Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geochemical character and material source of sediments in the eastern Philippine Sea

  • Articles
  • Oceanography
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Based upon analyses of grain-size, rare earth element (REE) compositions, elemental occurrence phases of REE, and U-series isotopic dating, the sediment characteristics and material sources of the study area were examined for the recently formed deep-sea clays in the eastern Philippine Sea. The analytical results are summarized as follows. (1) Low accumulation rate, poor sorting and roundness, and high contents of grains coarser than fine silt indicate relatively low sediment input, with localized material source without long distance transport. (2) The REE Contents are relatively high. Shale-normalized patterns of REE indicate weak enrichment in heavy REE (HREE), Ce-passive anomaly, and Eu-positive anomaly. (3) Elemental occurrence phases of REE between the sediments with and without crust are similar. REE mainly concentrate in residual phase and then in ferromanganese oxide phase. The light REE (LREE) enrichment, Ce-positive anomaly, and Eu-positive anomaly occur in residual phase. Ferromanganese oxide phase shows the characteristics of relatively high HREE content and Ce-passive anomaly. (4) There are differences in each above mentioned aspect between the sediments with and without ferromanganese crust. (5) Synthesizing the above characteristics and source discriminant analysis, the study sediments are deduced to mainly result from the alteration of local and nearby volcanic materials. Continental materials transported by wind and/or river (ocean) flows also have minor contributions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zang S X, Ning J Y. Interaction between Philippine Sea Plate (PH) and Eurasia (EU) Plate and its influence on the movement Eastern Asia. Chin J Geophys (in Chinese), 2002, 45(2): 188–197

    Google Scholar 

  2. Xu Z K. Origin and paleoceanographic environments response of ferromanganese crusts (nodules) in the East Philippine Sea. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree (in Chinese). Qingdao: Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2007

    Google Scholar 

  3. Xu Z K, Li A C, Jiang F Q, et al. Paleoenvironment evolution of the East Philippine Sea recorded in the new-type ferromanganese crust since the terminal Late Miocene. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 2007, 50(8): 1179–1188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Rea D K, Snoeckx H, Joseph L H. Late Cenozoic eolian deposition in the North Pacific: Asian drying, Tibetan uplift, and cooling of the northern hemisphere. Paleoceanography, 1998, 15: 215–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Sun Y B, Gao S, Li J. Preliminary analysis of grain-size populations with environmentally sensitive terrigenous components in marginal sea setting. Chin Sci Bull, 2003, 48(2): 184–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Piper D Z. Rare earth elements in the sedimentary cycle: A summary. Chem Geol, 1974, 14: 285–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Huang Y Y, Yang H N, Kuang Y Q, et al. Controlling of the Formation and Distribution for Polymetallic Nodules by the Seafloor Sediment Types and its Geochemical Environment (in Chinese). Wuhan: China University of Geosciences Press, 1997. 91–104

    Google Scholar 

  8. Xia M. U-series Dating Method and Laboratory Technology (in Chinese). Lanzhou: Lanzhou University Press, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  9. Chen W J, Ji F J, Wang F. Dating on Young Geologic System (continued) (in Chinese). Beijing: Seismological Press, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ujiié H. Planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy in the Western Philippine Sea, Leg 31 of DSDP. In: Karig D E, Ingle J C, Jr, et al. eds. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 31. Washington: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1975. 677–691

    Google Scholar 

  11. Zhao Y Y, Yan M C. Geochemistry of Sediments of the China Shelf Sea (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  12. Li F Y, Gao S, Jia J J. Late Quaternary sedimentation rate in the northern Okinawa Trough. In: Gao S, Li J B, eds. The Formation and Evolution of Chinese Marginal Seas (in Chinese). Beijing: Ocean Press, 2002. 140–146

    Google Scholar 

  13. Huang W, Wang P X. Sediment mass and distribution in the South China Sea since the Oligocene. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 2006, 49(11): 1147–1155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Yan W, Chen M H, Li C D, et al. The sedimentary sequences during last 30 ka revealed by REE records in core WP92-3 from West Pacific Warm Pool and their environmental implications. Acta Mineral Sin (in Chinese), 2006, 26(1): 22–28

    Google Scholar 

  15. Folk R L. A review of grain-size parameters. Sedimentology, 1966, 6: 73–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Gao S, Jia J J. The grain-size characteristics of the near surface sediment in the Mid-North Okinawa Trough and its vicinities. In: Gao S, Li J B, eds. The Formation and Evolution of Chinese Marginal Seas (in Chinese). Beijing: Ocean Press, 2002. 125–139

    Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang F Y, Zhang W Y, Yang Q H. Characteristics of grain size distributions of surface sediments in the Eastern South China Sea. Acta Sediment Sin (in Chinese), 2003, 26(1): 452–460

    Google Scholar 

  18. Han Y X, Xi X X, Fang X M, et al. Dust storm in Asia continent and its bio-environmental effects in the North Pacific: A case study of the strongest dust event in April, 2001 in central Asia. Chin Sci Bull, 2006, 51(6): 723–730

