深海沉积物分类与命名

详细分析了国内外深海沉积物分类与命名现状,迄今为止深海沉积物分类与命名问题没有很好解决。在调查研究南海、太平洋深海沉积物分类与命名基础上,提出了分类简便、科学合理、量化的深海沉积物分类与命名新方法,应用该方法得出南海东部海域深海沉积物有深海粘土、硅质粘土、钙质粘土、硅钙质粘土、钙质软泥、粘土质钙质软泥、粘土质-硅质钙质软泥、粘土-硅质-钙质混合软泥、粘土质硅质-钙质混合软泥、钙质硅质-粘土混合软泥。这10种沉积物基本上客观地反映了南海东部海域深海沉积物分布的实际情况,分类效果良好。     

南海东部海域表层沉积物类型的研究

南海东部海域表层沉积物可被分为11种类型:含岩块砾石黏土质粉砂、贝壳珊瑚砂、黏土质粉砂、钙质黏土、钙质软泥、有孔虫砂、深海黏土、含铁锰微粒粉砂质黏土、硅质黏土、含火山灰硅质黏土、含火山灰粉砂质黏土.这些类型按物源和成因可被分为陆源碎屑、钙质碎屑和硅质碎屑、火山碎屑3大类型,其中陆源碎屑分布面积约占50%,钙质碎屑占20%,硅质碎屑和火山碎屑各占15%.在物质来源、海底地形、火山作用、生物作用、水动力条件等因素影响和控制下,由于沉积环境的差异,故区内褐色类沉积物最多(60.68%),灰色类沉积物次之(38.20%),黄色类沉积物最少(1.12%).台湾省以南到17°N以北海区沉积物以陆源沉积物分布为主;巴士海峡以西海区沉积物较粗,常含砂岩块和砾石;东沙群岛以东海区钙质生物碎屑沉积丰富;中、西部海区以含铁锰微粒沉积物为主;中、南部海区水深大,主要分布硅质沉积物;南部海区、礼乐滩北缘沉积物受礼乐滩珊瑚碎屑影响大,沉积物类型为钙质软泥.     

Distribution pattern and morphochemical relationships of manganese nodules from the Central Indian Basin

In the Central Indian Basin manganese nodule abundance was variable in all sediment types. Mean abundance varied from 1.5 in calcareous ooze to 10.2 kg/m² in terrigenous-siliceous ooze sediments. Nodule grade and growth rates are positively correlated only up to 10 mm/My (million years), and grade shows no distinct relationship with abundance. Relationships between the morphochemical characteristics of the nodules and host sediment types are subtle. Both hydrogenetic and diagenetic nodules (with smooth and rough surfaces respectively) occur on almost all sediments, but in variable proportions. Thus, the overall distribution pattern shows that small nodules (<4-cm diameters) of lower grade (average value Ni+Cu+Co=1.21%) with smooth surfaces are more common on red clay, terrigenous, and terrigenous-siliceous ooze transition-zone sediments. By contrast, large nodules (>4-cm diameters) of higher grade (average value Ni+Cu+Co=1.80%) with rough surfaces are more prevalent on siliceous ooze, siliceous ooze-red clay, and calcareous ooze-red clay transition-zone sediments. This implies an enhanced supply of trace metals from pore waters to rough-surface nodules during early diagenesis.     

东太平洋CC区西区表层沉积物黏土矿物和地球化学特征

本文以太平洋CC区西区12个表层沉积物样品作为研究对象,对其粒度、化学组分和矿物成分进行分析,讨论其沉积环境和物质来源。研究区地处深海,主要以深海黏土和硅钙质黏土为主,含有少量的硅质黏土、黏土质硅质软泥和黏土质钙质软泥。黏土矿物成分主要是蒙皂石和伊利石,含有部分的高岭石和绿泥石。黏土矿物组成表明,区内沉积物主要是陆源,由高空气流携带而来,南极底流和热液活动对其物源的来源有一定影响。沉积物地球化学特征也表明,物源以陆源为主,稀土元素分布曲线和北太平洋表层海水稀土曲线类似,且表现出强的Ce亏损,表明生物活动导致的生物沉降对表层沉积物也有一定的影响。     

Major,Trace, and Rare Earth Elements in the Sediments of the Central Indian Ocean Basin: Their Source and Distribution

