Metal enrichment processes in the marine environment

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6851713

Metz, S

This study discusses metal enrichment in oceanic sediments resulting from remobilization, scavenging, pollution and hydrothermal inputs in the Mississippi River-Gulf of Mexico and Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 26/sup 0/N. Suspended particles collected from the Mississippi River during mean water and suspended-sediment discharge have metal concentrations which vary by <5% for Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn and approx.10% for Mn. The massive sediment load carried by the Mississippi River is rapidly deposited on the Mississippi Delta in the Gulf of Mexico. Aluminum and Fe concentrations in Mississippi Delta sediments are similar to those of average Mississippi River suspended matter throughout the delta. In contrast, the Cu/Al ratio in surficial sediments (0-1 cm) decreases from 4.1 x 10/sup -4/ for average suspended matter to 2.7 x 10/sup -4/ about 45 km from the mouth of Southwest Pass. Copper lost from delta sediments can be traced to the deep Gulf of Mexico where concentrations average 50-70 ..mu..g g/sup -1/ compared with 33 ..mu..g g/sup -1/ for Mississippi River suspended matter. The observed increase in offshore sediments in linked to scavenging of Cu by particles. A similar scenario can be presented for Mn.

• Research Organization: Florida Inst. of Tech., Melbourne (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6851713
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580400 -- Geochemistry-- (-1989)
ALUMINIUM
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CADMIUM
CARIBBEAN SEA
CONTAMINATION
COPPER
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
GULF OF MEXICO
IRON
LEAD
MANGANESE
METALS
MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
POLLUTION
RIVERS
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC