Dissolved organic matter in pore water of carbonate sediments from Bermuda

Pore water samples from seven nearshore areas in Bermuda were obtained under in situ conditions and analyzed for dissolved organic carbon, dissolved carbohydrates, dissolved free amino acids and dissolved humic substances. The concentration of dissolved organic carbon is higher than in the overlying nearshore waters indicating significant diagenetic remobilization of carbon in these recently deposited carbonate sediments. Dissolved carbohydrates decrease with depth due to microbial utilization.     

Time variability of pore water chemistry in recent carbonate sediments,Devil's Hole,Harrington Sound,Bermuda

Chemical analyses of pore waters from recent marine carbonate sediments, Devil's Hole, Harrington Sound, Bermuda, have been obtained at intervals over a four year period. Interstitial waters were systematically analyzed for pH, titration alkalinity, dissolved sulfides, NH₄⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Na⁺ or Cl^?. Additional analyses on some cores included SO₄^2?, PO₄^3?, dissolved CH₄ and N₂, and C:N:H ratios in the detrital organic material. The following general trends with depth (to ～ 1 m) are observed: (1) major cations show little or no change; (2) pH decreases; (3) alkalinity, sulfides, NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3? increase; (4) dissolved CH₄ is consistently low. The chemical changes with depth can be modelled theoretically and are consistent with experimental data.Significant seasonal changes in pore water chemistry are observed. The data suggest an annual exchange between the pore waters (to a depth of ～ 1 m) and the overlying water of Harrington Sound; the exchange occurs between August and January. The nutrient flux out of the sediments during this process may be a major factor in the plankton ecology of Harrington Sound.     

Seasonal variations in pore water and sediment geochemistry of littoral lake sediments (Asylum Lake, MI, USA)

Background  

Seasonal changes in pore water and sediment redox geochemistry have been observed in many near-surface sediments. Such changes have the potential to strongly influence trace metal distribution and thus create seasonal fluctuations in metal mobility and bioavailability.     

Lake Shala: Water chemistry,mineralogy and geochemistry of sediments in an Ethiopian Rift lake

Lake Shala, the deepest lake in the internal Galla lakes basin of the Ethiopian Rift, fills a depression in Pleistocene volcanic rocks. Its sodium-bicarbonate (-chloride) water (salinity 16 g/l) is remarkably low in earth alkalines and sulphate. Stratification is indicated by different ion concentrations in the surface and bottom waters and by a thermocline in a water depth of 50–70 m. Hot soda springs emerging on the shores of Lakes Shala and Langano are believed to be derived from a hot saline underground reservoir recharged by meteoric waters. The ion composition of the hot spring waters is uniform and matches that in the Galla Lakes except for total salinities. Anomalous heavy metal concentrations are lacking in lake and hot spring waters. Sediments of Lake Shala belong to an extremely fine-grained group of deposits. They are poorly sorted and the lateral distribution of the grain sizes does not follow the normal scheme for aquatic depositional environments. A belt, 50–100 m below lake level containing the finest-grained sediments, separates the shallow periphery of the lake bottom from the deep center, both characterized by coarser-grained deposits. The sediments consist of a large portion of glassy components. A poorly cristallized smectite is most abundant in the clay mineral group. The components of the sand fraction are quartz, feldspar, glass particles and occasionally calcite. Nickel, cobalt and lead are depleted in the Lake Shala sediments compared with the averages of shales. Iron, manganese and zinc are relatively high. Silver, cadmium and some of the rare earth elements are enriched by factors of > 5.     

Organic geochemistry of Recent equatorial deltaic sediments

The organic matter of recent deltaic sediments cored in the Mahakam delta, East Kalimantan, has been studied before and after physical fractionation into sands >50 μm, silts 5–50 μm and clays <5 μm. Both the lipid and non-lipid components have been investigated.Weight, carbon and nitrogen fractionation budgets were used to define three types of samples, depending on coarse particle contributions to the total amount of organic matter: a = a first type with more than 50% of the O.M. in the coarse particles, high C/N ratios and O.M. content, b = an intermediary type with medium C/N ratios and O.M. content, each fraction having quite the same O.M. content, c = a third type with less than 5% of the whole O.M. in the sands and the lowest C/N ratios and O.M. content.Concerning the global organic characteristics of the fractions, a systematic increase of C/N ratios occurs when going from clays to sands; the finer the fraction is, the more nitrogenous the compounds are. This enrichment in nitrogen is related to a persistent high rate of hydrolysable material either for argillaceous organic matter-poor sediments or for the clay fractions of all types of samples. Conversely, the type (a) coarse sediments, in particular the sandy components were resistant to acid hydrolysis with burial.Concerning the geochemical markers signatures of granulometric fractions, the distribution patterns of n-alkanes and n-fatty acids are characterized by the predominance of high molecular weight compounds >C₂₂. Carbon preference index (CPI) values are higher in the sands and silts, reflecting their enrichment in continentally-derived vegetation debris. For type (c), the fractionation revealed markers of microbial activity within the clay fractions. For all types of samples, we observed an increase with burial of the n-alkane and n-fatty acid concentrations, particularly in the clay fractions, suggesting possibly a better preservation and/or affinity of lipids with the finest fractions.     

