Abstract:

A pilot study on Miocene through Holocene sediments throughout the continental slope of the South China Sea was carried out for evaluating possible sediment regions and layers which might be suitable for distribution of gas hydrates. Among the Miocene through Holocene sediment sequences, the highest sedimentation rates were seen from the Holocene sediments, the second record occured during the Pleistocene. This result suggests Pleistocene and Holocene sediments might be  better host for gas hydrates than sediments formed during other periods in the South China Sea.Four areas (Dongsha area, Xisha Trough, Zhongjiannan area and Nansha area) with high sedimentation rates were recognized, especially sediments from the first three areas are rich of organic carbon and contain a number of autogenetic minerals associated with gas hydrates in sediments.These sediment records imply that Dongsha area, Xisha Trough and Zhongjiannan area are of possible importance for exploration of gas hydrates.

Key words: gas hydrate, feature of sediment, sedimentary composition, the continental slope of the South China Sea, Miocene, ODP Leg 184