GEOCHEMISTRY OF ABYSSAL SEDIMENT IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN

The contents of Fe, Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb and Zn in the seaiment associated with manganese nodules from the Northern Central Pacific Ocean and in their acid-soluble fractions were determined and correlations among the elements and between the trace metals and environmental parameters were discussed. It has been found that the contents of Mn, Cu and Ni in the sediment are one order of magnitude higher than those in the common sediment. As shown in the manganese nodules, they may mainly derive from seabed. The contents of all trace metals in the sediment are obviously governed by Fe-and Mn-oxides, organic matter, seawater depth, particle size and Eh. Multi-element correlation equations were developed for all trace metals. The trace metals in acid-soluble fraction of the sediment were also much higher than ihose of common sediment and negatively correlated with water depth, implying the possible influence of carbonate speciation.