Cyclic variations in the chemical composition of eastern Mediterranean Pliocene sediments: a key for understanding sapropel formation

Two Pliocene Mediterranean sediment cores from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 160, Sites 964 (Pisano Plateau, Ionian Basin) and 967 (lower northern slope of Eratosthenes Seamount, south of Cyprus) have been analyzed for major and minor elements (Si, Ti, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, K, Ba, Cr, Ni, V, Zn, Zr) by X-ray fluorescence analysis at a depth resolution of 3 to 4 cm (a total of 430 samples). Core 964C-9H comprises five sapropels with up to 9.7% total organic-carbon (TOC), one 2.5-m-thick turbidite, and a 50-cm segment of a second turbidite, whereas Core 967B-9H contains eight sapropels with TOC contents of up to 6.7%. Cyclic variations in carbonate content and detrital-matter composition are evident at both sites. At Site 964 (Pisano Plateau) terrigenous detrital-matter chemistry reflects periods of stronger Saharan dust input (higher Si/Al and Zr/Al ratios) alternating with fluvial input from the northern borderlands (higher Mg/Al ratios). Cyclicity is not well-expressed at this location because turbidites and winnowing occur. Site 967 (Eratosthenes Seamount) sediments are strongly influenced by discharge from the Nile River during humid periods (low K/Al and Mg/Al ratios). At Site 967 sapropels occur only during periods of enhanced Nile discharge with correspondingly lower Si/Al, Ti/Al, Mg/Al, K/Al, and Zr/Al ratios. Accumulation rates of carbonate and terrigenous detrital matter were 30% lower during such episodes because of the reduction in eolian input and carbonate production and/or carbonate dissolution. Periodical Ba enrichments, which are not only seen in the sapropels, but in every K/Al minimum, document the association of enhanced bioproductivity and sapropel formation. As calculated from excess Ba concentrations, productivity increased by up to a factor of five during intervals of intensified Nile runoff. Fluviatile discharge seems to be responsible for an enhanced input of nutrients and suspended matter containing low Mg/Al and K/Al ratios. Based on organic-carbon concentrations, episodes of sapropel formation lasted at least from 1000 to 4000 years at Site 964, and from 2000 to 6000 years at Site 967. Periods of enhanced bio-productivity, as defined by Ba enrichments, lasted from 8000 to 12,000 years at Site 967. Episodes of high river discharge and corresponding nutrient input, as well as conditions of sapropel formation, seem to have lasted longer in the eastern part of the basin (Site 967) than at the Pisano Plateau (Site 964).     

Selective removal of trace elements from the Baltic by suspended matter

Suspended matter was collected at 30 stations in the Baltic and Kattegatt, at the thermocline and at the bottom, and analysed for Na, Ca, Mg, Si, Ti, Al, Fe, Mn, Ba, Sr, Ni and V. The composition of the suspended matter varies considerably, but can be described as a mixture of: (1) 12–25% terrigenous detritus with much Si, Al, Ti and Fe; (2) 75–88% biological matter with much Ni, V and Ba; and (3) some Mn-oxyhydroxide.The annual efflux of water from the Baltic is about 460 km³, with a suspended load in the Baltic straits of ～1.2–3.6 mg ash material l^?1 These values imply that much Si, Ti, Al, Fe, Sr, Ni and V and particularly much Ba and Mn are lost from the Baltic in the suspended load.The average suspended matter is richer in Mn(5×), Ba(2.5×), Sr(4×) and V(1.8×) than permanently depositing Baltic sediments. These constituents are relatively enriched in pelagic deposits, i.e. it is likely that much Mn, Ba and V in deep-sea sediments derive from the continents via suspended transport. This conclusion is supported by the similarity between suspended matter and average Atlantic pelagic sediment.     

