Distribution and dispersal pattern of clay minerals in surface sediments, eastern Beibu Gulf, South China Sea

Clay minerology of sediments are useful in determining distribution,sources and dispersal routes of fine-grained sediments.In the present paper,clay minerals of surface sediments throughout the eastern part of Beibu Gulf has been investigated to reveal sources and transport of detrital finegrained sediments.Four distinct clay mineral suites were observed from cluster analysis of clay mineral compositions of the samples.From the distribution pattern of clay minerals,we conclude that kaolinte in the eastern gulf is mainly derived from South China Landmass;Smectite could not be transported mainly by surface current from north-western Hainan Island,and maybe minor portion of it from Red River;Illite is mainly transported by the currents from South China Sea.Chlorite has two sources,namely South China Sea and South China Landmass.The Zhujiang River derived sediments could not be one of the sources for the clay mineral here,because of very different composition and ratios.The distribution pattern of clay minerals in the eastern Beibu Gulf is mainly controlled by fine-grained sediment source and local currents.The Silt/Clay,Smectite/Kaolinte,and Smetite/(Chlorite+Illite) ratios could be used as indicators of fine-grained sediment dispersal in the gulf.     

海南岛东南浅海表层沉积物粒度特征及沉积环境

对海南岛东南浅海377组表层沉积物样品(平均水深112.3 m)开展粒度测定及沉积物类型划分,并运用统计规律及沉积输运趋势分析,探讨了底质沉积物分布格局与物质来源及沉积动力环境关系.结果表明,海南岛东南浅海沉积物类型复杂,共分布13种沉积物类型,粒度组成以粉砂和砂为主,平均粒径均值为5.73Φ,优势粒级为细粉砂级(6～...     

Integrated core-log facies analysis and depositional model of the gas hydrate-bearing sediments in the northeastern continental slope,South China Sea

Host sediments may exert a significant influence on the formation of gas hydrate reservoirs. However, this issue has been largely neglected in the literature. In this study, we investigated the types, characteristics and the depositional model of the fine-grained gas hydrate-bearing sediments in the northeastern margin of the South China Sea by integrating core visual observations and logging-while-drilling downhole logs. The gas hydrate-bearing sediments consist dominantly of muddy sediments formed in the inter-canyon ridges of the upper continental slope, including hemipelagites, debrites (mud with breccia) and fine-grained turbidites. Cold-seep carbonates and associated slumping talus, muddy breccia debrites, as well as coarse-grained turbidites, may locally occur. Four classes and six sub-classes of log facies were defined by cluster analysis. Core-log correlation indicates that gas hydrates are majorly distributed in fine-grained sediments with high resistivity and low acoustic transit time (AC) log responses, which are easily differentiated from the fine-grained background sediments of high gamma-ray (GR), high AC, and low resistivity log values, and the seep carbonates characterized by low GR, high resistivity, high density, low AC and low porosity log values. The primary host sediments consist of fine-grained hemipelagic sediments formed by deposition from the nepheloid layers of river material and from the microfossils in seawater column. Most of the hemipelagic sediments, however, might have been extensively modified by slumping and associated gravity flow processes and were re-deposited in the forms of debrites and turbidites. Locally developed seep carbonates associated with gas hydrate dissociation and leakage provided additional sources for the gravity flow sediments.     

Quantitative provenance of silt and clay within sandy deposits of the Lithuanian coastal zone (Baltic Sea)

A quantitative provenance approach is developed and in this study applied for the silt and clay fractions of sandy, coastal deposits. Mineralogical composition of 37 surface samples was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Grain-size distributions were obtained by standard dry sieving and pipette techniques. The characterization of mineralogical provenance is based upon known compositional information of possible sources, logical models for mineral combinations related to regional geological provinces and processes, and geographical features of the documented mineral distribution in the area of investigation. These interpretations are further supported by results of correlation and principal component analyses of mineral varieties, grain-size parameters and bathymetric features of the area. Partitioning of source contributions specific for each site of deposition is derived by solving simultaneous equations. Then, the quantified mineral composition at the initial source is reconstructed in the SE Baltic Sea along the Lithuanian coast, exemplifying this new methodology for quantification of sediment sources. The main sources supplying sediment to the area are: 1) Sambian Peninsula to the south (erosion of Pleistocene till and “Blue Earth” Paleogene sediments), supplying 33% of fine-grained sediment on average, 2) Nemunas River, the discharge of which passes through Curonian Lagoon and supplies an average 17% of the coastal fine sediments, and 3) Pleistocene till, eroded on the sea floor in the north and at the Olando Kepur? shore cliff and contributing an average of 50% of the sediment. Although we use the mineralogy within the environmentally important fine-grained fraction, this mathematically simple approach could be used with any other parameters characterizing the identified sources. A quantification of the separate source contributions to each individual site of accumulation studied, using the stable, mineralogical components of the “sediment archive”, offers a time-integrated, net-effect reflection of the combined processes of an entire environmental system.     

