Effects of fine grain size on distribution of Mn in shallow and deep water Black Sea sediments: A comparison between oxic and anoxic depositional environments

The uppermost 5–6 cm of the sediments (between 8 and 2248 m water depths) were studied to understand the effects of varying redox conditions on the Mn distribution in the recent sediments of the Black Sea. It was found that most Mn concentrations are consistent with the average abundance in crustal and/or sedimentary rocks. There exist no important differences between Mn concentrations in oxic (shallower water; <70 m) and anoxic (deeper water; 120 m) sediments. Previously reported Mn-enrichment above the Black Sea oxic/anoxic interface, due to the peculiar redox cycling, shows no significant contribution of Mn to the bottom sediments. A marked relationship between total Mn concentrations and clay/mud contents at shelf depth along the southern Black Sea margin indicates increased accumulation of Mn in association with the fine-grained particles and eastward water circulation.