A STUDY OF DETRITAL MINERALS IN THE SEDIMENTS FROM THE WESTERN CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN

No Jess than 90 species of detrital minerals have been identified from the fine and very fine sand grains in the sediments from the Western Central Pacific. It is demonstrated that the volcanic minerals were originated from the eruption of oceanic tholeiitic magma since the Early Pleistocene according to the mineralogical indications and the rare-earth element distribution pattern. The mineral assemblage indicates that the detrital minerals are principally of pelagic origin. But the Melanesia Basin has more terrigenous constituents of minerals, of which, the quartz content increased generally during the interglacial periods. The area of Wallis Islands, especially of the Northern Fiji Basin has relatively typical pelagic substances and less terrigenous components. The genesis of the authigenic manganese nodules is closely related to the brown clay and can also be found in the calcium carbonate sediments in form of fine grain, but not in the relatively loose calciferous volcanic ash bed in the Northern Fi     

末次冰期以来日本海陆源沉积的地球化学记录及其对海平面和气候变化的响应

通过对日本海Ulleung盆地KCES-1岩心中的主微量元素、稀土元素及粒度的综合分析,探讨了沉积物来源及其控制因素。结合地层年代模型,恢复了研究区48ka以来的古环境记录。结果显示,日本海Ulleung盆地沉积物以陆源碎屑为主,沉积物中主微量元素(Al、K、Fe、Mg、Na、Ti、Th、Sc、Rb、Sr、Cr、Co、Hf、Zr)含量普遍低于平均页岩。稀土元素丰度(ΣREE)为80～213μg/g,与长江、黄河及中国黄土接近,高于日本上地壳。球粒陨石标准化显示,沉积物中轻稀土显著富集,有显著的Eu负异常(0.6～0.8),Ce异常不显著。元素比值(La/Th、Th/Sc)及La/Th-Hf物源性质判别分析显示,研究区沉积物主要来源于上地壳,母岩落入长英质源岩区。在11～18ka,主微量元素的分布特征与11～0ka及48～18ka有显著差异。海平面和全球气候变化是控制主微量元素时空分布的重要因素。化学蚀变指数CIA(45～61)显示沉积物源区化学风化程度较弱,18ka以前风化程度低于18ka以后风化程度,暗示气候由干冷向暖湿转移。这与全球气候变化和东亚夏季风强度变化趋势一致。     

海坛岛海域表层沉积物中主量化学成分的地球化学

本文对海坛岛海域３３个表层沉积物中１０种化学成分的含量、含量变化和区域平面分布作了描述和探讨。化学成分中Ｃｏｒｇ、Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｆｅ、ＡＩ、Ｔｉ、Ｍｇ等元素的关性好,和粘土矿物关系密切,从陆源搬运入海;Ｃａ、碳酸盐和上述及粘土含量呈负相关,在富含生物介壳的粗粒沉积中富集;Ｍｎ主要赋存于陆源碎屑,而在砾砂中有自生Ｍｎ沉积。Ｑ型聚类分析的结果表明,调查区可分为３个地球化学分区,综合反映了沉积物的地球化学特征。     

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.     

Late Quaternary siliciclastic/carbonate sedimentation model for the Capricorn Channel,southern Great Barrier Reef province,Australia

