Grain size characteristics of the carbonate-free fraction of surface sediments from the Southwest Indian Ridge area and its geological significance

Jia Qi; Fan Dejiang; Sun Xiaoxia; Liu Ming; Zhang Wenqiang; Yang Zuosheng

doi:10.1007/s13131-018-1273-6

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Article Navigation > Acta Oceanologica Sinica > 2019 > 38(2): 34-43

Jia Qi, Fan Dejiang, Sun Xiaoxia, Liu Ming, Zhang Wenqiang, Yang Zuosheng. Grain size characteristics of the carbonate-free fraction of surface sediments from the Southwest Indian Ridge area and its geological significance[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2019, 38(2): 34-43. doi: 10.1007/s13131-018-1273-6

Citation:

Jia Qi, Fan Dejiang, Sun Xiaoxia, Liu Ming, Zhang Wenqiang, Yang Zuosheng. Grain size characteristics of the carbonate-free fraction of surface sediments from the Southwest Indian Ridge area and its geological significance[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2019, 38(2): 34-43. doi: 10.1007/s13131-018-1273-6

Citation:

Jia Qi, Fan Dejiang, Sun Xiaoxia, Liu Ming, Zhang Wenqiang, Yang Zuosheng. Grain size characteristics of the carbonate-free fraction of surface sediments from the Southwest Indian Ridge area and its geological significance[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2019, 38(2): 34-43. doi: 10.1007/s13131-018-1273-6

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Grain size characteristics of the carbonate-free fraction of surface sediments from the Southwest Indian Ridge area and its geological significance

doi: 10.1007/s13131-018-1273-6

1.
Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences and Prospecting Techniques of Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
2.
Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences and Prospecting Techniques of Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;Laboratory for Marine Geology and Environment, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology(Qingdao), Qingdao 266061, China

Received Date: 2018-01-05

Abstract

Abstract

The carbonate-free fraction of 20 surface sediments collected from the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) was studied by grain size analysis and mineralogical analysis with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), stereo microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The characteristics of the carbonate-free fraction of the sediments were obtained, and related influential factors were discussed. The results show that the mean grain size of this fraction is in 1.96Φ-8.19Φ, with poorly sorting and unimodal, bimodal or irregular bimodal distribution patterns. Four grain size end members of the fraction are derived with the End Member Model method. The finest end member EM1 shows a significant contribution of terrigenous materials of the aeolian input and sediment carried by the bottom current. End member EM2 with medium size mainly reflects sediment of a siliceous bio-clast origin. EM3 and EM4 are interpreted as representing the coarser volcanic materials related to bedrock weathering or volcanic activities. Multi-provenance is the dominant factor controlling the grain size pattern of the carbonate-free fraction of the sediments in that area. In addition, sediment transport processes such as the bottom current and wind are the minor factors that influence the grain size distribution of the carbonate-free fraction sediments.
- Southwest Indian Ocean,
- carbonate-free fraction,
- grain size distribution pattern,
- end member model,
- provenance

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References(63)

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