Abstract

A large number of surface sediments as well as short sediment cores collected in the Central Indian Ocean Basin have been subjected to various geochemical investigations during the last one and half decade. The studies varied, covering different aspects of sediments and resulting in a number of publications. In the present article, we have put together the data from 82 surface sediments and 14 short sediment cores, including 25 new analyses, to study the trend of their distribution and source at large. The distribution maps of elements show that highest concentrations of Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, and biogenic opal in the surface sediment occurs between 10°S and 16°S latitude, where diagenetic ferromanganese nodules rich in Mn, Cu, Ni, and Zn are present. The studies highlight that the excess element concentration (detrital unsupported) such as Mn, Cu, Ba, Ni, Co, Pb, and Zn have contributed >80% of their respective bulk composition. These excess elements exhibit strong positive correlation with each other suggesting their association with a single authigenic phase such as Mn oxide. Biogenic opal contributes 30–50% of the total silica in the siliceous sediment. Aluminum, Fe, and K have contributed >60% from terrigenous detrital source compared to their bulk composition. In calcareous ooze, Ca, and Sr excess contribute >95% while, in siliceous ooze it is only 50% of their bulk composition. Nearly 35% of structurally unsupported Al in the sediment raises doubt of using Al as a terrigenous index element to normalize the trace and minor elements. Biogenic apatite is evident by the positive correlation between Ca (<1%) and P. Calcium, Sr, and P depict a common source such as biogenic. Bulk element concentration such as Li, V, Cr, Sc, and Zr are positively correlated with Ti indicating their terrigenous detrital source. Rare earth element (REE) concentration increases from calcareous ooze to siliceous ooze and reaches a maximum in the red clay. Presence of positive Eu-anomaly in these sediments has been attributed to aeolian input. REE in these sediments are mostly carried by authigenic phases such as manganese oxide and biogenic apatite. Based on the distribution of transition elements in the sediment cores, three distinct zones—oxic at top, suboxic at intermediate depth, and a subsurface maxima—have been identified. Oxic and suboxic zones are incidentally associated with high and low micronodule abundance in the coarse fraction (>63 μm) respectively. Ash layers encountered at intermediate depth between 10 to 35 cm are correlative with the Youngest Toba eruption of ～74ka from Northern Sumatra. This ash is mainly responsible for the high bulk Al/Ti ratio up to 48.5 (three times higher than Post Archean Australian Shale), other than scavenging of dissolved Al by biogenic components.     

中太平洋海盆表层沉积物类型及其主要受控因素

本文通过对中太平洋海盆４０多个表层沉积物的分析和研究，根据沉积物中各组分含量、物质来源和成因等特征，把本区表层沉积物分为六种类型。它们分布在不同区域和不同水深范围内。钙质沉积物分布在碳酸钙补偿深度（ＣＣＤ）界面以浅区。硅质粘土、深海粘土等沉积物出现在ＣＣＤ以下水深区，这些沉积物的分布具有明显的垂向分带性和横向分区性。沉积物类型的变化主要受水深与物质来源的控制，南极底层流也有一定的影响。在不同的沉积物中锰结核的丰度、品位、类型等亦有明显的差异。     

印度洋钙质软泥和硅质软泥稀土元素组成和富集机制

本文针对采自印度洋深海中最常见的两类生物成因沉积物——钙质软泥和硅质软泥,开展了全岩样和不同粒级组分中常微量元素、稀土元素和Y（REY）含量的系统分析,探讨了两类沉积物中REY的组成特征、物质来源和富集机制。研究表明,钙质软泥以富含CaO和Sr为主要特征,硅质软泥则富集SiO₂、Al₂O₃、Fe₂O₃等。钙质软泥中∑REY平均含量为40.56×10-6,轻稀土元素（LREE）略有富集,REY有向细粒沉积物中富集的特征,PAAS标准化后全岩样和不同粒级组分均表现为Ce负异常、Eu和Y正异常;REY以自生来源为主,继承了海水的组成特征,同时也受到了热液流体物质和洋底玄武岩风化产物的影响。硅质软泥中∑REY的含量为248.54×10-6,LREE相对富集,REY在4φ以细的沉积物中富集;研究站位沉积物中∑REY含量处于边界品位附近,但在细粒级沉积物中重稀土元素（HREY）含量则达到了工业品位;该类沉积物细粒组分中REY主要来自陆源或火山碎屑组分中黏土矿物和铁锰氧化物吸附作用,粗粒组分中REY来源则主要与生物作用相关;硅质软泥中REY的富集与沉积物中磷灰石等矿物相关,部分不同来源的REY可能是在沉积之后的成岩过程中再次分配向磷灰石、钙十字沸石等矿物中富集。     

