Recent sedimentary processes in Scoresby Sund, East Greenland

The fjord system of Scoresby Sund on the east coast of Greenland has been the subject of two research cruises by RV Polarstern in 1988 and 1990. Most of the year, the fjord is covered by sea-ice. Sediment input takes place mostly via drifting icebergs during the short summer period. Depending on the distance to glaciers, surface sediments carry varying proportions of coarse ice-rafted debris (IRD). The degree of sediment reworking by scouring icebergs is controlled by the depth of the fjord, with the most intense reworking in areas shallower than about 450 m depth. Both IRD contribution and intensity of sediment scouring clearly control the distribution pattern of benthic organisms.     

The Late Quaternary sedimentary record in Scoresby Sund, East Greenland

Until recently, little was known about the Quaternary marine sedimentary record in East Greenland. Geophysical and geological investigations in Scoresby Sund were undertaken to characterize the nature and chronology of this record. Seismic records show that almost 70% of the outer fjord system is covered by about 10 m of unlithified sediments, making direct correlation with the Quaternary records on land and the adjacent continental margin difficult. These acoustically unstratified sediments are scoured by icebergs above 550 m water depth. Almost 90% of core material is massive diamicton of Holocene age, deposited mainly from iceberg rafting and turbid meltwater. Sedimentation rates are 0.1 -0.3 m 1000 yr-¹. Thicker accumulations of unlithified Quaternary sediments in Scoresby Sund occur as sediment ridges and in two other major depocentres. A low sediment ridge runs across the mouth of Scoresby Sund, and is interpreted as an end moraine of Late Weichselian Flakkerhuk stadial age. The very restricted sediment thickness suggests that grounded ice filled the fjord during the Flakkerhuk and an ice shelf was not present. High inputs of ice rafted debris to the continental margin at about 18 000 BP indicate this as a probable age for the moraine. During the Allerød Interstadial, ice probably retreated from the outer fjord system, since massive diamictons similar to those of Holocene age are present at the base of most cores. A major depocentre of acoustically stratified sediments at the head of Hall Bredning is interpreted to represent ice proximal deposits from a glacier margin extending across the fjord. It is adjacent to dated moraines on land and is inferred to be of Milne Land stadial age (about 10 000 BP). A similar age is interpreted for acoustically laminated sediments and a moraine at the entrance of Vikingebugt, on the south side of Scoresby Sund. Dated kame terraces in the inner fjord system indicate that ice retreated to its present position 6–7000 years ago.     

The interglacial-glacial record at the mouth of Scoresby Sund, East Greenland

The sedimentary record around outer Scorcsby Sund begins with the Scorcsby Sund glaciation (≅ isotope stage 6), but is incomplete. Both at Kap Hope, headward of the fjord mouth, and at Kikiakajik on the outer coast. there are shallow marine sediments, correlated with the Langelandselv interglaciation (≅ isotope substagc 5e) on the basis of molluse assemblages and luminescence dates. Abundant Balanus crenatus , and several bivalves. show that thc adveetion of warm Atlantic water to the East Greenland coast was higher during that interglacial than during the Holocenc. Glacial striae at Kap Brewster (facing the open ocean) and till on top of the interglacial beds at Kikiakajik show that both an outlet from the Greenland Iee Sheet, and more local glaciers reached the continental shelf during the Weichselian. This glacial event is poorly dated. but tentatively correlated with the Flakkerhuk stade (≅ 19 15 ka BP) when, from marine geological data, it is suggested that thc Scoresby Sund glacier terminated c . 30 km east of Kap Brewster. During the Milne Land stade ( c . 10 ka BP) there was a resurgence of local ice caps in the mountains both north and south of the fjord mouth, but Scoresby Sund and Hall Bredning probably remained free of glaciers. Dating of these events was achieved through Iuminescence- (TL and OSL) and the ¹⁴C-method. and biostratigraphical and amino acid correliition Interglacial shells on thc outer coast show much lower amino acid D/L ratios than shells of the same age within the Scoresby Sund area. This may indicate that the outer coast remained free of ice cover and marine inundation much longer, arid suffered colder temperatures than areas along the fjord.     

