Abstract
Sediment cores with length of 25–45cm at 12 stations in Zhujiang (Pearl) River Estuary were sampled in summer of 1999. Chemical components (Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, TiO2, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, Co, Ni, V, Ba, Sr and Y) and grain sizes were analyzed. Sediments in Zhujiang River Estuary are characterized by relatively coarse grain size. The grain sizes of the sediments in the area outside the estuary are relatively finer than those in the north part of the estuary but coarser than those in the middle of Lingdingyang and have a trend similar to the spatial distribution trend of some chemical components such as Fe2O3, Al2O3, TiO2, V, Cu, Ni, Zn and Y. This showed that grain size is an important factor that controls the spatial distribution and depth profile of chemical elements in the Zhujiang River Estuary. Frequent re-suspension, re-transportation and redistribution of settled sediment on estuary floor could be deduced from the spatial distributions and depth profiles of chemical components. Except for CaO and Sr, the chemical components always enrich at the west side of, in the middle of, and at the north side of, the estuary. Fe2O3, Al2O3, Ti, V, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu and Y in Zhujiang River Estuary sediments mainly result from rock and soil weathering except that parts of Cr, Ni, Zn Cu and Y are anthropogenic. CaO and Sr in sediments originate from marine source. Although Co as well as Pb derives from anthropogenic sources, human activities related to Co might differ from the activities related to Pb.
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This work was supported by the Zhujiang River Estuary Pollution Project (sponsored by CCAR of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) and Natural Science Key Foundation of China (49736220).
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Huaiyang, Z., Xiaotong, P. & Jianming, P. Geochemical characteristics and sources of some chemical components in sediments of Zhujiang (Pearl) River Estuary. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 22, 34–43 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02842798
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02842798