Lithofacies and origin of the Late Triassic muddy gravity-flow deposits in the Ordos Basin,central China

Fine-grained sediments from the Late Triassic Yanchang Fm. in the Ordos Basin (central China) were studied by core analysis and geophysical logging. Part of the mudstones in this formation are stratified, part of them are unstratified; the various mudstones can be subdivided into eight types on the basis of their structures and textures. They represent a variety of environments, ranging from delta fronts and subaqueous fans to deep-water environments. Part of the sediments were reworked and became eventually deposited from subaqueous gravity flows, such as mud flows, turbidity currents and hyperpycnal flows that easily developed on the clay-rich deltaic slopes. The sediments deposited by such gravity flows show abundant soft-sediment deformation structures. Understanding of such structures and recognition of fine-grained sediments as gravity-flow deposits is significant for the exploration of potential hydrocarbon occurrences. Because fine-grained deposits become increasingly important for hydrocarbon exploration, and because the sediments in the lacustrine Yanchang Formation were deposited by exactly the same processes that play a role in the accumulation of deltaic and prodeltaic fine-grained sediments, the sedimentological analysis provided here is not only important for the understanding of deep lacustrine sediments like the Yanchang Formation, but also for a better insight into the accumulation of fine-grained prodeltaic deep-marine sediments and their potential as hydrocarbon source rocks and reservoir rocks.     

Clay-mineral suites,sources, and inferred dispersal routes: Southern California continental shelf

Clay mineralogy is useful in determining the distribution, sources, and dispersal routes of fine-grained sediments. In addition, clay minerals, especially smectite, may control the degree to which contaminants are adsorbed by the sediment. We analyzed 250 shelf sediment samples, 24 river-suspended-sediment samples, and 12 river-bed samples for clay-mineral contents in the Southern California Borderland from Point Conception to the Mexico border. In addition, six samples were analyzed from the Palos Verdes Headland in order to characterize the clay minerals contributed to the offshore from that point source. The <2 microm-size fraction was isolated, Mg-saturated, and glycolated before analysis by X-ray diffraction. Semi-quantitative percentages of smectite, illite, and kaolinite plus chlorite were calculated using peak areas and standard weighting factors. Most fine-grained sediment is supplied to the shelf by rivers during major winter storms, especially during El Ni?o years. The largest sediment fluxes to the region are from the Santa Ynez and Santa Clara Rivers, which drain the Transverse Ranges. The mean clay-mineral suite for the entire shelf sediment data set (26% smectite, 50% illite, 24% kaolinite+chlorite) is closely comparable to that for the mean of all the rivers (31% smectite, 49% illite, 20% kaolinite+chlorite), indicating that the main source of shelf fine-grained sediments is the adjacent rivers. However, regional variations do exist and the shelf is divided into four provinces with characteristic clay-mineral suites. The means of the clay-mineral suites of the two southernmost provinces are within analytical error of the mineral suites of adjacent rivers. The next province to the north includes Santa Monica Bay and has a suite of clay minerals derived from mixing of fine-grained sediments from several sources, both from the north and south. The northernmost province clay-mineral suite matches moderately well that of the adjacent rivers, but does indicate some mixing from sources in adjacent provinces.     

Rare earth elements in bottom sediments of major rivers around the Yellow Sea: implications for sediment provenance

Rare earth elements (REEs) of 91 fine-grained bottom sediment samples from five major rivers in Korea (the Han, Keum, and Yeongsan) and China (the Changjiang and Huanghe) were studied to investigate their potential as source indicator for Yellow Sea shelf sediments, this being the first synthetic report on REE trends for bottom sediments of these rivers. The results show distinct differences in REE contents and their upper continental crust (UCC)-normalized patterns: compared to heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), light rare earth elements (LREEs) are highly enriched in Korean river sediments, in contrast to Chinese river sediments that have a characteristic positive Eu anomaly. This phenomenon is observed also in primary source rocks within the river catchments. This suggests that source rock composition is the primary control on the REE signatures of these river sediments, due largely to variations in the levels of chlorite and monazite, which are more abundant in Korean bottom river sediments. Systematic variations in ΣLREE/ΣHREE ratios, and in (La/Yb)–(Gd/Yb)_UCC but also (La/Lu)–(La/Y)_UCC and (La/Y)–(Gd/Lu)_UCC relations have the greatest discriminatory power. These findings are consistent with, but considerably expand on the limited datasets available to date for suspended sediments. Evidently, the REE fingerprints of these river sediments can serve as a useful diagnostic tool for tracing the provenance of sediments in the Yellow Sea, and for reconstructing their dispersal patterns and the circulation system of the modern shelf, as well as the paleoenvironmental record of this and adjoining marginal seas.     