The geochemistry of aliphatic and polar organic tracers in sediments from Lake Bera, Malaysia

The molecular distributions of homologous aliphatic lipid compounds (n-alkanes, n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanols, n-alkanals and n-alkan-2-ones) were investigated in sediments of Lake Bera, Malaysia as well as in plant waxes from the vicinity using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In addition, triterpenoids of the oleanane, ursane, lupane and friedelane series, and their diagenetic products were also identified. Using the aquatic proxy P_aq, it was found that the n-alkanes present in surface sediments S1, S5 and S6 correspond to an input from emergent macrophytes, whereas in sediments collected from open water (S2, S3 and S4) they correspond to input from submerged/floating macrophytes. The presence of n-alkan-2-ols, a commonly found homologous series in the sediments as well as in the plant wax, is novel here. In addition, the presence of 24-methylcycloart-22-enol and 24-ethylcycloart-22-enol in sediments as well as the plant wax of Pandanus helicopus, a dominant reed around the lake, also supports the input of plant biomarkers to the sediments. The occurrence of 5-membered ring triterpenoid derivatives as major diagenetic products of the triterpenoids identified (e.g. friedelan-2,3-dione) shows that the degradation of the organic matter in the sediments occurs mainly under oxic conditions. Also, the presence of ring-A degraded triterpenoids (dihydroputranjivic acid, 3-nor-2,4-seco-friedelane, 4α- and 4β-3-norfriedelanes, A-norfriedel-10-one, and A-norfriedel-8-en-10-one) and the aromatized triterpenoid hydrocarbons (mono- and triaromatic derivatives) as minor diagenetic products indicates photochemical and microorganism-mediated alteration reactions of natural products in the sediments. Additional novel polyfunctional friedelane derivatives, namely friedelane-2,3-dione, friedelane-1,3-diol-2-one and friedel-1(10)-ene-1,3-diol-2-one were identified for the first time in this study. These novel polyfunctional triterpenoids were inferred to derive from the oxidation of the triterpenoids from higher plants in this oxic tropical environment. For future reference purposes, the mass spectra of the identified polar triterpenoids are also presented here. This study provides important data on the biogeochemistry of organic matter in a tropical lake of SE Asia.     

Environmental geochemistry of El Temsah Lake sediments, Suez Canal district, Egypt

The heavy metal contents of Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Co, Pb, Cd, Fe, and V in the surface sediments from five selected sites of El Temsah Lake was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Geochemical forms of elements were investigated using four-step sequential chemical extraction procedure in order to identify and evaluate the mobility and the availability of trace metals on lake sediments, in comparison with the total element content. The operationally defined host fractions were: (1) exchangeable/bound to carbonate, (2) bound to Fe/Mn oxide, (3) bound to organic matter/sulfides, and (4) acid-soluble residue. The speciation data reveals that metals Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Mn, Cu, Cr, Fe, and V are sink primarily in organic and Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides phases. Co is mainly concentrated in the active phase. This is alarming because the element is enriched in Al Sayadin Lagoon which is still the main site of open fishing in Ismailia. Average concentration of the elements is mostly above the geochemical background and pristine values of the present study. There is a difference on the elemental composition of the sediment collected at the western lagoon (Al Sayadin Lagoon), junction, the shoreline shipyard workshops, and eastern beach of the lake. Depending upon the nature of elements and local pollution source, high concentration of Zn, Pb, and Cu are emitted by industrial wastewater flow (shoreline workshops), while sanitary and agricultural wastewater (El Bahtini and El Mahsama Drains) emit Co and Cd in Al Sayadin Lagoon. On the other hand, there is a marked decrease in potentially toxic heavy metal concentrations in the sediments at the most eastern side of the lake, probably due to the successive sediment dredging and improvements in water purification systems for navigation objective. These result show that El Temsah receives concentrations in anthropogenic metals that risk provoking more or less important disruptions, which are harmful and irreversible on the fauna and flora of this lake and on the whole ecobiological equilibrium.     