The Aucellaelv stade at Aucellaelv, the first Weichselian glacier advance in Scoresby Sund, East Greenland

The first major Weichselian ice advance in Scoresby Sund, during the Aucellaelv stage, deposited thick till beds along the coast of Jameson Land between > 107 ka and 140 ka. and is correlated with isotope substage 5d in the marine record. This is shown by stream-cut sections at the mouth of the Aucellaelv. Jameson Land, which contain a scquence of shallow marine, fluvial and glacigene sediments extending from the Scoresby Sund glaciation (≅Saalian) to the Flakkerhuk stade (Late Weichselian). The sequence is dated by palaeoceanographic correlation with the deep-sea record, U/Th and luminescence dating, and correlated with the record in adjacent areas by mapping of marker horizons, and by mollusc fauna assemblages and amino acid analyses.     

The origin of massive diamicton facies by iceberg rafting and scouring, Scoresby Sund, East Greenland

Almost 90% of 39 m of core material recovered from Scoresby Sund and the adjacent East Greenland shelf is massive diamicton, interpreted to be formed predominantly by the release of iceberg rafted debris and reworking by iceberg scouring. There is also likely to be a contribution from suspension settling of fines derived from glaciofluvial sources. Model calculations suggest that the ¹⁴C derived Holocene sedimentation rate of 0.1-0.3 m 1000 yr⁻¹ in Scoresby Sund can be accounted for mainly by iceberg rafting of debris. A further 4% of core material is of gravel or coarse sand lenses, interpreted to reflect iceberg dumping of debris. Intensive iceberg scouring, which reworks sea floor sediments, is observed on acoustic records from over 30 000 km² of the Scoresby Sund fiord system and the adjacent East Greenland shelf (69-72°N and 75°N). The rate of iceberg production from Greenland Ice Sheet outlet glaciers, and iceberg drift tracks on the shelf, suggests that iceberg rafting and scouring may be important over a significant proportion of the 500 000 km² area above the shelf break. The relatively extensive modern occurrence of massive diamicton, formed by iceberg rafting and scouring, together with suspension settling of fines, suggests that it may also be a significant facies in the glacier-influenced geological record. The recognition in the geological record of the massive diamicton facies described above may also indicate the former presence of fast flowing ice sheet outlet glaciers.     

Modern and Holocene foraminifera and sediments on the continental shelf off Troms, North Norway

Based on studies of gravity cores from two transverse troughs on the shelf and earlier investigations, the surface sediments are divided into three main facies: bouldery and pebbly sand on the banks and the shelf break; sand on the flanks and outer parts of the troughs and sandy mud in the inner parts of the troughs. Besides a depth control, the distribution must have been influenced by relatively rapidly moving bottom currents in the outer parts of the troughs. The distribution and composition of the modern benthic foraminiferal fauna (e.g. C. lobatulus/T. angulosa in the outer reaches and C. obtusalBolivina spp. in the inner reaches) is mainly controlled by the bottom current regime and sediments. The planktic fauna dominated by N. pachyderma (R) correlates well with the winter surface temperatures. The stratigraphi-cal analysis shows that the 10,000–9,600 years B.P. period experienced high rates of deposition probably due to meltwater runoff from the continental ice sheet. At ca. 9,700 B.P. a minimum in the production of N. pachyderma (R) indicates a temporary cooling of the surface water. During the 9,600–7,800 B.P. period the rate of deposition was reduced. At the end of this period the foraminiferal fauna changed towards one like the modern fauna, reflecting improving ecological conditions. At ca. 7,800 B.P. the sediments became coarser due to reduced input of detrital sediments and an increased production of sand-sized biogenic material. Since then the shelf environment has been fairly stable up to the present time.     

Use of seaweed and slope sediments in fjord prospecting for lead-zinc deposits near Maarmorilik, West Greenland

Near Maarmorilik in West Greenland, several sphalerite-pyrite-galena deposits outcrop in cliffs high above the fjords. One, the Black Angel (Sorte Engel) deposit, has been mined since 1973. Shoreline geochemical prospecting, using seaweed and slope sediments proved to be an easy and rapid way of detecting such deposits. Anomalous zinc and lead responses, using cold-extraction dithizone field analysis and emission spectrography, were obtained below the known deposits. Elsewhere we found no strong anomalies, suggesting that no other important lead-zinc deposits outcrop in this area.     

