--> ABSTRACT: Patterns of Mercury Geochemical Anomalies in South China Sea, by H.-Z. Chen, P. Wang, and D. Zhou; #91021 (2010)

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PATTERNS OF MERCURY GEOCHEMICAL ANOMALIES IN SOUTH CHINA SEA

CHEN, HAN-ZONG, PING WANG, and DI ZHOU

Mercury contents in sea-surface air, seawater, and seabed sediments in the South China Sea have been determined in passed years in two schemes. One is a non-stopping, on-board determination of Hg contents in air and seawater. This was achieved by using the JM-3 Gold-film Mercury Detector, which is a Chinese patent product with a detection limit of 0.02 ng. A total of 1790 points along 11700 km survey lines have been measured in the southern South China Sea.. Among 19 anomalies identified, 10 are related to known or possible oil/gas fields; 7 to fault belts. The second scheme is the determination of Hg contents in air, water, and sediment samples in conjunction with other geochemical determinations. This has been conducted mainly in northern South China Sea as a part of geochemical exploration.

Mercury anomalies can be grouped into three patterns. Block-shaped anomalies often appear on top of anticline or buried hills and have medium to high contrast. When associated with hydrocarbon anomalies in sediments and seawater, mercury anomalies often occur in the center. Circular mercury anomalies are in general of high contrast and related with fault-bounded positive features. These two types of anomalies are often indicative of oil/gas prospects. Linear or beaded anomalies are usually related with fault belts or structural boundaries.  

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91021©1997 AAPG Annual Convention, Dallas, Texas.