Chemical Forms of Metal Enrichment in Recent Sediments

Abstract

Sequential extraction is used to differentiate major chemical forms of metal accumulations in Recent aquatic deposits (examples for limnic sediments, pelagic Fe/Mn-rich deposits, and contaminated coastal marine sediments). Hydrous iron and manganese oxides are found to be the dominant enrichment phases. Organo-metallic associations perform a major function in the transfer of metals between different inorganic phases. Man-induced metal enrichments are predominantly found in labile sediment fractions (reactive organic substances, carbonates, easily reducible phases).