Distribution and provenance of trace elements in Gulf of Mexico sediments
By knowing the dispersion patterns of river-borne sediments in marine environments, one can predict the spatial distribution of selected minerals, elements, and particle-bound pollutants. One potentially useful method for determining sediment pathways is by contouring selected trace metals in the sediment seaward of the river outflow. Using computer techniques involving trend surface analysis and a massive data set, the authors have contoured the regional distribution of chromium, copper, iron, nickel, and lead in surficial sediments from the Gulf of Mexico. Spatially, these metals range from very low concentrations in the sediments of the west Florida shelf to highest values on the Mississippi delta and along portions of the south Texas shelf. Intermediate concentrations are interspersed between these areas. Observed contour patterns are referenced to suspended matter trace metal data for the Apalachicola, Mobile, Mississippi, Brazos, and Rio Grande Rivers to determine sediment-metal provenance and thus infer river dispersal patterns. Statistical treatment of the trace metal and sediment data was also carried out to identify the important geochemical variables (grain-size, carbonate content, and clay mineralogy) that control the observed sediment trace metal patterns.
- Research Organization:
- Florida Inst. of Technology, Melbourne
- OSTI ID:
- 6533907
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8310301-
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Vol. 67:9; ISSN AAPGB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Characterization of sea floor in Gulf of Mexico
Neogene-holocene mixed carbonate-siliciclastic deposition in eastern Gulf of Mexico with earlier analogs
Related Subjects
580100* -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
CENOZOIC ERA
CHROMIUM
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
COPPER
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GULF OF MEXICO
IRON
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LEAD
METALS
NICKEL
ORIGIN
QUATERNARY PERIOD
SAND
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SURFACE WATERS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS