生物硅的测定及其生物地球化学意义

生物硅（BSi）指用化学方法测定的沉积物中的无定形硅含量。生物硅的含量与水体中初级生产息息相关。硅藻、放射虫、海绵骨针和硅鞭毛虫产生的生物硅是地球化学和古海洋学研究的重要参数。重点讨论了目前生物硅测定方法中的化学提取法，评述了提取过程中存在的一些问题，并对BSi测定的生物地球化学意义进行了讨论。     

Dissolution kinetics of biogenic silica from the water column to the sediments

Stirred flow-through experiments were conducted for the first time with planktonic biogenic silica (BSi). We investigated the dissolution kinetics of uncleaned and chemically cleaned BSi collected in ocean surface water, sediment traps, and sediments from the Norwegian Sea, the Southern Ocean, and the Arabian Sea. The solubility at 2°C is rather constant (1000 to 1200 μM). The dissolution rates are, however, highly variable, declining with water depth, and phytoplankton reactivity is two to three orders of magnitude higher than pure siliceous oozes. The reactivity decrease correlates well with an increase in the integrated peak intensity ratios of Si-O-Si/Si-OH measured by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The removal of organic or inorganic coatings enhance the reactivity by at least an order of magnitude. Atomic Al/Si ratios of 0.03 to 0.08 in sedimentary diatom frustules decrease significantly to 0.02 as a result of removal of inorganic coatings and detritals present. Near equilibrium, the dissolution rates exhibit a linear dependence on the degree of undersaturation. At higher degrees of undersaturation—that is, at low concentrations of dissolved silica—the dissolution rates of uncleaned samples define a nonlinear trend.The nonlinear kinetics imply that the dissolution of natural BSi is strongly accelerated in silica-depleted surface waters. The FTIR results suggest that internal condensation reactions reduce the amount of surface reaction sites and are partly responsible for the reactivity decrease with depth. The high content of Al in sedimentary BSi is likely caused by precipitation of dissolved silica with Al dissolved from minerals in sediment. Nonbiogenic silica as coatings or detritals are partly responsible for the solubility and reactivity decrease of BSi in sediments. One order of magnitude different rate constants measured in Norwegian Sea and Southern Ocean sediment trap material support the so-called opal paradox—that is, high BSi accumulation rates in sediments in spite of low BSi production rates in surface waters of the Southern Ocean.     

The distribution and nature of amino acids and other nitrogen-containing compounds in Lake Ontario surface sediments

Five surface sediment samples (0–3 cm), two suspended sediment samples and a zooplankton sample from Lake Ontario were analysed for nitrogen-containing compounds. Amino acids, amino sugars, ethanolamine and urea were separated and characterized by ion-exchange chromatography. Free amino acids and soluble combined amino acids and amino sugars accounted for less than 0–25 per cent of the total nitrogen in the sediments. Insoluble combined amino acids and amino sugars were the most abundant nitrogen fraction in the sediments, making up from 49 to 55 per cent of the total nitrogen. Evidence is presented that asparagine, glutamine and citrulline are present in the interstitial waters and may make up part of the sediment organic nitrogen that was not characterized.The free amino acids released by the proteolytic enzyme, pronase, from the interstitial waters and sediment humic and fulvic acid extracts were determined. Pronase released 65 per cent of the soluble combined amino acids and 34 per cent of the fulvic acid amino acids as free amino acids. Enzyme activity was inhibited in the presence of the humic acid extract. The results indicate that the combined amino acids in the interstitial waters and fulvic acid extracts are intermediates between the primary aquatic detritus and the sediment humic acids. The enzyme experiments and infra-red data indicate that part of the sediment amino acids are combined through peptide linkages.     

湿碱消解-等离子体发射光谱法测定海洋沉积物中的生物硅

利用湿碱式化学提取技术和电感耦合等离子体发射光谱仪,优化样品碱式消解方法,确定仪器最佳工作条件,建立了测定海洋沉积物中不同含量级别生物硅的方法。结果表明,仪器检出限为0.724μmol/L,方法检出限为0.942μmol/L。用于测定硅酸盐-硅溶液成分分析国家一级标准物质(GBW08648和GBW 08649,标准值分别为50.0μmol/L和100.0μmol/L),测定值分别为(49.888±0.275)μmol/L、(99.578±0.651)μmol/L,相对标准偏差为0.443%、0.527%;对于不同生物硅含量级别海洋沉积物样品的平行、独立测量,其相对标准偏差8.9%。方法快速、简便、准确,可满足古海洋学不同时空尺度气候和环境分析的应用。     

