New silica clathrate minerals that are isostructural with natural gas hydrates

Koichi Momma (), Takuji Ikeda, Katsumi Nishikubo, Naoki Takahashi, Chibune Honma, Masayuki Takada, Yoshihiro Furukawa, Toshiro Nagase and Yasuhiro Kudoh
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Koichi Momma: Tohoku University, Aoba, Sendai
Takuji Ikeda: Research Center for Compact Chemical System, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Nigatake 4-2-1, Miyagino-ku
Katsumi Nishikubo: 1-16-5-303, Fukuei, Ichikawa
Naoki Takahashi: Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba, 955-2 Aoba-cho, Chuo-ku
Chibune Honma: 2345, Kamisanagura, Tateyama
Masayuki Takada: 456, Haikata, Oharano, Nishikyo-ku
Yoshihiro Furukawa: Tohoku University, Aoba, Sendai
Toshiro Nagase: The Tohoku University Museum, Aoba
Yasuhiro Kudoh: Tohoku University, Aoba, Sendai

Nature Communications, 2011, vol. 2, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Silica clathrate compounds (clathrasils) and clathrate hydrates are structurally analogous because both materials have framework structures with cage-like voids occupied by guest species. The following three structural types of clathrate hydrates are recognized in nature: cubic structure I (sI); cubic structure II (sII); and hexagonal structure H (sH). In contrast, only one naturally occurring silica clathrate mineral, melanophlogite (sI-type framework), has been found to date. Here, we report the discovery of two new silica clathrate minerals that are isostructural with sII and sH hydrates and contain hydrocarbon gases. Geological and mineralogical observations show that these silica clathrate minerals are traces of low-temperature hydrothermal systems at convergent plate margins, which are the sources of thermogenic natural gas hydrates. Given the widespread occurrence of submarine hydrocarbon seeps, silica clathrate minerals are likely to be found in a wide range of marine sediments.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1196

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