长江口及邻近海域细颗粒沉积物中重金属的空间分布及沉积通量

长江每年输送大量的泥沙进入东海,其中细颗粒沉积物具有搬运距离远、扩散范围大的特点,成为示踪河口及近海沉积物源汇过程的良好载体。本文基于采自长江口及邻近海域的44个表层沉积物样品,分析了细颗粒组分中重金属的空间分布和沉积通量,探讨了重金属来源和搬运沉积过程。研究表明:长江口及邻近海域细颗粒沉积物中Cu、Cr、Ni、V和Zn含量、沉积通量的空间分布具有高度的相似性,总体表现为长江口及浙闽沿岸高,向外急剧降低;该区细颗粒沉积物中的重金属主要来自长江,入海后向两个方向扩散,其一为向西南方向扩散,沉积于内陆架泥质区;其二是向东的跨陆架输送,沉积于长江冲淡水影响的海域。从长江口向西南方向的输送和沉积是长江入海重金属最重要的汇。     

中国基岩海湾潮流地貌模式及其沉积动力特征

对我国基岩海湾内的潮流沉积和地貌进行了系统研究。根据潮滩、潮流水道、潮流沙脊等地貌单元的组合特征，概括出3种潮流地貌模式：潮滩型、滩-槽型和滩槽-脊型。通过各模式海湾环境特征的对比分析，设定紊动射流系数Rbjet做为判别潮流水道形成发育程度的水动力参数，发现潮流水道较为发育的滩-槽型和滩-槽-脊型海湾往往开敞度较小，纵深较长，而平均潮差较大，Rbjet大于45。潮流沙脊是区分滩-槽型和滩-槽脊型潮流地貌模式的标志地貌，粗颗粒泥沙来源是其发育的必备条件：残留沉积、海岸侵蚀来沙丰富的海湾内潮流沙脊发育；河流来沙则可以改造形成小规模现代潮流脊；而靠近大河河口，细颗粒来源丰富的海湾则不利于潮流沙脊发育，湾内形成滩-槽型潮流沉积。     

Environmental influences on the formation of sedimentary fabric in a fine-grained carbonate-shelf environment: Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys

 Sedimentological studies were undertaken in the Dry Tortugas to examine environmental influences on the formation of sedimentary fabric. ²³⁴Th, ²¹⁰Pb, grain size, porosity, and fabric analyses reveal the presence of a soft, fine-grained, well mixed surface layer underlain by compact, shelly, intensely bioturbated carbonate muds. Vertical zonation of biogenic structures indicates that deep bioturbation is advective and results in transport of fine material to the seabed surface. The impact of physical oceanographic processes appears to be restricted to the surface layer; however, potential for preservation of this layer in the sediment record is low due to intense mixing in deeper sediments. Thus, preserved sediments retain an incomplete record of the dominant benthic processes at the study area.     

Geotechnical characteristics of deep-sea sediments from the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans

Geotechnical properties from a series of deep-sea sites in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans are examined to evaluate overall trends and to compare with similar fine-grained soils found on land. The study areas encompass a range of sedimentary environments dominated by combinations of turbidite and pelagic deposits. Carbonate content in excess of 20% is seen to result in a decrease in liquid limit and compressibility. Vertical profiles of geotechnical properties in the North Pacific show broader changes in down-core geotechnical properties compared to the North Atlantic and reflect the effects of long-term climatic changes and seafloor spreading. Sediments in the North Atlantic indicate significant differences depending on location, which is attributed to variability in turbidite deposition, water depth, distance from sediment sources, and the effects of bottom currents. Compared to equivalent fine-grained soils on land, deep-sea sediments are generally softer, more compressible and have higher friction angles at comparable Atterberg limits. Deeper and older sediments in the North Pacific are characterized by unusually large plastic limits, which are attributed to the presence of volcanic fractions. Empirical relationships for compression index and friction angle are discussed for sediments from both oceans.     