The mineralogy and geochemistry of the sediments of northwestern Lake Victoria

In the nearshore area of northwestern Lake Victoria a thin strip of quartzarenite sand occurs which grades lakeward into silty clay consisting of quartz with subordinate amounts of K-feldspar, plagioclase, kaolinite, illite, vermiculite and organic matter. Varimax matrix determinations of the element concentrations in the lake-bottom sediments extractable by aqua regia indicate that: (1) there is a strong association of Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni; (2) there is a strong association of Fe, Mn and Co; (3) Cu and Ni show moderate to slight associations with organic matter; (4) Ca is relatively independent of the other elements. The general decrease in the pH values of the surface and bottom waters outward from the lake shore, with consistently higher values for the surface water relative to the bottom waters, results from decreasing levels of photosynthetic activity.     

洞庭湖沉积物重金属环境地球化学

对洞庭湖沉积物样进行了Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、Ni、As和Hg等8种元素含量分析.结果显示,洞庭湖沉积物中重金属污染物主要是Cd和Hg,其次是Pb、Zn、As和Cu;Cd平均含量达到2.7mg/kg,是国家土壤环境质量三级标准(1.0mg/kg)的近3倍;Cu、Pb、Zn、As和Hg平均含量分别为51.3mg/kg、52.8mg/kg、140mg/kg、22.5mg/kg和0.22mg/kg,均超过国家土壤环境质量一级标准.运用地累积指数法对其污染程度进行了评价,认为重金属污染最严重的湖区是东洞庭湖的鹿角至城陵矶湖区(段),污染物可能主要来源于湘江流域;各子湖区(段)重金属综合污染状况评价结果是:东洞庭湖＞大通湖＞横岭湖＞万子湖＞西洞庭湖＞采桑湖.入湖各河口区沉积物重金属含量与历史资料的对比表明,8种重金属含量均有较高程度的富集,反映近年来洞庭湖流域内重金属污染有增加的趋势.     

Organic geochemistry of the Vindhyan sediments: Implications for hydrocarbons

The organic geochemical methods of hydrocarbon prospecting involve the characterization of sedimentary organic matter in terms of its abundance, source and thermal maturity, which are essential prerequisites for a hydrocarbon source rock. In the present study, evaluation of organic matter in the outcrop shale samples from the Semri and Kaimur Groups of Vindhyan basin was carried out using Rock Eval pyrolysis. Also, the adsorbed low molecular weight hydrocarbons, methane, ethane, propane and butane, were investigated in the near surface soils to infer the generation of hydrocarbons in the Vindhyan basin. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content in shales ranges between 0.04% and 1.43%. The S₁ (thermally liberated free hydrocarbons) values range between 0.01–0.09 mgHC/gRock (milligram hydrocarbon per gram of rock sample), whereas the S₂ (hydrocarbons from cracking of kerogen) show the values between 0.01 and 0.14 mgHC/gRock. Based on the T_max (temperature at highest yield of S₂) and the hydrogen index (HI) correlations, the organic matter is characterized by Type III kerogen. The adsorbed soil gas, CH₄ (C₁), C₂H₆ (C₂), C₃H₈ (C₃) and nC₄H₁₀, (nC4), concentrations measured in the soil samples from the eastern part of Vindhyan basin (Son Valley) vary from 0 to 186 ppb, 0 to 4 ppb, 0 to 5 ppb, and 0 to 1 ppb, respectively. The stable carbon isotope values for the desorbed methane (δ¹³C₁) and ethane (δ¹³C₂) range between −45.7‰ to −25.2‰ and −35.3‰ to −20.19‰ (VPDB), respectively suggesting a thermogenic source for these hydrocarbons. High concentrations of thermogenic hydrocarbons are characteristic of areas around Sagar, Narsinghpur, Katni and Satna in the Son Valley. The light hydrocarbon concentrations (C₁–C₄) in near surface soils of the western Vindhyan basin around Chambal Valley have been reported to vary between 1–2547 ppb, 1–558 ppb, 1–181 ppb, 1–37 ppb and 1–32 ppb, respectively with high concentrations around Baran-Jhalawar-Bhanpur-Garot regions (Kumar et al., 2006). The light gaseous hydrocarbon anomalies are coincident with the wrench faults (Kota – Dholpur, Ratlam – Shivpuri, Kannod – Damoh, Son Banspur – Rewa wrench) in the Vindhyan basin, which may provide conducive pathways for the migration of the hydrocarbons towards the near surface soils.     

Organic geochemistry of suspended and settling particulate matter in Lake Michigan

Organic matter contained in particulate matter in Lake Michigan waters and sediments has been characterized by $\text{C}\text{N}$ ratios and by distributions of biomarker fatty acids, alkanols, sterols, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Differences in organic constituents of particulate matter from various depths and distances from shore indicate a complex interaction of production, transformation, and destruction of the organic matter contained in sinking particles. Near-surface material contains important contributions of landderived organic matter, presumably of eolian input. Midwater particles have predominantly aquatic organic material of algal origin. At the sediment-water interface, selective suspension of the finer fractions of surficial sediments enriches bottom nepheloid layers with these sediment size classes. As a result, near-bottom particulate matter has an aquatic biomarker character. Organic matter associated with sinking particles undergoes substantial degradation during passage to the bottom of Lake Michigan, and aquatic components are selectively destroyed relative to terrigenous components.     

The pore water chemistry of 239,240Pu and 137Cs in sediments of Buzzards Bay,Massachusetts

The collection of large volumes of pore water (1–2 liters per 2 cm horizon of sediment) and low level radiochemical measurements of ^239,240Pu and ¹³⁷Cs have been combined to produce the first study of these fallout artificial radionuclides in marine pore waters. Profiles from box cores taken in June and September 1982 from Buzzards Bay, Mass., are reported along with profiles of many diagenetic constituents (i.e. SO₄^2?, alkalinity, Fe, Mn, DOC, and nutrients).The ^239,240Pu pore water profile is characterized by a subsurface maximum of about 0.28 dpm/100 kg lying between 3–11 cm. Overlying seawater, in contrast, has an activity of $\text{0.01 ± 0.02}$ dpm/100 kg. Below about 11 cm, the pore water ^239,240Pu distribution follows that of the solid phase which decreases rapidly with depth. The pore water profiles of ¹³⁷Cs are characterized by a broad and deeply penetrating maximum where activities of about 35–40 dpm/100 kg extend from 3 to 20 cm. Overlying seawater, in contrast, has an activity of 17–24 dpm/100 kg. The ¹³⁷Cs and ^239,240Pu pore water data show that there is preferential downward transport of ¹³⁷Cs and that ^239,240Pu does not have an active diagenetic chemistry and is not significantly mobile in these coastal sediments.     

Lake water geochemistry on the western Kola Peninsula,north-west Russia

Water samples were taken from 120 lakes spread over the western half of the Kola Peninsula, NW Russia. The samples were analysed for 37 elements, pH and electrical conductivity. Lake water chemistry appears in most cases to be dominated by a Ca/Na–HCO₃ signature, characteristic of natural carbonate/silicate weathering. Input of elements from marine derived salts and from the Ni industry (roasting plant at Zapoljarnij, smelter at Nikel and smelter/refinery at Monchegorsk) emissions are restricted to limited regions. Considering that 3 of the world's largest point source emitters of SO₂ are located within the area, the median lake water pH is surprisingly close to neutral (6.6, range 4.2–7.4). Indeed some of the apparently SO₄ contaminated lakes nearest to the smelters yield the highest pH values. Changes in climate and vegetation from north to south within the survey area probably have an influence on element concentrations and pH as observed in the lake waters. Proton displacement by sea salt cation input provides an explanation of low pH lakes in coastal areas.     

Distribution of Pb between sediments and pore water in Woods Lake,Adirondack State Park,New York,U.S.A.

Interstitial water samples and sediments were collected from acidified Woods Lake (pH= 5.0) to evaluate Pb profile stability and distribution between the solid and aqueous phases. A simple equation was developed to describe the distribution coefficient for Pb(Kd_Pb), based on the sample moisture content and analyte concentrations in bulk sediment and pore water. In Woods Lake sediment Kd_Pb values ranged from 6.7 × 10⁴to6.7 × 10⁵ml/g. The affinity of Pb for the solid phase was further demonstrated by inverting a sediment core and leaving it for 10 months in situ. Upon retrieval, the Pb profile was found to have remained intact over the same depth, albeit inverted, as in the surrounding sediment. Geochemical modeling using MINTEQA2 demonstrates that Pb solids that may reasonably be expected to precipitate were all undersaturated by several orders of magnitude with respect to the interstitial water, indicating that Pb was sorbed to, rather than precipitated in, Woods Lake sediment.     