The Effects of Microstructure on Shear Properties of Shallow Marine Sediments

This study was undertaken to investigate the implication of geoacoustic behaviors in the shallow marine sediments associated with the changes in geotechnical index properties. Two piston cores (270 cm and 400 cm in core length) used in this study were recovered from stations 1 and 2, the western continental margin, the East Sea. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to illustrate the effects of microstructure on shear properties. The direct SEM observation of sediment fabrics is inevitable to understand the correlation of the changes in geoacoustic properties to the sediment structure. The consolidation of sediments by overburden stress resulting in the clay fabric alteration appears to play an important role in changing shear properties. Water contents and porosity of sediments gradually decreases with increasing depth, whereas wet bulk density shows a reverse trend. It is interesting to note that shear wave velocities increase rapidly from 8 to 20 m/s while compressional wave velocities significantly fluctuate, ranging from 1450 to 1550 m/s with depth. The fabric changes in sediment with increasing depth for example, uniform grain size and well oriented clay fabrics may cause the shear strength increase from 1 to 12 kPa. Shear wave velocity is, therefore, shown to be very sensitive to the changes in undrained strength for unconsolidated marine sediments. This correlation allows an in-situ estimation of shear stress in the subsurface from shear wave velocity data.     

Physical properties of calcareous ooze: Control by dissolution at depth

Eighteen box cores of pelagic calcareous ooze from the Ontong Java Plateau in the western equatorial Pacific were subsampled and analyzed for the following physical properties: grain size, porosity, saturated density, mean grain density, compressional sound velocity and shear strength. In addition, weight percent CaCO₃ was determined, and micropaleontological analyses of the Foraminifera were performed to determine preservation and sedimentation rates. Mean grain size of the sediments decreases at deeper depositional sites, primarily because of dissolution and fragmentation of calcareous microfossils. This, in turn, results in the sediments in deeper water having lower sound velocities and less shear strength. The physical properties of calcareous ooze are not significantly affected by any reprecipitation or incipient cementation of calcite that may occur soon after deposition.     

东太平洋中国开辟区环境调查区的沉积物及其与环境关系

以生态环境为主的环境基线调查, 是与深海采矿有关的研究内容之一, 它对保护海洋自然环境有着重要的意义, 而环境小区沉积物的分析研究是其中一个不可缺少的环节。通过对东太平洋中国开辟区内沉积物类型与碎屑成分特征的研究表明, 该区表层沉积物基本上是硅藻放射虫软泥, 个别站和层位是硅质粘土和深海粘土。碎屑物成分以放射虫壳体占绝对优势。它们以大洋生物源为主体,火山喷发源和陆源为次。沉积物组分构成特点同海洋环境密切相关。上述结果为地球化学、生物学和土力学等综合研究提供了基础资料, 并有助于了解开辟区本底环境的变化。     

太平洋东部CC48孔沉积物稀土元素地球化学研究

研究样品于１９８８年采自太平洋东部ＣＣ４８孔。通过对沉积物稀土元素地球化学特征的分析发现：（１）各种类型深海沉积物的稀土含量有所差别，以稀土元素总量而论，深海粘土＞硅质软泥＞硅钙质软泥＞钙质软泥；沉积物中的自生矿物、硅质生物成因的非晶质ＳｉＯ２及碎屑矿物对稀土元素起富集作用，而生物ＣａＣＯ３则起分散作用。（２）稀土元素含量随深度发生变化。为地层划分提供了依据，应用元素地层学方法将岩芯分成５个层段。     

Geotechnical Properties of Surface Sediments in the INDEX Area

Abstract

As a part of the environmental impact assessment studies, geotechnical properties of sediments were determined in the Central Indian Basin. The undrained shear strength and index properties of the siliceous sediments were determined on 20 box cores of uniform dimension collected from various locations in five preselected sites. The maximum core length encountered was 41 cm and most of the sediments were siliceous oozes consisting of radiolarian or diatomaceous tests. The shear strength measurements revealed that surface sediments deposited in recent times (0–10 cm) have a shear strength of 0–1 kPa; this value increases with depth, reaching 10 kPa at 40 cm deep. Older sediments have greater strength because of compaction. Water content varies in the wide range of 312–577% and decreases with depth. The clay minerals such as smectite and illite are dominant and show some control over water content. Wet density, specific gravity, and porosity do not indicate any notable variation with depth, thereby indicating a uniform, slow rate of sedimentation. The average porosity of sediments is 90.2%, specific gravity 2.18, and wet bulk density 1.12 g/cm³. Sediments exhibit medium to high plasticity characteristics, with the average plasticity index varying between 105% and 136%. Preliminary studies on postdisturbance samples showed an increase in natural water content and a decrease in undrained shear strength of sediments in the top 10- to 15-cm layer.     

