Abstract
A total of 42 aquatic particulate sample:, (suspended matter and < 63 μm surficial sediments) was collected from 11 large rivers in eastern China. Contents of both major elements (Al, Si, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Ti, Fe, Mn) and trace elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, V) in the particulate samples were analyzed. The geographic variations of river particulate compositions were studied. The results showed that the Yellow River particulates contained a notably high content of Ca and a low content of Al. Except for the Yellow River, A1 contents in particulates increased from the northern rivers to the southern rivers, while K and Na decreased. Trace elements were relatively enriched in the southern river particulates. The geographic variations seemed to be related to the weathering types and geological background within the river basins. The average composition of river particulates in China was then estimated. Based on the Chinese river data from this paper, as well as on the literature data for other main world rivers, a new estimation of the global average particulate composition was reported. Since the earlier estimations in the literature were not concerned with or at best concerned only with few of the Chinese rivers which contribute a major proportion to the global load of river particulates, this new estimation may be more reasonable.
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Chen, J., Wang, F. Chemical composition of river particulates in eastern China. GeoJournal 40, 31–37 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222528
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222528