Nutrient pore water chemistry,Great Bay,New Hampshire: Benthic fluxes

Benthic fluxes of C, N, P and Si have been measured at two sites in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire. Higher fluxes of reactive phosphate, nitrate and reactive silicate were observed at the site where bioturbation is known to occur and the fluxes of NH₄ ⁺, PO₄ ^?3 and reactive silicate at this location were from 3 to 6 times higher than that calculated by simple pore water diffusion models. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY019 00010     

Uranium geochemistry in groundwater from tertiary sediments

Dissolved U concentrations and activity ratios (ARs) of the U isotopes in the ²³⁸U decay series were measured in ground and surface waters as part of an investigation to delineate the water quality in a proposed uranium mining area of northwest Nebraska. In oxidizing groundwaters from 67 wells completed in the Tertiary sediments, increasing U concentrations in the direction of groundwater flow generally were associated with a maturation of the formation water as evidenced by evolutionary trends in major ion character. The increased U levels probably are associated with leaching as shown by the positive correlation between U concentrations and total dissolved solids (TDS) (r = +0.83). The inverse relationships between TDS and U ARs (r = ?0.73) and U levels and ARs (r = 0.72) indicate that the decay of excess U-234 is related to maturation of the formation water and to sediment leaching along the flowpath. The data are described by a model which incorporates etching, decay and recoil and suggests that aquifer residence time can be estimated from the TDS level.The levels of soluble U in a reducing uraniferous hydrogeologic unit near Crawford, Nebraska are affected by the proximity of the sample collection to ore. In groundwater samples having similar chemistries (Na-SO₄ + Cl type), similar Ehs, and collected from a close-knit pattern, U concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 2,037 μg l^?1 and ARs ranged from 0.75 to 12.6. This high variability in U levels and ARs is indicative of uranium ore in small areal studies where low ARs almost always are associated with high U concentrations.     

Multi-element geochemistry of sediments from the Pearl River system,China

Sediment samples were taken along the West, North, and East rivers of the Pearl River system at 28 locations in 1998, and a total of 49 elements were determined by ICP–AES, ICP–MS and INAA. The probability features of the datasets were studied, and the average concentrations of these elements in sediments of the three rivers were calculated. Significant differences in element concentrations among the three rivers were observed and the results were confirmed by statistical tests including analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal–Wallis test, and t-test. Spatial distribution maps of element concentrations were produced using a geographical information system (GIS). The immobile trace elements (such as Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) are enriched in the West River where limestone dominates the rock types in the watershed. Because of the strong weathering, immobile trace elements are enriched and reside in secondary minerals of the weathering products. All three rivers have high concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) because of strong weathering, but relatively higher concentrations of REEs are observed in sediments of the East River where granite dominates the rock type. Granite contains high concentrations of REEs and the sediments have inherited this feature from their bedrock. Alkaline element (Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs) concentrations are elevated in sediments of the East River, these may reside in granitic primary minerals. Relatively high concentrations of alkaline earth elements (Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) are observed in the West River, inherited from the limestone bedrock. High Pb and Bi concentrations are found in the North River and are caused by Pb mineralization and the discharge of a smelter in the upper reaches of the river. However, statistical tests did not indicate a significant difference between Pb concentrations in the North River and the other two rivers, which suggests that statistical results should be carefully used and explained.     

Constraints on water chemistry by chemical weathering in the Lake Qinghai catchment, northeastern Tibetan Plateau (China): clues from Sr and its isotopic geochemistry

Lake water, river water, and groundwater from the Lake Qinghai catchment in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, China have been analyzed and the results demonstrate that the chemical components and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the waters are strictly constrained by the age and rock types of the tributaries, especially for groundwater. Dissolved ions in the Lake Qinghai catchment are derived from carbonate weathering and part from silicate sources. The chemistry of Buha River water, the largest tributary within the catchment, underlain by the late Paleozoic marine limestone and sandstones, constrains carbonate-dominated compositions of the lake water, being buffered by the waters from the other tributaries and probably by groundwater. The variation of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios with cation concentrations places constraint on the Sr-isotopic compositions of the main subcatchments surrounding Lake Qinghai. The relative significance of river-water sources from different tributaries (possibly groundwater as well) in controlling the Sr distribution in Lake Qinghai provides the potential to link the influence of hydrological processes to past biological and physical parameters in the lake. The potential role of groundwater input in the water budget and chemistry of the lake emphasizes the need to further understand hydrogeological processes within the Lake Qinghai system.