Silica diagenesis of Neogene diatomaceous and volcaniclastic sediments in northern Japan*

Marine diatomaceous siliceous sediments in Neogene sections of northern Japan contrast with the Monterey Shale of California in containing many intercalations of acidic volcaniclastic sediments. Diagenesis of these sediments from deep boreholes and surface sections was investigated. Three diagenetic zones—biogenic opal, opal-CT and quartz zones—are recognized in siliceous sediments, corresponding roughly to amorphous silica, low cristobalite and quartz zones in acidic vitric volcaniclastic sediments. Opal-CT consists almost exclusively of silica and water, while low cristobalite contains appreciable amounts of A1, Ca, Na and K. In subsurface sections, values of d(101) spacing of opal-CT decrease progressively with increasing burial depth. The progressive ordering is not associated with additional silica cementation. In surface sections, the behaviour of d(101) spacing is complicated owing to the modification of the progressive ordering developed during burial diagenesis by later silica cementation during uplift. The cementing opal-CT is probably precipitated from percolating groundwater which dissolves siliceous skeletons in porous diatomaceous mudstones overlying the opal-CT porcellanite. Opaline cherts that form during burial diagenesis are designated as early opaline chert, while those which form during uplift are later opaline chert. The later opaline chert contains two groups of opal-CT; one is progressively ordered opal-CT and the other is additionally cemented opal-CT with higher d(101) spacing than that in the host porcellanite. In diatomaceous siliceous sediments, early opaline chert is scarce. Most, if not all, opaline cherts in surface sections are of later origin.     

Ferromanganese oxide deposits from the Central Pacific Ocean,II. Nodules and associated sediments

Bulk chemical, mineralogical and selective leach analyses have been made on a suite of abyssal ferromanganese nodules and associated sediments from the S.W. equatorial Pacific Ocean. Compositional relations between nodules, sediment oxyhydroxides and nearby ferromanganese encrustations are drawn assuming that the crusts represent purely hydrogenetic ferromanganese material. Crusts, δMnO₂-rich nodules and sediment oxyhydroxides are compositionally similar and distinct from diagenetic todorokitebearing nodules. Compared to Fe-Mn crusts, sediment oxyhydroxides are however slightly enriched, relative to Mn and Ni, in Fe, Cu, Zn, Ti and Al, and depleted in Co and Pb, reflecting processes of non-hydrogenous element supply and diagenesis. δMnO₂ nodules exhibit compositions intermediate between Fe-Mn crusts and sediment oxyhydroxides and thus are considered to accrete oxides from both the water column and associated sediments.Deep ocean vertical element fluxes associated with large organic aggregates, biogenic calcite, silica and soft parts have been calculated for the study area. Fluxes associated with organic aggregates are one to three orders of magnitude greater than those associated with the other phases considered, are in good agreement with element accumulation rates in sediments, and are up to four orders of magnitude greater than element accumulation rates in nodules. Metal release from labile biogenic material in surface sediments can qualitatively explain the differences between the composition of Fe-Mn crusts and sediment oxyhydroxides.Todorokite-rich diagenetic nodules are confined to an eastwards widening equatorial wedge. It is proposed that todorokite precipitates directly from interstitial waters. Since the transition metal chemistry of interstitial waters is controlled dominantly by reactions involving the breakdown of organic carbon, the supply and degradation rate of organic material is a critical factor in the formation of diagenetic nodules. The wide range of (trace metal/Mn) ratios observed in marine todorokite reflects a balance between the release of trace metals from labile biogenic phases and the reductive remobilisation of Mn oxide, both of which are related to the breakdown of organic carbon.     

Influence of hydrodynamic regime on the mineral composition of deep-sea sediments

The composition of sand-silt and pelite fractions of deep-sea sediments deposited under different hydrodynamic conditions was studied. Assemblages of clastic, clayey, biogenic, and authigenic minerals formed under the influence of surface and bottom currents were traced. It is shown that biogenic opal, fine-dispersed celestobarite, and authigenic protosyngenetic ferromanganese micronodules, which are composed of only manganese phases, represent indicators of cyclonic gyres characterized by enhanced bioproductivity. Collophane (bone detritus), phillipsite, palagonite, and large celestobarite crystals prevail in mineral assemblages below the anticyclonic gyres, whereas ore micronodules are depleted in manganese. Surface and bottom currents control the distribution of clastic (terrigenous edaphogenic, terrestrial-volcanogenic) and clay minerals, as well as biogenic opal in the form of Ethmodiscus frustules in sediments. Edaphogenic mineral assemblages represent the reliable indicators of bottom currents.     

Early diagenesis in anaerobic lake sediments: chemical equilibria in interstitial waters

As part of a study of early diagenesis in anaerobic lake sediments the major ions and P, Fe, Mn, pS, p? and pH were measured in interstitial waters of cores from eutrophic Greifensee in north-central Switzerland. A guide for the interpretation of such data is thermodynamic equilibrium between the dissolved species and mineral phases. The results show that CaCO₃, which precipitates from the lake water, dissolves rapidly in the CO₂-rich interstitial waters resulting in equilibrium with calcite in the top few centimeters of sediment. Siderite, on the other hand, is nearly ten-fold supersaturated 20–30 cm below the surface. Iron monosulfides are metastable in the surface 10–20 cm of sediment and pS and p? results indicate equilibrium between polysulfides and orthorhombic sulfur. Vivianite appears to be limiting the solubility of phosphate below a few centimeters of sediment.The above processes are highly interactive, especially in the case of ferrous iron, with one result being a two order of magnitude decrease in dissolved phosphate in a depth interval of 20cm in the interstitial waters.     

The occurrence and significance of biogenic opal in the regolith

Biogenic opal produced by vascular plants, diatoms, and siliceous sponges have been found in soils and terrestrial sediments of all continents except Antarctica since the middle of the 19th century. The opal particles range in size from fine silt to fine sand. Almost all soils contain detectable opal up to levels of 2–3%, and a significant number contain values in excess of 5%. Even higher values have been found from soils and sediments of all continents in a wide range of soil types. The most important factor is poor soil drainage and seasonal to permanent water logging. This encourages the proliferation of silica producing organisms. Such conditions have been found in the soils and aquatic sediments of the monsoonal tropics, tropical rain forests, temperate forests, tropical savanna, tropical islands, semi-arid grasslands and savanna, and temperate woodland and grassland. The presence of a volcanic substrate also appears favourable in some cases, but is not necessary. Biogenic opal preferentially collects in the A horizon of soils and, to a lesser extent, in the B horizon. This preferential distribution facilitates identification of palaeosols in stacked soil sequences. Biogenic opal is also a component of windblown dust, even in arid environments. Biogenic opal is significant to regolith processes in a number of ways. Firstly, as in the case in marine environments, it is likely to be important in silica cycling and storage because of its greater lability compared to quartz. Secondly, dissolution and reprecipitation of opal A as opal CT or micro-quartz may play a role in cementation and silicification of regolith to form silica hardpans and silcrete. Thirdly, the organisms that form biogenic opal can have considerable palaeoenvironmental significance and be valuable in reconstructing regolith evolution. Finally, some forms of biogenic silica, in particular sponge spicules, can present a health hazard. Their high abundance in some soils and sediments needs to be considered when assessing the health implications of airborne dust.     

Clinoptilolite, paragenesis and stratigraphy

Clinoptilolite, a zeolite of the heulandite group, occurs commonly in sediments as an authigenic mineral. In the Middle Eocene of southern Israel, it constitutes from a few per cent up to 80 per cent of the insoluble residue of the chalks and limestones. It is associated with opal C-T, montmorillonite and palygorskite. These chalks and limestones overlie the Danian-Palaeocene Taqiya marls which also contain a well-established clay mineral sequence consisting of opal C-T, montmorillonite, palygorskite, sepiolite, and clinoptilolite. This paragenesis of minerals is shown to be typical of the Upper Cretaceous to Eocene times. It is world-wide, occurs in deep-sea sediments as well as in shallow water sediments, and results from the abundance of silica which probably reflects a warmer climate during this time period. The concentration of magnesium in the sea-water and its ratio to the other cations seem to determine which authigenic silicate will be formed.     

