Geochemistry of Peruvian near-surface sediments

Sixteen short sediment cores were recovered from the upper edge (UEO), within (WO) and below (BO) the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) off Peru during cruise 147 of R/V Sonne. Solids were analyzed for major/trace elements, total organic carbon, total inorganic carbon, total sulfur, the stable sulfur isotope composition (δ³⁴S) of pyrite, and sulfate reduction rates (SRR). Pore waters were analyzed for dissolved sulfate/sulfide and δ³⁴S of sulfate. In all cores highest SRR were observed in the top 5 cm where pore water sulfate concentrations varied little due to resupply of sulfate by sulfide oxidation and/or diffusion of sulfate from bottom water. δ³⁴S of dissolved sulfate showed only minor downcore increases. Strong ³²S enrichments in sedimentary pyrite (to −48‰ vs. V-CDT) are due to processes in the oxidative part of the sulfur cycle in addition to sulfate reduction. Manganese and Co are significantly depleted in Peruvian upwelling sediments most likely due to mobilization from particles settling through the OMZ, whereas release of both elements from reducing sediments only seems to occur in near-coastal sites. Cadmium, Mo and Re are exceptionally enriched in WO sediments (<600 m water depth). High Re and moderate Cd and Mo enrichments are seen in BO sediments (>600 m water depth). Re/Mo ratios indicate anoxic and suboxic conditions for WO and BO sediments, respectively. Cadmium and Mo downcore profiles suggest considerable contribution to UEO/WO sediments by a biodetrital phase, whereas Re presumably accumulates via diffusion across the sediment-water interface to precipitation depth. Uranium is distinctly enriched in WO sediments (due to sulfidic conditions) and in some BO sediments (due to phosphorites). Silver transfer to suboxic BO sediments is likely governed by diatomaceous matter input, whereas in anoxic WO sediments Ag is presumably trapped due to sulfide precipitation. Cadmium, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Ag, and T1 predominantly accumulate via biogenic pre-concentration in plankton remains. Rhenium, Sb, As, V, U and Mo are enriched in accordance with seawater TE availability. Lead and Bi enrichment in UEO surface sediments is likely contributed by anthropogenic activity (mining). Accumulation rates of TOC, Cd, Mo, U, and V from Peruvian and Namibian sediments exceed those from the Oman Margin and Gulf of California due to enhanced preservation off Peru and Namibia.     

Sedimentation rates in the Wanggang salt marshes, Jiangsu

Coastal salt-marshes represent an important coastal wetland system. The total area of coastal wetlands exceeds 5000 km2 in Jiangsu Province, China, but it is decreasing rapidly in response to the intense reclamation activities and coastal erosion along a part of the coastline. Hence, two types of plants, Spartina angelica and Spartina alterniflora, were introduced successively into the Jiangsu coastal areas, in order to protect the coastline from erosion and to increase the accumulation rate. Pb-210 and Cs-137 analyses were carried out for sediment samples from the salt-marshes of Wanggang to determine the sedimentation rate, on the basis of an evaluation of the background activity values and the factors affecting the enrichment of Pb-210. Analysis of a typical sediment column of the tidal flat shows that there is weak absorption of Pb-210 in the silt-dominated sediment. Because of the influences of factors such as storm events, bioturbation, material sources and analytical error, some abnormal data points appear in the Pb-210 record. After ignoring these data the calculated sedimentation rate was 3.3 cm yr-1 on average. Based upon analysis of the Cs-137 dating, the rate since 1963 was 3.1 cm yr-1 on average, similar to the data by Pb-210 dating and the previous studies. The dating results show that there were three stages of sedimentation, with the most rapid accretion being taking place after Spartina angelica was introduced into the area. The study also shows that at the stage of Spartina alterniflora growth, the accretion rate was higher than on the flat surface with the same elevation without the cover of this plant.     

Contaminated ground and contaminated estuary sediment illustrated by two case histories

 Contaminated ground forms a problem in all of the industrialized countries of the world. Contaminated ground may give rise to hazards and that implies a degree of risk which also involves a problem of definition. The investigation of a site which is suspected of being contaminated differs somewhat from a routine site investigation. Sampling of soil, groundwater and gas-producing material may be required. Various precautions may be necessary to do this and personnel may have to wear protective clothing. The first case history considered involves a site investigation for a relief sewer in Glasgow. As the site investigation progressed it ran into made-ground which contained chemical waste. The presence of this waste meant that the nature of the investigation changed and much more stringent safety precautions had to be taken. It also meant that the initial location of the sewer tunnel had to be repositioned at greater depth in uncontaminated sandstone rather than in the superficial deposits above. The other case history considers the contamination of sediments in the Forth Estuary. When trace metals are released into the water column they can be transferred rapidly to the sediment phase by adsorption onto suspended particulate matter, followed by sedimentation. Intertidal flats may be considered as important trace metal sinks since they accumulate large amounts of suspended matter. Hence, in polluted estuaries the deposition of suspended particles on intertidal flats may thus cause severe contamination. The Forth Estuary has unique contamination for British estuaries; it is experiencing significant Hg pollution. In addition, due to the presence of a nuclear submarine base in the Forth Estuary, ⁶⁰Co is detectable in the intertidal sediments. Temporal and spatial contamination patterns were analysed in relation to historical and present pollution point sources. The effect of fluvial and marine sediment mixing on trace metals and other processes controlling contaminant levels is reviewed. Preliminary results on quantifying sediment accretion rates using Caesium levels are discussed. Received: 9 August 1996 · Accepted: 17 December 1996     