A model is presented for hemipelagic siliciclastic and carbonate sedimentation during the last glacial–interglacial cycle in the Capricorn Channel, southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Stable isotope ratios, grainsize, carbonate content and mineralogy were analysed for seven cores in a depth transect from 166 to 2892 m below sea level (mbsl). Results show variations in the flux of terrigenous, neritic and pelagic sediments to the continental slope over the last sea level cycle.During the glacial lowstand terrigenous sediment influenced all the cores down to 2000 mbsl. The percentages of quartz and feldspar in the cores decreased with water depth, while the percentage of clay increased. X-ray diffraction analysis of the glacial lowstand clay mineralogy suggests that the siliciclastic sediment was primarily sourced from the Fitzroy River, which debouched directly into the northwest sector of the Capricorn Channel at this time. The cores also show a decrease in pelagic calcite and an increase in aragonite and high magnesium calcite (HMC) during the glacial. The influx of HMC and aragonite is most likely from reworking of coral reefs exposed on the continental shelf during the glacial, and also from HMC ooids precipitated at the head of the Capricorn Channel at this time. Mass accumulation rates (MARs) are high (13.5 g cm^? 3 kyr^? 1) during the glacial and peak at ~ 20 g cm^? 3 kyr^? 1 in the early transgression (16–14 ka BP). MARs then decline with further sea level rise as the Fitzroy River mouth retreats from the edge of the continental shelf after 13.5 ka BP. MARs remain low (4 cm^? 3 kyr^? 1) throughout the Holocene highstand.Data for the Holocene highstand indicate there is a reduction in siliciclastic influx to the Capricorn Channel with little quartz and feldspar below 350 mbsl. However, fine-grained fluvial sediments, presumably from the Fitzroy River, were still accumulating on the mid slope down to 2000 mbsl. The proportion of pelagic calcite in the core tops increases with water depth, while HMC decreases, and is present only in trace amounts in cores below 1500 mbsl. The difference in the percentage of HMC in the deeper cores between the glacial and Holocene may reflect differences in supply or deepening of the HMC lysocline during the glacial.Sediment accumulation rates also vary between cores in the Capricorn Channel and do not show the expected exponential decrease with depth. This may be due to intermediate or deep water currents reworking the sediments. It is also possible that present bathymetry data are too sparse to detect the potential role that submarine channels may play in the distribution and accumulation of sediments.Comparison of the Capricorn Channel MARs with those for other mixed carbonate/siliciclastic provinces from the northeast margin of Australia indicates that peak MARs in the early transgression in the Capricorn Channel precede those from the central GBR and south of Fraser Island. The difference in the timing of the carbonate and siliciclastic MAR peaks along the northeast margin is primarily related to differences in the physiography and climate of the provinces. The only common trend in the MARs from the northeast margin of Australia is the near synchronicity of the carbonate and siliciclastic MAR peaks in individual sediment cores, which supports a coeval sedimentation model.     

Contrasting facies patterns in subtropical and temperate continental slope sediments: inferences from east Australian late Quaternary records

Studies of latest Quaternary continental slope sediments at two localities on the east Australian margin have revealed markedly different responses to late Quaternary sea level fluctuations. Offshore of Noosa, in the sub-tropics, the sediment is predominantly a mixture of fine metastable carbonate, siliciclastic material, and pelagic carbonate. Important features of the stratigraphy include a siliciclastic-dominated facies deposited relatively slowly during the last glacial lowstand (sedimentation rate ≤8 cm/ka), and a calcareous facies, rich in metastable carbonate, deposited more rapidly during the late post-glacial transgression (sedimentation rates 15–24 cm/ka). Highstand and transgressive sedimentation rates are greater than lowstand rates by a factor of 2.5–6 due to increased shelf carbonate productivity after flooding of the mid-shelf. Off Sydney, in temperate latitudes, continental slope sediment is largely a mixture of fine siliciclastic material and pelagic carbonate. Mean sedimentation rates range from 2 to 5 cm/ka over the last four oxygen isotope stages, with mean glacial/interstadial rates higher than Holocene rates by a factor of ∼1.36. This largely reflects the transfer of siliciclastic mud from the shelf to the slope during sea level regression. In both localities, facies changes on the slope are not related to specific sea level states (e.g. lowstand facies, transgressive facies, etc.), but reflect instead the interaction of changing sea level with shelf morphology.     

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.     

冲绳海槽北端表层沉积物过渡元素地球化学特征

利用原子吸收和等离子发射光谱等方法,对冲绳海槽北端184个表层沉积物中的Al和过渡元素(Ti、Cr、Mn、Fe、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn和Zr)进行了化学分析。结果表明,由于受生源碎屑稀释作用的影响,过渡元素在陆架砂质区含量较低,其分布呈北西-南东向舌状延伸;由于细粒组分的增加,在陆架细粒沉积区和海槽区过渡元素含量较高。Mn主要在海槽区富集,在陆架和陆坡区变化不大。除了Mn之外,Al和其他过渡元素均呈明显正相关。Al/Ti比值与陆壳平均值接近,说明二者主要来源于陆源碎屑。Mn/Fe比值与邻近海区沉积物类似,但在陆架区CaO含量大于20%的沉积物和海槽区沉积物中相对较高,这分别是生物富集作用和自生沉积的结果。过渡元素富集因子分析结果表明,研究区过渡元素部分来自于黄河、部分来自于长江物质。     