Physical and elastic properties of marine sediments off Bombay,India

Abstract

Keeping in view the paucity of information as to the nature of the marine sediments from the continental shelf adjoining the Indian subcontinent, a number of shallow seismic surveys were carried out, nearshore and offshore Bombay between 18°45'N and 21°00'N. Representative core samples preserving their natural state were also retrieved from the region in the water depths ranging from 5 to 70 m for the determination of physical properties in the laboratory. Data on the physical, acoustic, and elastic properties of the sediment cores are reported for the first time. Useful individual least‐squares relations are presented for acoustic impedance, reflection coefficient, and bulk modulus against density; for the dependence of rigidity and bulk moduli on the constrained modulus; for the association between impedance and field sediment velocity against P‐velocity; and for rigidity against Poisson's ratio. Results indicate that the bulk modulus and Young's modulus are higher for silty clay and clayey silt samples than for the clay samples. Similarly, the acoustic impedance, reflection coefficient, and constrained modulus of silty clay and clayey silt are also higher than clay. The results are found to be comparable to the North Atlantic and Bay of Bengal sediments.     

Geotechnical Properties of Surface Sediments in the INDEX Area

As a part of the environmental impact assessment studies, geotechnical properties of sediments were determined in the Central Indian Basin. The undrained shear strength and index properties of the siliceous sediments were determined on 20 box cores of uniform dimension collected from various locations in five preselected sites. The maximum core length encountered was 41 cm and most of the sediments were siliceous oozes consisting of radiolarian or diatomaceous tests. The shear strength measurements revealed that surface sediments deposited in recent times (0-10 cm) have a shear strength of 0-1 kPa; this value increases with depth, reaching 10 kPa at 40 cm deep. Older sediments have greater strength because of compaction. Water content varies in the wide range of 312-577% and decreases with depth. The clay minerals such as smectite and illite are dominant and show some control over water content. Wet density, specific gravity, and porosity do not indicate any notable variation with depth, thereby indicating a uniform, slow rate of sedimentation. The average porosity of sediments is 90.2%, specific gravity 2.18, and wet bulk density 1.12 g/cm 3 . Sediments exhibit medium to high plasticity characteristics, with the average plasticity index varying between 105% and 136%. Preliminary studies on postdisturbance samples showed an increase in natural water content and a decrease in undrained shear strength of sediments in the top 10- to 15-cm layer.     

Geochemistry and palaeo-oceanography of metalliferous and pelagic sediments from the Late Cretaceous Oman ophiolite

Metalliferous and pelagic sediments are exposed within and above the extrusive successions of the Upper Cretaceous Oman ophiolite which, on the basis of mostly geochemical evidence, is believed to have formed in an incipient marginal basin setting located above a NE-dipping subduction zone. The ophiolitic extrusives document various volcano-tectonic settings which include the axial zones of a spreading ridge, fault-controlled seamounts and off-axis volcanic edifices. Most of the Fe, Mn and trace metal-enriched sediments studied are interpreted as precipitates formed by oxidation of solutions derived from high-temperature sulphide-precipitating vents. The trace element content (e.g. REE and Sr) was largely scavenged from seawater. The sediments are similar to the dispersed metalliferous sediments on the flanks of modern spreading ridges, and the ‘basal’ sediments of DSDP wells and of other ophiolite complexes (e.g. Troodos, Cyprus).Distinctive mound structures located low in the lavas are attributed to percolation of sulphide-rich solutions into already deposited metalliferous oxide sediments. The resulting iron-silica rock was probably originally precipitated as ferruginous silicates.Major massive sulphides formed off-axis at the base of intermediate-basic edifices of volcanic arc affinities. Fe, Mn and trace metal enrichment in the sediment cover of a flat-topped seamount of axial lavas is interpreted as a dispersion halo around the largest massive sulphide orebody which is situated 5 km away (Lasail). Small massive sulphide bodies are common in the axial lavas particularly along major seafloor fault zones. The metalliferous sediments, locally precipitated near these vents, are ferromanganiferous, but trace metal-depleted.The metalliferous and pelagic sediment cover of the extrusive successions, generally, documents waning hydrothermal input after volcanism ended in the area.A model is discussed in which the ophiolite was created at a spreading axis above a subduction zone dipping away from the Arabian continental margin. With progressive subduction this crust approached the margin. Initially, calcareous sediment accumulated above the calcite compensation depth (CCD), but then non-calcareous radiolarites were deposited as the ophiolitic crust approached the continental margin where the CCD was higher and marginal upwelling possibly enhanced productivity. As the edge of the Arabian continental margin entered the trench, the over-riding ophiolite was regionally uplifted allowing short-lived chalk accumulation above the CCD. This was followed by volcaniclastic deposition related to the tectonic emplacement.     