The importance of water column processes on the dissolution properties of biogenic silica in deep-sea sediments I. Solubility

Flow-through experiments have been performed to study the thermodynamics of biogenic silica (opal) dissolution in deep-sea sediments. They were applied for the first time on sediment from the Southern Ocean [Van Cappellen and Qiu 1997a] and [Van Cappellen and Qiu 1997b] We have extended the use of these experiments to other deep-sea settings, thereby covering a wide range of in situ silicic acid asymptotic concentrations (C_asympt; 200 to 900 μmol/L) and biogenic opal content (BSi; 0.5 to 80%). Performing these experiments under in situ bottom temperatures allows for the comparison between experimental apparent solubilities and C_asympt concentrations. Low values of BSi apparent solubilities have been measured in the deepest sections of the multicores collected in the northeast Atlantic (229 μmol/L) and in the equatorial Pacific (505 μmol/L). They are only 10 to 20% higher than the in situ C_asympt concentrations. This demonstrates a clear control of pore water silicic acid concentrations by the in situ apparent solubility of the BSi, i.e., the solubility of BSi within a complex sedimentary matrix that includes important quantities of silicate minerals.In regions where the percentage detrital/percentage biogenic ratio is low, the apparent solubility of the biogenic silica is close to that of in situ biogenic silica. In the opposite case, when the percentage detrital/percentage biogenic ratio is high, reprecipitation reactions induce strong interference on the dissolution properties of the opal, both in situ and in flow-through experiments. In such a sedimentary matrix, it is important to determine the appropriate opal solubility to be used in early diagenetic models, i.e., the solubility of the biogenic silica just before deposition on the seabed. This has been achieved by performing flow-through experiments on sediment trap material from the north Atlantic site. Comparison of apparent biogenic silica solubility measured by flow-through experiments and the silicic acid concentrations measured in the cups of the sediment traps suggested that the solubility of biogenic silica that reaches the sediment-water interface is not unique and varies spatially and temporally. In fact, it is the degree of coupling between surface waters and the sediment-water interface that will control the aging of biogenic silica in the water column and hence the dissolution properties of the biogenic silica deposited at the sediment-water interface. All these results call for a strong improvement of biogenic silica early diagenetic models that should include not only a reprecipitation term that takes into account interaction with silicate minerals but also the existence of several phases of biogenic silica and thus that should operate in a non-steady-state mode to account for seasonal variations in the quality of deposited biogenic silica.     

Biological uptake and accumulation of silica on the Amazon continental shelf

Water column and seabed samples were obtained from 92 stations on the Amazon continental shelf during October of 1979. Uptake of silica near and southeast of the river mouth began at a salinity of 8%. and accounted for 17% of the riverine silica flux to this region. Uptake northwest of the river mouth began at a salinity of 20%. and resulted in 33% removal of the riverine silica flux. Examination of filtered suspended solids revealed abundant diatoms in the surface waters, including Coscinodiscus. Skeletonema, Synedra. and Thalassiosira. The biological uptake of silica appears to be dependent on three factors: turbidity, turbulence, and nutrient availability. There was no evidence of abiological removal of silica in the Amazon estuary. 75 to 88% of the silica removed from surface waters by diatoms dissolves prior to accumulation in the seabed. Based on the mean biogenic silica content of shelf sediment (0.25%) and estimates of rates of sediment accumulation, the biogenic silica accumulation rate on the shelf is 2 × 10¹² g/yr, which represents only 4% of the dissolved silica supplied by the Amazon River. Biological uptake of silica in estuarine surface waters may not accurately reflect permanent removal of biogenic silica to the seabed because of dissolution which occurs in bottom waters and near the sediment-water interface.     

Composition,oxygen isotope geochemistry and origin of smectite in the metalliferous sediments of the Bauer Deep,southeast Pacific

The sediments of the Bauer Deep, an open ocean basin situated on the northwest Nazca Plate in the southeast Pacific, constitute a regional metalliferous deposit dominated by authigenic smectite.Two 2-metre long cores from the Bauer Deep were examined to investigate the nature and origin of the smectite.Infra-red and Mossbauer spectroscopy and wet chemical analysis (LiBO₂ fusion) of isolated smectite, indicate the mineral is a Mg-rich, Al-rich nontronite. Oxygen isotopic compositions for isolated smectite are uniform and translate to a non-hydrothermal temperature of formation of about 3°C. SEM observations show an abundance of well-preserved biogenic opal in surface and near surface sediment but postburial dissolution and transformation of this phase to smectite is evident at depth.Smectite formation is the result of interaction between iron oxyhydroxide, ponded in the Bauer Deep following a hydrothermal origin at the adjacent East Pacific Rise, and biogenic opal. A reaction mechanism is proposed.Regional factors control smectite formation. In particular, formation is inhibited in areas of CaCO₃ accumulation (topographic elevations) but favoured in areas of oxyhydroxide and opal ponding (topographic depressions).     