The initiation of the southern central Great Barrier Reef: New multiproxy data from Pleistocene distal sediments from the Marion Plateau (NE Australia)

Significant synchronous shifts in the chemistry, mineralogy, grain sizes and color of the sediments at 6 m below sea floor (mbsf) at ODP Site 1195 on the Marion Plateau (NE Australia) are interpreted to reflect a major regional paleoceanographic change: the initiation of the southern province of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The onset of this massive carbonate production centre nearby resulted primarily in increased deposition of carbonate-rich sediments of neritic origin. Both sedimentation rate and terrigenous input record a coincident decline attributed to inshore trapping of materials behind the reefs. Our best estimate places the development of reef framework in the southern part of the GBR between 560 and 670 kyr B.P., based on an age model combining magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic data. The proposed estimation agrees with previous studies reporting an age between 500 and 930 kyr B.P., constraining more tightly their results. However, it does not support research placing the birth of the GBR in Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11 ( 400 kyr), nor the theory of a worldwide modern barrier reef development at that time.     

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。     

Sedimentary sources in the surface and near-surface sediments of the Bay of Bengal

High quartz and low calcium carbonate percentages in the surface sediments of the Bay of Bengal adjacent to the Indian subcontinent result from the massive influx of terrigenous clastics. Fine-fraction (<2 ) mineralogy and heavy minerals in (turbidite) sands suggest that sediments of the western Bengal Fan (high in smectite, sillimanite, garnet) have been derived from peninsular Indian rivers; sediments of the rest of the fan (high in illite, hornblende, epidote) are derived from Himalayan rivers. The sediments on the Ninety East Ridge and in the deep southerly areas beyond the reach of fan deposition result from thein situ alteration of volcanics.     

南海台西南盆地南部海域19 ka以来沉积物物源与输运机制分析

通过对南海台西南盆地南部海域TS6岩芯沉积物样品稀土元素地球化学特征和黏土矿物组合进行分析,探讨了研究区近19 ka (末次冰消期)以来沉积物物质来源、输运机制及物源变化特征。物源综合分析结果显示,台湾河流是研究区沉积物的主要源区,其中台湾西部河流较东部河流贡献更大,珠江也为研究区输送了部分沉积物。由于各源区物质主要黏土矿物种类及含量存在较大差异,推测研究区沉积物黏土矿物中的伊利石和绿泥石主要由台湾河流提供,高岭石主要由珠江提供,含量较少的蒙脱石由东南部的吕宋岛提供。末次冰消期以来,研究区陆源物质输入量受控于海平面变化而逐渐减少,黏土矿物组合反映的物源变化主要受控于气候和洋流变化,还可能叠加了多种因素的影响。     

南海北部陆坡区DLW3101孔沉积物特征及古环境意义

利用氧同位素地层学方法确定DLW3101孔底部年龄约为306 ka BP,对沉积物进行粒度和地球化学元素分析,结果显示:22.1~63 μm粗粒级组分的高值可用来指示海平面下降和东亚冬季风的强盛,0.35~1.16 μm和2.32~13.14 μm细粒级组分的高值可用来指示海平面上升和东亚夏季风的增强;Al/Ti和K/Ti比值反映的沉积物源区化学风化强度变化可用来指示东亚夏季风的强弱。     

Cenozoic sedimentary evolution of deepwater sags in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea

Recent exploration revealed the high potential for hydrocarbon in the deepwater sags, Pearl River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea. This paper reports its Cenozoic sedimentary evolution through backstripping of high precision depth data of interpreted sequence boundaries. Local backstripping parameters were mapped based on well and geophysical data. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the reliability of decompaction results were largely improved by using the local porosity parameters and the lithological parameters that vary with grid nodes. Maps of sedimentation rates of 17 sequences from 65 Ma to the present were constructed, showing the spatial–temporal variation of the sedimentation rate. Three rapid depositional stages, 65–32, 29–23.3, 18.5–10.5 Ma, and three slow depositional stages, 32–29, 23.3–18.5, 10.5–0 Ma, were identified with abrupt changes of sedimentary patterns. The three rapid depositional stages were in accord with syn-rifting stage, the first post-rifting depositional stage, and the second post-rifting depositional stage, respectively. And the three slow depositional stages were in keeping with three tectonic events respectively. Several significant sedimentary discontinuities at 32, 23.3 and 10.5 Ma were observed and discussed. The comparison between the study area and the ODP Site 1148 at 32–23.3 Ma indicates that before ~29 Ma the ODP Site 1148 was at similar sedimentation regime as that in the Baiyun and Liwan sags, but significant diversity appeared after ~29 Ma, when a large quantity of terrigenous sediments was trapped by strong post-rifting subsidence in the Baiyun and Liwan sags and could not reach the lower slope areas. Study revealed that the most rapid accumulation from 18.5 to 17.5 Ma might be mainly owing to the large sediment supply during this strong monsoon period.     

湄州湾沉积物地球化学特征

根据湄州湾表层沉积物70个样品18个化学成分的分析结果,得出:本海区沉积物属于海相陆源物,其中细颗粒主要来自台湾海峡,粗颗粒来自当地陆域;化学成分含量按聚类分析,可归为三组:粘土矿物组、碳酸盐组和分散组,微量元素Zn,Cr,Be,Cu和Sr的含量与地壳及台湾海峡相似,但低于胶州湾,说明该海区污染很少。     

晚第四纪南海北部陆坡沉积物常量元素比值对气候变冷事件的指示意义

南海北部陆坡柱状沉积物的常量元素统计分析表明, 沉积物中的Ti、Al、Fe、K、Mn、Mg代表了陆源元素组合;而消除粒度效应的陆源元素比值Al/Ti、Fe/Ti和K/Ti等的变化曲线与浮游有孔虫氧同位素曲线对比表明, 在气候变冷事件(Heinrich事件、Younger Dryas事件、PME斜室普林虫低值等事件)期间, 陆源常量元素比值明显降低。这一对应特征, 一方面体现了气候变冷事件的发生对陆源区化学风化强度的制约, 另一方面也说明与指示长时间尺度气候相似, 陆源元素比值对短时间尺度的气候变化也具有明显的指示作用。     

Smectite formation in metalliferous sediments near the East Pacific Rise at 13°N

A 43 cm long E271 sediment core collected near the East Pacific Rise(EPR) at 13°N were studied to investigate the origin of smectite for understanding better the geochemical behavior of hydrothermal material after deposition.E271 sediments are typical metalliferous sediments. After removal of organic matter, carbonate, biogenic opal,and Fe-Mn oxide by a series of chemical procedures, clay minerals(2 μm) were investigated by X-ray diffraction,chemical analysis and Si isotope analysis. Due to the influence of seafloor hydrothermal activity and close to continent, the sources of clay minerals are complex. Illite, chlorite and kaolinite are suggested to be transported from either North or Central America by rivers or winds, but smectite is authigenic. It is enriched in iron, and its contents are highest in clay minerals. Data show that smectite is most likely formed by the reaction of hydrothermal Fe-oxyhydroxide with silica and seawater in metalliferous sediments. The Si that participates in this reaction may be derived from siliceous microfossils(diatoms or radiolarians), hydrothermal fluids, or detrital mineral phases. And their δ30 Si values are higher than those of authigenic smectites, which implies that a Si isotope fractionation occurs during the formation because of the selective absorption of light Si isotopes onto Feoxyhydroxides. Sm/Fe mass ratios(a proxy for overall REE/Fe ratio) in E271 clay minerals are lower than those in metalliferous sediments, as well as distal hydrothermal plume particles and terrigenous clay minerals. This result suggests that some REE are lost during the smectite formation, perhaps because their large ionic radii of REE scavenged by Fe-oxyhydroxides preclude substitution in either tetrahedral or octahedral lattice sites of this mineral structure, which decreases the value of metalliferous sediments as a potential resource for REE.