Strength Behavior of Marine Sands at Elevated Confining Stresses

A testing program was initiated to determine the stress-strain and strength behavior of two very different marine sands (a calcareous sediment from South Australia and a siliceous sediment from the United Kingdom) at elevated confining pressures. The testing matrix consisted of a series of isotropically consolidated, undrained (CIU) and drained (CID), triaxial compression tests on samples of naturally deposited calcareous and siliceous sediment and remolded calcareous sediment. It was found that the calcareous samples displayed little cemented behavior during shear. For tests conducted at pressures up to 1.5 MPa, a significant amount of particle crushing occurred in the calcareous samples but not in the siliceous samples. Particle degradation and reorientation facilitates transitions from dilative to contractive behavior with increases in confining stress. The calcareous sediment exhibited contractive behavior at confining pressures above approximately 500 kPa and the siliceous sediment remained dilative at stresses up to 1 MPa during undrained loading. Comparison with data collected by the University of Sydney (CID tests with confining pressures up to 60 MPa) showed that most of the variations in strength behavior occurred within the low stress range (up to 2 MPa) tests conducted at URI. This was evident in the friction angle data and in the reloading Young's modulus data.     

Bottom processes, morphology, and geotechnical properties of the continental slope south of Baltimore Canyon

The continental slope south of Baltimore Canyon seaward of the coasts of Delaware and Maryland has a different morphology and sedimentary structure than adjacent portions of the continental margin. Ridges of sediment 600 m thick and transverse to the slope contain many unconformities that can be traced from ridge to ridge. The age of the sediment is inferred to be late tertiary to recent with the morphology related to a major drainage system. Physical properties of a suite of sediment cores display a pattern that varies in relationship to the morphology and depositional environment. Sedimentary structures and low shear strengths indicate instability of surficial sediments present on the upper slope and can be correlated with regions where the seismic reflection profiles show slumping has occurred. A veneer of sand overlying the general silty clay of the area is present on the upper slope and on the ridges indicating sand spillover from the shelf with a recent change in deposition pattern.     

Depositional environment of near-surface sediments,King George Basin,Bransfield Strait,Antarctica

Four sediment cores were collected to determine the depositional environments of the King George Basin northeast of Bransfield Strait, Antarctica. The cored section revealed three distinct lithofacies: laminated siliceous ooze derived from an increased paleoproductivity near the receding sea-ice edges, massive muds that resulted from hemipelagic sedimentation in open water, and graded sediments that originated from nearby local seamounts by turbidity currents. Clay mineral data of the cores indicate a decreasing importance of volcanic activity through time. Active volcanism and hydrothermal activity appear to be responsible for the enrichment of smectite near the Penguin and Bridgeman Islands.     

Iron and manganese micro-precipitates within a cretaceous biosiliceous ooze from the Arctic Ocean: possible hydrothermal source

The oldest sediment most recently recovered from the Arctic Ocean is a biosiliceous ooze nearly devoid of nonbiogenic particles and exhibiting small-scale color changes. Color variations are due to changes in iron and manganese content. These elements are probably of local hydrothermal origin, and the Mn precipitation may be bacteria-mediated. An iron silicate phase seems to form at the expense of biogenic silica. The ooze deposited slowly until a sudden sediment input, probably a volcanigenic deposit now weathered to clay minerals, induced dissolution of siliceous microfossils. This clay layer contains calcium phosphate microspheres enriched in rare earth elements.     

南海表层沉积类型与沉积作用若干特征

根据底质的粒度分析结果，编制了南海表层沉积类型图。把南海的表层沉积划分为１２种主要的类型，它们的展布与水深线的走势大体一致。大陆架表层沉积物主要由现代沉积、再造沉积、残留沉积和少量残余沉积组成。半深海—深海沉积中生物碎屑的组成和含量往往成为确定沉积类型的重要因素。受碳酸盐溶解作用的影响，随着水深增大，钙质与硅质生物碎清含量呈相互消长的关系，沉积类型因而不同。