长江、黄河沉积物物源研究综述

众多学者用不同方法对已知的长江和黄河沉积物进行了分析比较，以期获得区分两者的有效指标。由于两河物源区物质成分的差异和所处气候带不同造成的后期风化的不同，其沉积物在化学元素和矿物组成等方面存在较大的差别。但是运用这些差别来判识陆架海区物质来源的问题则复杂得多，目前仍处在不断探索之中。通过对这些资料的归纳总结，提出应尽量运用多个指标进行物源判识。     

山东半岛近海不同粉砂粒级含量分布的空间差异性及其沉积学意义

粉砂是现代陆架和河口沉积物最主要的粒级组分,但由于其复杂的沉积动力学行为,我们对于不同粉砂粒级的沉积学特征和行为并没有完全掌握。本文分析了山东半岛近海表层沉积物中不同粉砂粒级组分含量的空间分布特征,探讨了其控制因素。结果表明,山东半岛周边近海沉积物类型以泥质沉积为主,但不同粉砂粒级组分具有明显的空间分布差异性。极细粉砂、细粉砂与黏土组分的含量变化一致,表明了其相似的沉积动力学行为。粗粉砂组分的含量空间变化最大,在山东半岛的北部泥质条带、东部“泥楔”和南部近岸具有明显的高含量,其含量与其他各粉砂组分具有明显的负相关性。从表层沉积物的粒度组分与分布规律,可以证明研究区表层沉积物主要以黄河携带物质为主,但流入本区的一些中小型河流也明显提供了部分物源,只是其提供物质的扩散范围有限。结合水动力分析和物理海洋学等方面的认识,我们认为造成不同粉砂组分空间分布差异性的原因主要受物源、区域水动力学条件、局部地形（底形）等因素控制。另外,还发现了山东半岛“泥楔”沉积物的粗粉砂组分含量偏高、现代沉积速率也偏大,这些现象在空间上与“海洋锋面”位置一致,对于海洋锋面的沉积学意义还需要进一步的调查研究和数值模拟工作。     

泉州湾泥沙运移特征的初步研究

泉州湾属于潮流、径流和波浪综合作用下的山地海湾,根据两次(1994年6月和2001年12月)水文泥沙实测资料,分析泉州湾悬浮泥沙和沉积物分布特征,研究其沉积物来源,并探讨北水道的沉积速率。悬浮泥沙含量自河口(湾顶)-湾口-外海逐渐降低。高值区出现在水道和河口,冬季高于夏季,大、中潮高于小潮。泉州湾沉积物分布与水动力强弱环境呈很好的对应关系。晋江携带入海的泥沙是研究区的主要物源：海岸侵蚀来沙与湾外来沙也提供了部分物源。南、北水道分别属于落潮槽与涨潮槽两种不同性质的水道。北水道沉积物较细,以沉积作用为主,其入口处淤积程度较轻,而在上游淤积程度相对较重;南水道流速较大,沉积物较粗,是泥沙输运主要通道,地形变化不明显。     

The carbohydrates in relation to mineralogic and granulometric composition of surface sediments in the karst estuary (River Krka estuary,Yugoslavia)

The investigation of mineral, granulometric and chemical composition of sediments of the River Krka estuary (Yugoslavia) were performed in order to elucidate the origin of the sediments and the pattern of sedimentation. Estuarine surface sediments were found to be fine-grained with a bimodal distribution. Environmental conditions in estuarine sediments favour conservation of the organic matter (anoxic conditions). The carbohydrates in the sediments were investigated to determine whether they are of terrigenous or authigenous origin. Glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, rhamnose, glucosamine and glucuronic acid were detected in the sediments. Their mutual relationship indicates a preferentially terrigenous source of sedimented organic material in estuarine sediments.     

末次间冰期以来门捷列夫洋脊南部冰盖对细颗粒沉积的控制作用

门捷列夫洋脊南部的粘土矿物沉积具有明确的物源,为追踪该区沉积环境的演变提供了良好的条件。末次间冰期以来,ARC7-E23孔中的粘土矿物记录表现出了非常显著的变化。结合沉积物粒度的端元组份和冰阀碎屑沉积,粘土矿物的变化模式表明,东西伯利亚冰盖(ESIS)的规模可能是控制细颗粒沉积的主要因素。在氧同位素2期(MIS2)和4期(MIS4),门捷列夫洋脊南部可能被ESIS所覆盖,几乎阻挡了所有来自加拿大和拉夫贴夫海陆架的沉积物,但允许大量来自东西伯利亚海陆架的细粒沉积物输入。只有当ESIS消融后,波弗特环流和越极流的相对强度以及搬运作用才成为了控制远源沉积物输入的主要因素。MIS3期的气候条件似乎最适合远源沉积物的输入,不仅提高了表层环流的流通性,也提供了足够多的搬运介质。     

Tracing the origin of Pb using stable Pb isotopes in surface sediments along the Korean Yellow Sea coast