Geochemical factors controlling accumulation of major and trace elements in Greenland coastal and fjord sediments

 The major (Al, Ti, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Si) and trace element (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Li, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) concentrations in surficial (<20 cm) sediments from fjords and open coastal waters around Greenland have been determined. Regionally, high concentrations of Fe, Ti, Mg, Cr, Cu, Ni, and V occur in some west and east coast sediments, but they appear to be natural in origin, as there is no indication of anthropogenic influence. Chemical partition indicates that most of the heavy metals are structurally bound in various silicate, oxide, and sulfide minerals. These host minerals occur more or less equally in the coarse and fine sediment fractions (material >63 μm and <63 μm) and have accumulated at the same rate as other detrital clastic material. Provenance and glaciomarine deposition are the main factors controlling the abundance and distribution of the major and trace elements. The chemical composition reflects the mineralogical differences in the provenance of glacial marine material deposited by water and ice adjacent to Greenland. The main source of the sediments enriched in Ti, Fe, Mg, Cr, Cu, Ni, and V appears to be material derived from the volcanic rocks of the Mesozoic-Tertiary Provinces of Greenland by glacial erosion. Received: 26 June 1995 · Accepted: 11 August 1995     

Luminescence dating of Late Quaternary sediments from East Greenland

Luminescence dating based on K-feldspars and using both TL and OSL methods have been performed on 94 sediment samples from East Greenland. The ages go back more than 380 ka, but are mainly from the last interglaciation and the subsequent period and include both shallow-marine/coastal-fluvial and ice proximal meltwater sediments. Independent age control indicates that the dates in the first group generally fall within ± 15% of the expected age, although a few samples show larger deviations. The ice proximal sediments, on the other hand, show a much larger spread and exaggerated ages, probably owing to incomplete bleaching. OSL may give better results than TL in these sediments.     

Lake Boksehandsken's earliest postglacial sediments and their palaeoenvironmental implications, Jameson Land, East Greenland

Lake Boksehandsken, the largest lake on Jameson Land, central East Greenland, is situated 54 m a.s.l. and holds a long (6.3 m) and complex stratigraphy. It was analysed with respect to lithology, carbon content, ¹⁴C, micro- and macrofossils. The diamict material in the bottom is overlain by a fining-upwards sequence, possibly deposited close to a receding ice margin in a glaciomarine environment. These deposits are interpreted to have been formed at the time of the marine limit ( c . 70 m) in the area. In spite of a large series of ¹⁴C datings, very few of the obtained dates were considered reliable. This is because the sediments contain coal fragments and old redeposited plant remains. Based on a set of arguments and correlations to the surrounding glacial stratigraphy it is implied that the marine limit and deglaciation cannot be much older than 10,000 BP. The lithology of the lake sediments, in combination with occurrence of marine macrofossils. shows that deglaciation was succeeded by a (glacio)marine depositional environment. The lake was isolated from the sea at c . 9000 BP. followed by a short transgression and a final isolation at c . 8400 BP. This sequence of events is demonstrated by both litho-and biostratigraphy and possible causes are discussed. A later oscillation some time between 8000 and 7500 BP. evidenced by litho-, carbon-, pollen- and Pecliastrum stratigraphy, is interpreted as a regional climatic cooling possibly correlatable to a distinct δ¹⁸O minima in the Greenland ice cores.     

REE geochemistry of sea-floor sediments of the continental shelf of the East China Sea

REE geochemistry has been studied of sea-floor sediments of the continental shelf of the East China Sea. The average content of RE₂O₃ is estimated at 175 ppm based on 68 sediment samples from the continental shelf. The absolute concentrations of Y and La-Lu in the sediments are shown in Table 3. The REE distribution patterns in the sediments demonstrate a distinct depletion in Eu and a negative slope. It is considered that the fragments of Mesozoie intermediate-acid igneous rocks widely distributed in southeastern China are the main source of REE in sea-floor sediments of the East China Sea continental shelf.     

