Abstract
The trace metals cobalt and copper are removed from the oceans interior by scavenging on to particle surfaces1, but the mechanisms for removal of these two metals are probably quite different. Cobalt appears to be scavenged by manganese oxide particles1,2, whereas organic compounds are the main carrier phase for copper3,4. Remobilization of these metals in marine sediments therefore proceeds by different pathways. The differences in the pathways of remobilization are accentuated in oxygen-deficient environments: manganese oxide reduction is accelerated at low oxygen levels5 and organic carbon is preserved6. Cobalt fluxes from sediments underlying oxygen-deficient waters should be enhanced and copper fluxes reduced. We report here measurements of the cobalt and copper distributions in the waters of an oxygen-deficient marine basin in the Southern California Bight. Cobalt concentrations near the bottom are raised four times above the background level, whereas copper concentrations show no increase. These measurements confirm features of existing models for the oceanic cycles of these metals.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bruland, K. W. in Chemical Oceanography Vol. 8 (eds Riley, J. P. &. Chester, R.) 157–220 (Academic, London, 1983).
Knauer, G. A., Martin, J. H. & Gordon, R. M. Nature 297, 49–50 (1982).
Balistrieri, L., Brewer, P. G. & Murray, J. W. Deep Sea Res. 28, 101–121 (1981).
Fischer, K. et al. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 50, 1535–1543 (1986).
Froelich, P. N. et al. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 43, 1075–1090 (1979).
Emerson, S. in The Carbon Cycle and Atmospheric CO2: Natural Variations Archean to Present (eds Sundquist, E. T. & Broecker, W. S.) 78–87 (American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, 1985).
Berelson, W. M., Hammond, D. E. & Johnson, K. S. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 51, 1345–1363 (1987).
Emery, K. O. The Sea off Southern California (Wiley, New York, 1960).
Savrda, C. E., Bottjer, D. J. & Gorsline, D. S. Am. Ass. Petrol. geol. Bull. 68, 1179–1192 (1984).
Sakamoto-Arnold, C. M. & Johnson, K. S. Analyt. Chem. 59, 1789–1794 (1987).
Yamada, M. & Suzuki, S. Analyt. Lett 17, 251–263 (1984).
Martin, J. M. Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 66, 1291 (1985).
Boyle, E. A., Sclater, F. & Edmond, J. M. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 37, 38–54 (1977).
Bruland, K. W. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 47, 176–198 (1980).
Shiller, A. M., Gieskes, J. M. & Price, N. B. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 49, 1239–1249 (1985).
Berelson, W. M. thesis, Univ. Southern California, 1985.
Ledwell, J. R., Watson, A. J. & Broecker, W. S. Nature 323, 322–324 (1986).
Gargett, A. E. J. mar. Res. 42, 359–393 (1984).
Heggie, D. & Lewis, T. Nature 311, 453–455 (1984).
Emerson, S., Cranston, R. E. & Liss, P. S. Deep Sea Res. 26, 859–878 (1979).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Johnson, K., Stout, P., Berelson, W. et al. Cobalt and copper distributions in the waters of Santa Monica Basin, California. Nature 332, 527–530 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/332527a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/332527a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
The behavior of trace elements in seawater, sedimentary pore water, and their incorporation into carbonate minerals: a review
Facies (2019)
-
Spatial Variability of Trace Metals and Inorganic Nutrients in Surface Waters of Todos Santos Bay, México in the Summer of 2005 During a Red Tide Algal Bloom
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (2009)
-
Evaluating the mobility of137Cs,239+240Pu and210Pb from their distributions in laminated lake sediments
Journal of Paleolimnology (1995)