A Study of Pretreatment Methods for Terrigenous Grain-Size Analysis of Marine Sediments

The prerequisite for obtaining variations of terrigenous grain-size of marine sediments is how to effectively remove non-terrigenous matters and preserve terrigenous particles synchronously. Combined with observations under biological microscope and scanning electron microscope, a comparative study of biogenic debris removal effect and terrigenous grain-size analysis under different pretreatment condition was performed on core sediments, which were retrieved in the South China Sea during the MD190 cruise. Our new results showed that the main three biogenic particles, namely, organic matter, carbonate, and opal in marine sediments could be removed effectively by 30% H₂O₂ in a stirring water bath at 60 ℃ for 3 h, 0.5% HCl for 1 h, and 2 mol/L Na₂CO₃ in a stirring water bath at 85 ℃ for 5 h, in turn. Such pretreatments achieved the goals of biogenic debris removal efficiency and relatively well-preserved terrigenous particles. Prior to selecting an appropriate pretreatment method, this study suggested that the actual effects of biogenic detritus on grain-size results of diverse marine sediment samples should be taken into account. If the laboratory data are ensured to be closer to the natural grain-size distribution of terrigenous particles, the removals of all biogenic debris are not always needed, and the less pretreatment processes the better. For example, opal particles have little effect on terrigenous grain-size distribution when their percentage is lower than 2%. Thus, there is no use to remove them from marine sediments before laboratory grain-size analysis of terrigenous particles. Additionally, ultrasonic is not suggested through the whole process of terrigenous grain-size analysis because the strong energy of ultrasonic can lead to the fragmentation of some fragile terrigenous particles.     

The Southern Ocean silica cycle

The Southern Ocean is a major opal sink and plays a key role in the silica cycle of the world ocean. So far however, a complete cycle of silicon in the Southern Ocean has not been published. On one hand, Southern Ocean surface waters receive considerable amounts of silicic acid (dissolved silica, DSi) from the rest of the world ocean through the upwelling of the Circumpolar Deep Water, fed by contributions of deep waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. On the other hand, the Southern Ocean exports a considerable flux of the silicic acid that is not used by diatoms in surface waters through the northward pathways of the Sub-Antarctic Mode Water, of the Antarctic Intermediate Water, and of the Antarctic Bottom Water. Thus the Southern Ocean is a source of DSi for the rest of the world ocean. Here we show that the Southern Ocean is a net importer of DSi: because there is no significant external input of DSi, the flux of DSi imported through the Circumpolar Deep Water pathway compensates the sink flux of biogenic silica in sediments.     

Production and pelagic dissolution of biogenic silica in the Southern Ocean

Vertical distributions of particulate silica, and of production and dissolution rates of biogenic silica, were determined on two N-S transects across the Pacific sector of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current during the austral spring of 1978. Particulate silica profiles showed elevated levels in surface water and near the bottom, with low (35–110 nmol Si · 1^?1) and vertically uniform values through the intervening water column. Both the particulate silica content of the upper 200 m and the production rate of biogenic silica in the photic zone increased from north to south, reaching their highest values near the edge of the receding pack ice. A significant, but variable, fraction (18–58%) of the biogenic silica produced in the surface layer was redissolving in the upper 90–98 m. Net production of biogenic silica in the surface layer (production minus dissolution) was proceeding at a mean rate of ca. 2 mmol Si · m^?2 · day^?1. This is ca. 4 times greater than the most recent estimate of the mean accumulation rate of siliceous sediments beneath the ACC. We estimate, based on mass balance, that the mean dissolution rate of biogenic silica in subsurface water column in the Southern Ocean is 1.2–2.9 mmol Si · m^?2 · day^?1.     