Quaternary foraminifera and sediments in the Norwegian Channel

The foraminiferal fauna and lithology of 17 short sediment cores from two profiles in the Norwegian Channel have been investigated. Three ecostratigraphical zones are distinguished and their depositional environment, age and correlation with adjacent areas are discussed. The zones form a climatically conditioned succession (from below): the Cassidulina-Nonion zone contains an arctic fauna affected by meltwater influx, and its deposition was in progress in Late Weichselian; the Uvigerina-Cassidulina zone with a mixed fauna of arctic and boreal species is referred to the Early Flandrian; the Uvigerina-Bulimina zone contains a boreal fauna and was deposited under influence of Atlantic water; its age is regarded as Middle and Late Flandrian. Transport and deposition of sediments in the channel is discussed on the basis of recent current conditions and distribution of the zones.     

Quick sulfide buffering in inner shelf sediments of the East China Sea impacted by eutrophication

In the eutrophic coastal ocean, quick formation of iron (Fe) sulfide is environmentally important to effectively prevent accumulation of dissolved sulfide and its detrimental effects on the benthic ecosystem. In this study, 0.5 N HCl-extractable labile Fe (LFe), acid volatile sulfide, and pyrite in the East China Sea inner shelf sediments were examined to investigate the mechanisms of quick sequestration of dissolved sulfide and potential impacts of frequent algal blooms on the capacity of quick sulfide-buffering in eutrophic coastal areas of the large-sized continental shelf subject to massive terrestrial input. The results indicate that sulfate reduction has been competitively suppressed by dissimilatory Fe reduction due to limited availability of labile organic matter. Dissolved sulfide can be quickly buffered by reaction with LFe and, therefore, is difficult to accumulate to a high level. The quick sulfide-buffering capacity has not become exhausted partly because of the formation of un-sulfidized LFe(II) via dissimilatory reduction of less reactive Fe oxides. It is expected that dissolved sulfide will not pose detrimental effects on the benthic ecosystem in the near future if the current biogeochemical/ecological state remains.     

Fractionation and assimilation in the Borgtinderne syenite,East Greenland

The Borgtinderne nepheline-sodalite syenite is one of the major intrusions in the Tertiary igneous province of East Greenland. The syenite magma, which was evolving towards an undersaturated peralkaline residuum, underwent extensive modification by incorporation of country rock basalt, resulting in the production of a variety of hybrid syenites. Major element variation in the hybrids is essentially linear. Break-up and mechanical incorporation of the basic material was aided by amphibolitisation and metasomatism of the basalt xenoliths.     

Speciation and spatial distribution of solid-phase iron in surface sediments of the East China Sea continental shelf

Speciation and reactivity characterization of solid-phase Fe in marine sediments are of significance to understanding its heterogeneous mineralogy and crystallinity, the diagenetic cycling of Fe and its regulating roles on many other elements in sediments. In this study, a combination of sequential and single-step extractions was used for the determination of seven Fe pools in surface sediments of the East China Sea (ECS) continental shelf: (1) carbonate associated Fe (Fe(II)_carb) plus acid volatile sulfide-Fe (Fe(II)_AVS), (2) easily reducible amorphous/poorly crystalline Fe oxides (Fe_ox1), (3) reducible crystalline Fe oxides (Fe_ox2), (4) magnetite (Fe_mag), (5) poorly reactive sheet silicate Fe (Fe_PRS), (6) pyrite-Fe (Fe_py), and (7) unreactive silicate Fe (Fe_U). Total Fe (Fe_T) in the sediments is largely determined by terrestrial aluminosilicate particles as indicated by a great similarity of the Fe_T with that of the Yangtze River and global riverine particulates. The size of Fe_PRS is found to be the largest pool, followed by Fe_U, Fe_ox2, Fe_mag, Fe(II)_AVS+carb, Fe_ox1 and Fe_py. The large Fe_PRS may result from neoformation of Fe-rich clay minerals via reverse weathering and subsequent ageing. The small sizes of Fe(II)_AVS+carb and Fe_py pools is believed to be the result of low SO₄ reduction due to generally low labile organic matter together with the oxic/suboxic, dynamic environments of the surface sediments. The occurrence of Fe_ox1, Fe_ox2 and Fe_PRS in the sediments is closely associated with the clay fraction as indicated by a high spatial correlation between the former and the latter. Highly reactive Fe(Fe_HR) in the sediments is comparable to that in global marine sediments, but apparently lower than in the Yangtze River and global riverine particulates due probably to sequestration in the Yangtze Estuary. The ratios of Fe_HR/Fe_T, Fe_PR/Fe_T and Fe_U/Fe_T in the ECS surface sediments consistently show more similarity to those in the Yangtze River particulates than in the global continental margin or deep-sea sediments. The surface sediments maintain a high level of buffering capacity toward sulfidation suggested by a large fraction of highly reactive Fe(III) oxides (Fe(III)_HR) in Fe_HR.     