Rate of sediment accumulation in lakes of Udaipur,Rajasthan, India,using the210Pb method

Sediment accumulation rates have been determined in Udai Sagar, Fateh Sagar and Pichola lakes, which lie in the arid climatic zone, using the²¹⁰Pb method. The rate of sedimentation estimated in these lakes is 8.9, 3.42, and 2.80 mm/yr, respectively. River inflow, mining activity, and lithology contribute to controling the sediment deposition pattern in Udai Sagar Lake, whereas in Fateh Sagar and Pichola lakes, anthropogenic activity and erosion of loosely bound terrigenous material through wave action and varying lithology are the major contributors. Furthermore, a contribution from atmospheric fallout has not been ruled out due to occurrence of frequent duststorms, owing to strong wind conditions aided by barren hills devoid of vegetation as well as dumping of mining wastes in the area. The higher TDS and lower sedimentation rate in Pichola Lake compared to Fateh Sagar are due to the limestone lithology and better maintenance in the former, such as construction of parks, graveled roads, etc., to check the flow of silt into the lake. Fluctuations in metal content, for example, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Sr, and sedimentation rates are due to the variation in the sediment input at different time intervals.     

中国西部印支旋回地壳运动的研究

本文在收集大量地质文献的基础上,研究了不同区域的沉积类型及其构造环境之后,认为中国西部印支旋回的地壳运动与东特提斯洋南北两支的扩张、闭合有关。在此过程中,安尼—拉丁期间,诺利—瑞替期间,瑞替—里阿斯期间为地壳运动的三次强化时期。     

Geochronology of a surface core in the northern basin of Lake Qinghai： Evidence from ^210pb and ^137Cs radionuclides

1 Introduction The radionuclides 210Pb and 137Cs are of particularimportance for estimating the dates of recentsediments. It was Goldberg (1963) who firstlysuggested that the disequilibrium between 210Pb and226Ra could serve as a geochronometer applicable…     

The relationship between channel avulsion, flow occupancy and aggradation in braided rivers: insights from an experimental model

Experimental modelling of an aggrading braided river has allowed investigation of the relationship between the frequency of channel avulsion ( A _f), the duration of time that the braidplain is occupied by flow, the spatial pattern of braidplain sedimentation and how these respond to a change in sediment supply ( S _s). Model results demonstrate a strong, positive relationship between S _s and A _f and that there is no downstream change in A _f over the short braidplain distances ( ca 100 m) modelled herein. Although A _f is strongly dependent on S _s, the degree of channel switching does not influence the rate, or spatial pattern, of braidplain sedimentation. All experiments used a single, central input for water and sediment, and the channels occupied the centre of the alluvial basin for a longer period of time than the margins for all sediment supply rates and distances downstream. Despite this spatio-temporal pattern in flow occupancy, braidplain sedimentation rates were nearly uniform both downstream and across the basin, and increased at approximately the same rate as increases in S _s. As a consequence, less frequent, and possibly short-lived, flows at the margins of the braidplain deposited and preserved more sediment per unit time in comparison with the centre of the basin where flow occupancy was higher. An approximate order of magnitude change in sediment supply resulted in only a factor of two change in bed slope, probably due to both an increase in channelization and adjustment of the channel form that maintained sediment transport through the basin. This result suggests that linear diffusion models are unlikely to be applicable in landscape evolution models that possess aggrading multi-thread rivers, which are capable of self-adjustment in channel number and form.     

天津三河岛潮间带137Cs与210Pb的分布及现代沉积过程

位于永定新河、潮白新河与蓟运河汇流处的三河岛是天津市列入国家海岛名录的唯一岛屿,其独特的地理位置记录了现代海、陆交互作用的变化过程。取自该岛南、北两侧泥质潮间带的2组现代沉积物样柱,揭示137Cs和210Pbexc的最大检出深度分别达到90～123cm和140～210cm,属于渤海湾西岸泥质海岸带现代沉积最为活跃的“面向开放海湾亚带”。