Sediment geochemistry in coastal maritime Antarctica (Admiralty Bay, King George Island): Evidence from rare earths and other elements

摘要: Abstract We report the concentrations of 22 elements in short coastal sediment cores Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctica) determined by Neutron Activation Analysis. focus discussion on rare earth (REE) because their fractionation patterns sediments relative to local sources may offer insights about weathering, transportation, deposition, and diagenetic processes. found strong correlations between REE Th, indicating detrital origin. Despite Eh gradients, Th-normalized redox-sensitive (e.g., Eu, Ce, Fe, As, others) showed little variability within sedimentary environment. The exceptions were U (depleted upper few centimeters) Br (enriched centimeters). While appears be removed from seawater via uptake across boundary reducing sediments, mechanisms driving accumulation are unclear, but perhaps related increasing diatom production driven regional warming. A comparison with published rocks representing eroding units that characteristics source rock could recognized our sediments. These results imply no significant alteration during weathering transport region prevalence periglacial erosion ice-free areas maritime Antarctica spite relatively mild environmental setting high moisture temperatures).