A Holocene seabird record from Raffles Sø sediments, East Greenland, in response to climatic and oceanic changes

A 3.5-m-long sediment sequence from a lake on Raffles Ø, off Liverpool Land, East Greenland, was investigated for chronology, lithology, palynology and biogeochemistry. Radiocarbon-dating of plant remains and the lithology of the sediment succession indicate continuous sedimentation since deglaciation of the area prior to 10000 cal. yr BP. The postglacial palynological record shows little variation and evidence of a wind-transported pollen supply, both resulting from the geographical characteristics of Raffles Ø. Significant variations in the biogeochemical data reflect changes in aquatic bioproduction. These changes depend to some extent on climatic changes; however, they are mainly due to variations in seabird breeding colonies in the catchment which influence nutrient and cadmium supply to the lake. Large seabird breeding colonies were present between 7500 and 1900, from 1000 to 500, and since c. 100 cal. yr BP. Their absence prior to 7500 cal. yr BP may be the result of unsuitable feeding conditions close to Raffles Ø caused by a too dense or too open sea-ice cover. In contrast, between 1900 and 1000 and from 500 to 100 cal. yr BP, the seabird settlement was probably restricted by an insufficiently long breeding season due to cold climate conditions in East Greenland.     

Isotope and geochemical parameters of hydrocarbon gases in bottom sediments of the shelf of the East Siberian Sea

The research results on gas geochemistry of hydrocarbon gases in bottom sediments of the East Siberian Sea are presented. The key isotope and geochemical parameters of syn- and epigenetic hydrocarbon gases are determined. The correlations between the molecular masses of hydrocarbon fractions and the carbon isotope composition on hydrocarbon gases of various origin are revealed.     

Heavy metal contamination of a Greenland fjord system by mine wastes

Since 1973, about 500,000 tons/yr of metal-rich particulate tailings from a lead/zinc flotation mill have been discharged through a submarine outfall into a two fjord system on the west coast of Greenland. Differential solubilization of particulate metals by seawater, seasonal water mixing, and sill exchange tailings dispersal processes have resulted in high, but seasonally variable Zn, Cd, and Pb contamination of the water, and suspended particulate matter (SPM).Chemical partition of the SPM shows that most (85-99 percent) of the Pb, but relatively low proportions of Zn (14-26 percent) and Cd (10–20 percent) are weakly bound to the SPM. Such particulate metal characteristics allow the real time effects of tailings discharges and dispersal on the system to be traced even in the sediments where tailings accumulation is very slow (0.1 cm/yr).Fjord seaweeds and blue mussels also contain varying amounts of Zn, Pb, and Cd depending on the metal and their location relative to the tailings outfall and apparently responded almost instantly to the metal contamination, as did the water and SPM. High Pb concentrations in the fjord mussels most likely derive from the preferential uptake of available particulate Pb, whereas the seaweeds appear to derive most of their heavy metal concentrations from the dissolved phase. The evidence from this and other sites as well as from experimental work, indicates that any discharge of Pb-bearing particles into the marine environment either directly as mine wastes or indirectly as from natural runoff from current and former lead mining sites results in immediate lead contamination of the in situ mussel population.