To investigate the factors controlling lead (Pb) concentration and identify the sources of Pb in Yellow Sea sediments along the Korean coast, the concentration of Pb and Pb isotopes in 87 surface and 6 core sediment samples were analyzed. The 1 M HCl leached Pb concentrations had a similar geographic distribution to those of fine-grained sediments, while the distribution of residual Pb concentrations resembled that of coarse-grained sediments. Leached Pb was presumed to be associated with manganese (Mn) oxide and iron (Fe) oxy/hydroxide, while residual Pb was associated with potassium (K)-feldspar, based on good linear relationships between the leached Pb and the Fe/Mn concentrations, and the residual Pb and K concentrations. Based on a ratio–ratio plot with three isotopes (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb) and the geographic location of each sediment, sediments were categorized into two groups of samples as group1 and group2. Group 1 sediments, which were distributed in Gyeonggi Bay and offshore (north of 36.5°N), were determined to be a mixture of anthropogenic and natural Pb originating from the Han River, based on a ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb against a Cs/Pb_leached mixing plot of core and surface sediments. Group 2 sediments, which were distributed in the south of 36.5°N, also showed a two endmembers mixing relationship between materials from the Geum River and offshore materials, which had very different Pb concentrations and isotope ratios. Based on the isotopes and their concentrations in core and surface sediments, this mixing relationship was interpreted as materials from two geographically different origins being mixed, rather than anthropogenic or natural mixing of materials with the same origin. Therefore, the relative percentage of materials supplied from the Geum River was calculated using a two endmembers mixing model and estimated to be as much as about 50% at 35°N. The spatial distribution of materials derived from the Geum River represented that of fine-grained sediments originating from the Geum River. It was concluded that Pb isotopes in sediments could be used as a tracer in studies of the origin of fine-grained sediments along the Korean Yellow Sea coast.     

Sources of heavy metals in sediments of the Hudson river Estuary

Sediments in the Hudson Estuary contain zinc, copper and lead from metal pollutants discharged to the harbor in the New York City area, from dispersed sources of contamination introduced upstream, and from natural weathering processes. The magnitude of the contribution from each of these three sources to particular sites can be estimated on the basis of total metal abundances, relative proportions of several metals, and other sediment properties. The pattern of recent heavy-metal contamination in Hudson sediments closely follows the distribution in sediments of ¹³⁷Cs which was derived over the past two decades from global fallout and local releases from a commercial nuclear reactor. Several simple empirical corrections related to grain size and mineralogy variations are suggested for comparing heavy-metal contamination levels of sandy continental shelf sediments with fine-grained estuarine and coastal sediments. Iron has little variation in Hudson sediments while manganese is greater in surface sediment of some low-salinity and fresh-water areas than deeper in the sediments, and generally less in the high-salinity area of rapid sediment deposition in New York harbor. Much of the pollutant Cu added to the harbor appears to be rapidly deposited in the sediments.     

西沙海槽表层沉积物地球化学特征及其地质意义

对西沙海槽区50个表层沉积物的常微量元素进行了地球化学及沉积环境特征研究。西沙海槽区表层沉积物具有SiO2、TiO2含量低和CaO含量高的特征；除了MnO外，各组分的变异系数均较小，元素的分布差异较小，元素分异不明显。常量组分对比表明研究区兼具浅海及深海沉积的特点，为由浅海向深海过渡的半深海沉积环境。富集因子分析表明，从槽坡至槽底富集因子变化不大，略呈增加趋势，Cu、Co、Ni、Pb、Zn、Ba、Mn的富集因子都大于1，表明这些元素除了陆源之外还有其他的来源。海槽区沉积物的化学组分及其来源是复杂多样的，其中包括陆源组分、生物源、火山碎屑等，但陆源碎屑和黏土组分以及碳酸盐型的生物碎屑组分是控制研究区沉积物化学成分的最主要因素。     

廉州湾南部海域泥沙来源及运移趋势分析

重矿物组合、含量变化和特征矿物的分布及变化规律是沿海泥沙来源和运移趋势判断的重要手段之一。通过对廉州湾南部海域海底表层沉积物的重矿物分析 ,发现该区重矿物分布以北海地角为界 ,其百分含量和特征矿物南北有别 ,可能分别代表不同的物质来源区。其中廉州湾北部南流江流域来沙是该区主要物源 ,运移趋势为自 NE向 SW;地角西南岸段、岭南侧海岸侵蚀及银滩来沙也为该区提供了部分物源 ,运移趋势为绕过冠头岭沿海岸向 N方向运移。由于缺乏北海陆域陆相地层重矿物含量等相关资料 ,暂未做物质来源区的具体判断