Sublacustrine mud volcanoes and methane seeps caused by dissociation of gas hydrates in Lake Baikal

Research Article| July 01, 2002 Sublacustrine mud volcanoes and methane seeps caused by dissociation of gas hydrates in Lake Baikal P. Van Rensbergen; P. Van Rensbergen 1Renard Centre of Marine Geology, University of Ghent, Krijgslaan 281-S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. De Batist; M. De Batist 1Renard Centre of Marine Geology, University of Ghent, Krijgslaan 281-S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Klerkx; J. Klerkx 2Department of Geology and Mineralogy, Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. Hus; R. Hus 3Renard Centre of Marine Geology, University of Ghent, Krijgslaan 281-S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Poort; J. Poort 3Renard Centre of Marine Geology, University of Ghent, Krijgslaan 281-S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. Vanneste; M. Vanneste 3Renard Centre of Marine Geology, University of Ghent, Krijgslaan 281-S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar N. Granin; N. Granin 4Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar O. Khlystov; O. Khlystov 4Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P. Krinitsky P. Krinitsky 5All Russian Institute for Geology and Mineral Resources of the World Ocean, Saint Petersburg, Russia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2002) 30 (7): 631–634. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0631:SMVAMS>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 08 Nov 2001 rev-recd: 25 Mar 2002 accepted: 09 Apr 2002 first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation P. Van Rensbergen, M. De Batist, J. Klerkx, R. Hus, J. Poort, M. Vanneste, N. Granin, O. Khlystov, P. Krinitsky; Sublacustrine mud volcanoes and methane seeps caused by dissociation of gas hydrates in Lake Baikal. Geology 2002;; 30 (7): 631–634. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0631:SMVAMS>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Four lake-floor seeps have been studied in the gas-hydrate area in Lake Baikal's South Basin by using side-scan sonar, detailed bathymetry, measurements of near-bottom water properties, heat-flow measurements, and selected seismic profiles in relation to results from geochemical pore-water analysis. The seeps at the lake floor are identified as methane seeps and occur in an area of high heat flow, where the base of the gas-hydrate layer shallows rapidly toward the vent sites from ∼400 m to ∼150 m below the lake floor. At the site of the seep, a vertical fluid conduit disrupts the sedimentary stratification from the base of the hydrate layer to the lake floor. The seeps are interpreted to result from local destabilization of gas-hydrate caused by a pulse of hydrothermal fluid flow along an active fault segment. This is the first time that methane seeps and/or mud volcanoes associated with gas-hydrate destabilization have been observed in a sublacustrine setting. The finding demonstrates the potential of tectonically controlled gas-hydrate destabilization to cause extreme pore-fluid overpressure and short-lived mud volcanism. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.