Stable Isotope Evidence for Hydrocarbon Seepages in the Kenting Mélange at Baoli, Hengchun Peninsula, Taiwan

This study focused on the origin of nodular and pipe-like carbonate-cemented mudstones collected from the Kenting Mélange. The stable carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of 22 rock samples were analyzed in total. Results of the analyses showed a large variation in δ^(13)C values that ranged from -45.7 per mille to +10.9 per mille V-PDB (n=68). Among them, δ^(13)C values of 53 subsamples ranged from -45.7 per mille to -10.8 per mille V-PDB, indicating that these carbonate cements were derived from hydrocarbon seepages. This study documents the first discovery of cold-seep carbonates from the Kenting Mélange.