Remobilization of transition metals in surficial pelagic sediments from the eastern Pacific

The top thirty centimeters of sediment at two sites in the eastern equatorial Pacific contain evidence of post-depositional remobilization of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn. Remobilization takes place as Mn and Fe oxyhydroxides are released to the pore water during the microbially-mediated decomposition of organic matter. Precipitation of the dissolved metals in near-surface more oxic strata controls the solid-phase distribution of Mn, Fe, and Zn. The solid-phase redistribution of Co and Ni requires only suitable material for readsorption. Comparison of pore water fluxes with solid-phase metal distributions in the solid sediment indicates no loss of dissolved metal to the overlying water column at the present time. Loss of Mn during the Quaternary is indicated by the composition of the sediments, however. Leaching experiments suggest that portions of the mobile Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu are fixed by incorporation in authigenic smectite in the surficial sediments.