A depocenter of organic matter at 7800 m depth in the SE Pacific Ocean

The Atacama trench, the deepest ecosystem of the southern Pacific Ocean (ca. 8000 m depth) was investigated during the Atacama Trench International Expedition. Sediments, collected at three bathyal stations (1040–1355 m depth) and at a hadal site (7800 m) were analyzed for organic matter quantity and biochemical composition (in terms of phytopigments, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids), bacterial abundance, biomass and carbon production and extracellular enzymatic activities. Functional chlorophyll-a (18.0±0.10 mg m⁻²), phytodetritus (322.2 mg m⁻²) and labile organic carbon (16.9±4.3 g C m⁻²) deposited on surface sediments at hadal depth (7800 m) reached concentrations similar to those encountered in highly productive shallow coastal areas. High values of bacterial C production and aminopeptidase activity were also measured (at in situ temperature and 1 atm). The chemical analyses of the Atacama hadal sediments indicate that this trench behaves as a deep oceanic trap for organic material. We hypothesize that, despite the extreme physical conditions, benthic microbial processes might be accelerated as a result of the organic enrichment.     

Heavy metals in marine sediments of Taranto Gulf (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy)

Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti and Zn concentrations have been determined in surface sediment samples collected in the Taranto Gulf (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy) in order to evaluate their levels and spatial distribution in this important area of the Mediterranean Sea. For various metals, the geoaccumulation index has been calculated as a criterion to assess if their concentrations represent contamination levels or can be considered as background levels. The results show that metals concentrations in sediments can be considered near the background levels found in the Mediterranean Sea.Analytical results have been elaborated by using a Geographical Information System (GIS) software to show metals accumulation areas. Using multivariate statistical analysis, we evaluate the possibility to distinguish the sampling stations, in relation to their geographical position. Results have showed metals distribution in the Taranto Gulf is principally influenced by industrial and urban wastes, located mostly in the northern coastal area of the Ionian Sea. Rivers in the Basilicata region and prevailing anticlockwise marine currents are further factors influencing metal accumulation in sediments.     

太平洋三海区热液烟囱物的氧同位素特征及形成温度

使用氧同位素方法 ,测试了西太平洋马里亚纳岛弧、马里亚纳海槽、冲绳海槽和东太平洋加拉帕戈斯裂谷的海底热液烟囱和硫化物全岩样品。结果表明 :马里亚纳岛弧上的埃斯梅拉尔达破火山口的热液硫化物的形成温度最高 (达 2 75℃ ) ,而成为高温产物的代表 ;冲绳海槽和加拉帕戈斯裂谷烟囱 ,表现为中高温类型 ,其氧同位素温度在 1 5 0℃左右 ;马里亚纳海槽以蛋白石为主要矿物的烟囱物 ,则显示出典型的低温热液类型 ,少量黄铁矿砂试样则表现出中温类型特征。但上述区域大都不同程度地存在有闪锌矿、黄铁矿、黄铜矿等中高温热液矿物 ,说明研究区除马里亚纳海槽明显有中低温热液活动类型外 ,其它区域皆具备中高温热液活动特征     

Large-scale environmental influences on the benthic macroinfauna of the southern Gulf of Mexico

The influence of large-scale natural disturbance from winter storms (‘northers’) and river runoff on the macrobenthic community structure of the southern Gulf of Mexico was investigated in both carbonate and transitional carbonate–terrigenous sedimentary environments. Samples of the infauna were obtained in three seasons from 13 stations from two 250 km transects along 80–170 and 20–50 m water depth. Samples after the northers season had the lowest total number of families and individuals, 114 and 2940, respectively, compared to the dry and rainy seasons with 129 and 132 families and 11580 and 15266 individuals, respectively. Spatial patterns of macroinfauna composition varied across and along the shelf as a response to sedimentary environments and depth. Coarser sediments from the carbonate area harboured the highest mean densities per station with 500–24,000 individuals m⁻² and 108–122 families in total, compared to the transitional sediment with 500–8200 individuals m⁻² and 56–74 families across the three seasons. Univariate and multivariate statistical techniques demonstrated that low densities and number of taxa were associated with winter storms, but storm influence was dependent on depth and sediment type. Multiple linear regression analysis and BIOENV analysis indicated that sediment mean grain size, percentage of clay and organic matter best explained the macroinfauna spatial patterns, although BIOENV indicated that depth has an overriding role. An increase in densities of opportunistic taxa (numerous polychaetes of small sizes) was observed four months after the ‘northers’ and this was more evident in the area of carbonate sediment. Additionally a combined disturbance from northers and river runoff is suspected to be responsible for a naturally impoverished macroinfauna community in the transitional sedimentary environment.     

