Neutron activation analysis (NAA) and geochemical studies of 38 elements in surface sediments from lower reach and estuary of Huanghe (Yellow) River

Using a neutron activation analysis technique,which involves gamma-spectrometry with a Ge (Li) detector coupled to a S40 multichannel analyzer and interfaced to a PDP-11 computer,we determined thirty-eight elements in sediments from the lower reach (downstream from Jinan) and estuary of Huanghe.The results are discussed in this paper.
From inter-elemental correlations,it ts found that a large number of metals (Mn,As,Co,Cr,Cs,Rb,Sc,Ti,Ta,V and Zn) correlate positively with Fe.Ba and Ca correlate positively with Al.Whereas some elements (e.g.,Ti and lanthanides) show no correlation with either Fe or Al.On the other hand,Hf and Zr show a negative correlation with Fe.Elements which tend to be scavenged by Fe and Al colloids or suspended particles are enriched in sediments at the Huanghe Estuary relative to its lower reach.On the other hand,the contents of some elements (e.g.,Zr,Hf,U,Ba,etc.)are higher in sediments from the lower reach of Huanghe than in the estuarine sediments,which may be related to the sorting durig deposition of source materials.