crossed the seafloor. Carbonates cementing the Fe–Mn-(hydr)oxides precipitated from normal saline seawater at T = 20–30 °C. Precipitation of Fe–Mn-(hydr)oxides was superimposed the carbonate precipitation in the transition zone. A pumping mechanism involving cyclic Fe- and Mn-(hydr)oxide precipitation/redissolution operated through the transition zone and produced an enrichment of a number of elements in the crusts. The microbiota played an important role in the geochemical cycle of the elements through the redoxcline and in the mineralogy of the sediments underlying the redoxcline waters. Diagenetic processes led to formation of bi- and ternary carbonates, and disulfides. 相似文献
16.
南海北部陆坡九龙甲烷礁冷泉碳酸盐岩沉积岩石学特征 总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3
本文对南海北部陆坡九龙甲烷礁采集的两个冷泉碳酸盐岩样品TVG-1和TVG-11进行了矿物学、岩石学和碳氧同位素分析研究。X射线衍射分析（XRD）结果表明，自生矿物主要为文石、白云石和高镁方解石等，碎屑矿物含量较少。TVG-11中存在大量的文石，而TVG-1只保留了已转化为方解石的文石假象，据此可以推断TVG-1的形成要早于TVG-11。扫描电镜（SEM）显微结构特征显示，自生矿物主要是通过细菌的厌氧氧化作用，直接从冷泉中沉淀出来的。碳、氧同位素测试结果显示，碳酸盐岩具有强δ^13C亏损和一定程度的δ^18O富集的特征，TVG-1和TVG-11的δ^13C值分别为-46．22％。和-52．88％，均低于-40%，表明碳源于微生物作用的甲烷厌氧氧化，是指示该海域存在冷泉的重要证据；TVG-1和TVG-11的δ^18O值分别为3．19‰和4．07‰，存在一定程度的δ^18O富集。碳氧同位素和矿物的显微结构特征都说明九龙甲烷礁碳酸盐岩是烃类渗漏微生物作用而形成的自生碳酸盐岩，可能是天然气水合物分解引起的沉积，显示该区存在水合物的可能性很大。 相似文献
17.
The Early Cretaceous South Atlantic Magmatic Province (SAMP), which includes the Paraná-Etendeka LIP, produced about 8 million km3 of tholeiitic basalt and diabase over an area of 4 million km2. Huge pre-salt oil reserves, discovered in 2007 by Petrobras in non-marine carbonates, are estimated at more than 45 billion barrels. Here we show the close causal relationship of the southward increasing width of the wedge-shaped South Atlantic rift with the similarly southward increase in igneous activity, in the thicknesses of non-marine carbonate and salt, and in the size of oil reserves, all controlled mainly by South America’s early clockwise rotation away from Africa about a pole in its northeast. Large diabase dike swarms transversal to the rift witness to South America’s rotation that opened in its wake the southward widening South Atlantic rift. Westward increasing pressure on the Equatorial margin by South America’s clockwise rotation forced open the Benue trough and created pre-late-Aptian folds in the Demerara Plateau and in Brazil’s Solimões (Upper Amazonas) basin. Prerift and synrift volcanic activity increases southward, culminating in the Parana-Etendeka LIP and in the offshore volcanic SDRSs that continue southward to the Cape Basin. Berriasian-Valanginian rift sediments deposited from about 145 Ma, 10 Ma before the flood basalts of the Parana-Etendeka LIP. The largest transversal dike swarm continued in the proto-Walvis Ridge that separated the central South Atlantic endorheic rift basin from the sea in the south; erosion and leaching of basalts supplied Ca, Mg, and SiO2 to the endorheic basin for the deposition of non-marine carbonates and authigenic clays. Basalt flows intercalated with carbonates nearly until salt deposition about 113 Ma. Hypogenic leaching of carbonates by mantle-derived CO2 created optimal reservoirs. Supergiant oil deposits occur where the widest endorheic basin and the volcanic province overlap. 相似文献
18.
珊瑚礁地层中的暴露面是海平面变化的忠实记录, 对地层层序的划分和研究珊瑚礁体的生长发育过程具有重要意义。本文基于手标本观察与薄片鉴定、碳氧同位素和矿物组成分析, 识别了南沙美济岛南科1井第四纪生物礁碳酸盐岩地层中的典型暴露面, 剖析了主要暴露面与海平面变化及珊瑚礁发育演化的关系。在南科1井(NK-1)第四纪地层中典型暴露面附近以出现大量溶蚀孔穴和红褐色或锈黄色钙质结核为特征, 其碳氧同位素偏负, 并富集Al、Th、Fe和稀土元素, 具有典型碳酸盐岩风化壳的特征。南科1井全新世礁体发育在晚更新世暴露面之上, AMS14C和U-Th年龄数据证实美济岛全新世珊瑚礁生长时段与南海其他珊瑚岛礁一致, 主要发育在8.2~4.7ka时期, 该时段海平面的缓慢上升为珊瑚礁连续垂向生长提供了有利环境。Sr同位素和古地磁年龄标定的南科1井更新世地层中的主要暴露面时代与南沙永暑礁和西沙群岛珊瑚礁地层中的暴露面时代基本一致, 主要暴露面对应于全球第四纪低海平面时期。 相似文献
19.
The sandy beaches of Anapa Bay Bar are a unique natural resource, but they are gradually being degrade under both natural
and anthropogenic factors. The emissions of sand and shelly ground from the adjacent sea bottom partly compensate for this
process. The concentration of carbonates may reach up to 50% in the beach sands, and most of these carbonates are of mollusk
origin. The major deposit formation role belongs to the key bivalve species: Chamelea gallina (Linnaeus, 1758). The average biomass of this mollusk species reaches up to 450 g/m2 at the depths of 5–10 m. The other two subdominating mollusk species, the bivalve Donax trunculus (Linnaeus, 1758) and the gastropod Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846), may impact as 16 g/m2 and 6 g/m2, respectively. Annually, 350 kg of shelly ground per running meter are newly deposited on Anapa beach. 相似文献
20.
Tsutomu Nakazawa Akira Nishimura Yasufumi Iryu Tsutomu Yamada Hiroshi Shibasaki Satoshi Shiokawa 《Marine Geology》2008,247(1-2):35-45
Carbonate rock cores drilled on the Kikai Seamount, northern Philippine Sea are examined for better understanding of tectonic history of the northern Philippine Sea. The Kikai Seamount, the summit of which is at 1960 m water depth, is an isolated high on the northwestern part of the Amami Plateau formed by subduction-related arc volcanism, and is situated close to the axis of the Ryukyu Trench in front of the Ryukyu Arc, SW Japan. The seamount is capped with shallow-water carbonates such as coral rudstone. Detailed examinations of lithology, larger foraminiferal assemblages, and Sr isotope composition reveal that the core material comprises Miocene carbonates unconformably overlain by Early Pleistocene carbonates. It indicates rapid subsidence of the Kikai Seamount since the Early Pleistocene. The most probable cause of rapid subsidence is collision and subduction of the Amami Plateau laden with the Kikai Seamount. The rapid subsidence may have started when the western corner of the plateau reached the Ryukyu Trench and began subduction beneath the Ryukyu Arc. The onset of the subsidence is likely to be controlled by a motion change in the Philippine Sea Plate. The latest change in subduction direction from north to northwestward into northwestward to west has been believed to have occurred at 1-2 Ma during latest Pliocene to Early Pleistocene time. The change of direction resulted in the shift from oblique into right-angle subduction of the plate beneath the Ryukyu Arc and also the onset of the collision and subduction of the Amami Plateau. 相似文献