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Balshaw M K. Cenozoic clay-mineral stratigraphy in the south Philippine Sea. In: Kroenke L, Scott B R, Brassell S, et al. eds. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 59. Washington: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1981. 597–602

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kolla V, Nadler L, Bonatti E. Clay mineral distributions in surface sediments of the Philippine Sea. Oceano Acta, 1980, 3(2): 245–250

    Google Scholar 

  21. Qin Y S, Chen L R, Shi X F. Research on the eolian sediment in the West Philippine Sea. Chin Sci Bull (in Chinese), 1995, 40(17): 1595–1597

    Google Scholar 

  22. Greaves M J, Elderfield H, Sholkovitz E R. Aeolian sources of rare earth elements to the Western Pacific Ocean. Mar Chem, 1999, 68: 31–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Yang S Y, Li C X. Research progress in REE tracer for sediment source. Adv Earth Sci (in Chinese), 1999, 14(2): 164–167

    Google Scholar 

  24. German C, Elderfield H. Application of the Ce anomaly as a paleoredox indicator: the ground rules. Paleoceanography, 1990, 5: 823–833

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Liu Y J, Cao L M. General Element Geochemistry (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1987. 57–80

    Google Scholar 

  26. Wang X J, Chen Y W, Lei J Q, et al. A study on geochemistry of the rare earth elements in seafloor sediments in the continental shelf of the East China Sea. Geochimica (in Chinese), 1982, 1: 56–65

    Google Scholar 

  27. Liu N, Meng X W. Characteristics of rare earth elements in surface sediments from the middle Okinawa Trough: Implications for provenance of mixed sediments. Mar Geol Quat Geol (in Chinese), 2004 24(4): 37–43

    Google Scholar 

  28. Wen Q Z, Diao G Y, Geng A S, et al. Geochemistry of China Loess (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1989. 1–285

    Google Scholar 

  29. Shen H T. Rare earth elements in deep-sea sediments. Geochimica (in Chinese), 1990, 4: 340–347

    Google Scholar 

  30. Tian L Y, Zhao G T, Chen Z L, et al. The preliminary study of petrological geochemistry of basalts from hydrothermal activity regions, Mariana Trough. J Ocean Univ Qingdao (in Chinese), 2003, 33(3): 405–412

    Google Scholar 

  31. Migdisov A A, Miklishansky A Z, Saveliev B V, et al. Neutron activation analysis of rare earth elements and some other trace elements in volcanic ashes and pelagic clays, Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 59. In: Kroenke L, Scott B R, Brassell S, et al. eds. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 59. Washington: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1981. 653–668

    Google Scholar 

  32. Sholkovitz E R. Rare earth elements in marine sediments and chemical standards. Chem Geol, 1990, 88: 333–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Sholkovitz E R, Landing W M, Lewis B L. Ocean particle chemistry: the fractionation of rare earth elements between suspended particles and seawater. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1994, 58: 1567–1579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Wang Z G, Yu X Y, Zhao Z H, et al. Geochemistry of Rare Earth Elements (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press, 1989. 265–276, 469

    Google Scholar 

  35. Taylor S R. Abundance of chemical elements in the continental crust: a new table. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1964, 28: 1273–1285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Liu B L, Wang Y P, Wang J Z, et al. Geochemical characters of REE in the seafloor sediment in northern continental slope of the South China Sea and analysis of source of material and diagenesis environment. Mar Geol Quat Geol (in Chinese), 2004, 24(4): 17–23

    Google Scholar 

  37. Liu J H, Liang H F, Xia N, et al. REE geochemistry of <2 μm fractions in deep-sea sediments from East Pacific. Geochimica (in Chinese), 1998, 27(1): 49–58

    Google Scholar 

  38. Scott B R, Kroenke L, Zakariadze G, et al. Evolution of the south Philippine Sea: Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 59 results. In: Kroenke L, Scott B R, Balshaw K, et al., eds. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 59. Washington: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1981. 803–815

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    ZhaoKai Xu, AnChun Li, FuQing Jiang & FangJian Xu

  2. Department of Oceanography, Kunsan National University, Kunsan, 573701, Republic of Korea

    ZhaoKai Xu

  3. Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research for Sustainable Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China

    ZhaoKai Xu

  4. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    ZhaoKai Xu & FangJian Xu

Authors
  1. ZhaoKai Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. AnChun Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. FuQing Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. FangJian Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to AnChun Li.

Additional information

Supported by the Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 90411014), the National Major Basic Research and Development Project (Grant No. 2007CB815903), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40576032 and 40506016), and the Brain Korea 21 Program (Modern Sedimentation on the Yellow and East China Sea) of Korea

About this article

Cite this article

Xu, Z., Li, A., Jiang, F. et al. Geochemical character and material source of sediments in the eastern Philippine Sea. Chin. Sci. Bull. 53, 923–931 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-0118-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-0118-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation