Some solid gas hydrate nodules also occur.
Free gas is dispersed throughout a zone a few hundred meters thick below the gas hydrate-bearing zone. Coupled with geophysical data indicating that sedimentary gas hydrate occurs throughout a laterally extensive portion of the Blake Ridge, the results of Leg 164 confirm that enormous amounts of methane are contained in these sediments. Cores from all three sites are very gassy and underwent vigorous expansion, which resulted in low recovery. Some nodules of hydrate and one massive gas hydrate zone greater than 30 cm thick were recovered. As anticipated, the ephemeral nature of gas hydrate under surface conditions made sampling difficult.