Meiobenthic Organisms as Indicators of Mixing Processes in the Baltic Surface Sediments*

Abstract. Two sediment cores were collected in the southern Baltic Sea and sliced into 1.0cm-thick layers. Sediments of each layer were analysed for activities of ²¹⁰Pb, ¹³⁷Cs, ¹³⁴Cs and for the density of meiobenthic organisms (meiofauna). Zones with the rapid mixing occur in the uppermost layers (0–3 cm) of the cores based on ^I34Cs profiles. The extent and density of meiofauna confirmed the rapid mixing and revealed layers with slow mixing (4–8 cm). Sedimentation rates were derived from ²¹⁰Pb profiles below the mixing zones (1.21 and 1.72 mm a-^I) and were confumed by ¹³⁷Cs distribution. Of twenty-one major meiofauna taxa commonly found in the Baltic sediments, three were present in the cores.     

渤海、黄海、东海沉积物中矿物组合的研究

本文对黄海、渤海、东海以及长江、黄河、辽河表层沉积物中的轻、重矿物进行了研究。分析资料表明,调查区内共有三种类型的矿物:陆源矿物、自生矿物和海底火山喷发形成的火山型矿物。根据轻、重矿物组合的差异,可把调查区分成8个矿物区。其物质来源主要为黄河与长江。黄河物质主要沉积在黄海、渤海;长江物质沉积在东海陆架区,而冲绳海槽则发现有海底火山喷发物质与浊流沉积。     

南极长城湾沉积物中的自然金

作者在南极长城湾沉积物中首次发现金矿化、自然金和含金的碲、铋、锑化合物。本文着重报导了自然金特征、成色、共生矿物和物质来源等问题。     

Seasonal dynamics of elemental sulfur in two coastal sediments

A spectrophotometric method for elemental sulfur (S⁰) analysis without interference from other reduced sulfur compounds was adapted for the use in reducing sediments. The S⁰ distribution in two coastal sediments was studied regularly from summer to winter and compared to factors regulating the S⁰ accumulation, such as redox potentials, the rate of bacterial sulfide production and the general sulfur chemistry. Dense coatings of sulfur bacteria developed on the sediment surface of a sulfuretum which had an S⁰ concentration of up to 41 μmol S cm^?3. The 2·5-mm thick bacterial coating contained 40% of all S⁰ in the sediment. A more typical marine sediment with a few cm thick oxidized surface layer had an S⁰ maximum of 1–3 μmol S cm^?3 at 2–4 cm depth. The S⁰ maximum in both sediments increased from summer to winter as the sediments gradually became more oxidized. The deeper layers maintained a low S⁰ concentration. Most of the S⁰ in the upper few mm of a laboratory sulfuretum was present inside sulfur bacteria and actively migrated up and down with the bacteria depending upon the changing light and oxygen conditions.     

太平洋中部表层沉积物镁铝含量比的变化

本文根据中、日调查资料,研究了太平洋中部表层沉积物镁铝含量比的变化,并探讨其影响因素。     

大西洋中脊热液硫化物的矿物学研究

利用１９８９年在大西洋热液活动区采集的块状硫化物样品，采用矿相显微镜、电子显微镜和电子探针等手段，进行了矿物共生组合、矿物形态与成分标型及其演化特征研究。结果表明，大西洋热液成矿作用可以划分为热液期与沉积期两个成矿期，和石英－黄铁矿阶段、黄铁矿阶段、多金属硫化物阶段、胶状黄铁矿阶段和非晶质ＳｉＯ２阶段等５个成矿阶段；不同成矿阶段黄铁矿的共生矿物和矿物特征不同，在晶体形态上具有从单形晶－聚形晶－胶状