Sediments in the estuarine environment of the tigris/euphrates delta; Iraq; Arabian Gulf

Studies on surface water characters of the estuarine environment of Iraq, northwestern Arabian Gulf, define three subdivisions of salinity: oligohaline, polyhaline, and euhaline. Textural analysis reveals that surface sediments covering the bottom are composed of six distinct classes: silty clay, clayey silt, sand-silt-clays, clayey sand, silty sand and sand. Five physiographic subdivisions are identified and described fluvial-estuarine, tidal mud flats (subtidal flat, lower intertidal flat, upper intertidal flat, supratidal flat), sand bars, Abdallah-Shetana channel and submerged estuarine distributary channel and bar systems. The content of organic matter in the sediments ranges from 0.24-3.69 per cent by weight. High values were recorded from the Abdallah-Shetana channel while lower values are confined to sand bars and submerged estuarine distributary channel and bar systems. Carbonates, quartz, feldspar, and halite are the main mineral constituents of the non-clay grade sediments; carbonates are present mainly as low-magnesium calcite followed by dolomite and high-magnesium calcite. Aragonite is present only in trace amounts. Both detrital and biogenic sources are suggested for low-magnesium calcite. A detrital source for dolomite and a biogenic source for high-magnesium calcite and aragonite are proposed.     

Geogenic sources and sinks of trace metals in the Larsemann Hills,East Antarctica: Natural processes and human impact

To evaluate the extent of human impact on a pristine Antarctic environment, natural baseline levels of trace metals have been established in the basement rocks of the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica.From a mineralogical and geochemical point of view the Larsemann Hills basement is relatively homogeneous, and contains high levels of Pb, Th and U. These may become soluble during the relatively mild Antarctic summer and be transported to lake waters by surface and subsurface melt water. Melt waters may also be locally enriched in V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn and Sn derived from weathering of metabasite pods. With a few notable exceptions, the trace metal concentrations measured in the Larsemann Hills lake waters can be entirely accounted for by natural processes such as sea spray and surface melt water input. Thus, the amount of trace metals released by weathering of basement lithologies and dispersed into the Larsemann Hills environment, and presumably in similar Antarctic environments, is, in general, not negligible, and may locally be substantial.The Larsemann Hills sediments are coarse-grained and contain minute amounts of clay-size particles, although human activities have contributed to the generation of fine-grained material at the most impacted sites. Irrespective of their origin, these small amounts of fine-grained clastic sediments have a relatively small surface area and charge, and are not as effective metal sinks as the abundant, thick cyanobacterial algal mats that cover the lake floors. Thus, the concentration of trace metals in the Larsemann Hills lake waters is regulated by biological activity and thawing–freezing cycles, rather than by the type and amount of clastic sediment supply.     

Dissolved aluminium in interstitial waters of recent terrigenous marine sediments from the North Atlantic Ocean

The vertical distribution of dissolved Al in interstitial waters of recent marine sediments has been determined using a fluorimetric analytical method adapted for interstitial water analysis. The results suggest that diagenetic reactions occur in the sediment soon after deposition. A narrow depth zone acting as a source of dissolved Al is found in each core. Outside this zone Al appears to be removed from solution and its concentration decreases to values of 1.5 μgAl/l or less, comparable to those of open ocean waters. Dissolved Al and SiO₂ concentrations in interstitial waters close to the sediment-seawater interface are linearly correlated in most cases, suggesting that the geochemistry of Al may be related to the behaviour of biogenic silica in marine sediments.     

南海颗粒物质的通量、组成及其与沉积物积累率的关系初探

通过大孔径时间系列沉积物捕获器的多年测量及对样品的多学科综合分析表明:南海北部与中部深海区1000m左右水深颗粒通量大约为90mg·m-2·d-1,在多数情况下,季风期间的颗粒通量有比较明显的增高。颗粒物主要组成为钙质生物来源的CaCO₃、生物硅、岩源物质及海洋生物来源的有机质。颗粒通量与组成在水柱中的垂向变化表明,生源组分中CaCO₃及有机质随深度具有较为明显的减少。颗粒物侧向运动可能是造成某些时段南海中部深层颗粒通量增加的主要原因。颗粒物质在进入深海沉积物之前,CaCO₃、生物硅均在深层水与沉积物界面之间发生大量的溶解作用。有机质在沉降过程中的减少,一方面是由于硅质与钙质壳体的溶解而使结合在壳体内部的有机质随之溶解造成;另一方面可能与生物及生物地球化学作用有关。岩源物质除水柱沉降之外,还可以通过浊流等底层搬运机制进入南海北部及中部海盆,其中在南海北部这种搬运作用更为明显。