Controls on C/S ratios in hemipelagic upwelling sediments

Abstract

The relationship between organic carbon and reduced sulphur concentrations was investigated in hemipelagic sediments underlying highly productive regions of the ocean and oxic to suboxic waters (the Benguela upwelling area, Peru and Oman margins). At all three sites the degree of pyritization averaged close to 0.4, indicating that reactive iron was probably not limiting for pyrite formation. The "quality' of the organic matter undergoing burial and rates of near interfacial transport processes are the dominant controls on sulfur burial in these sediments. -from Authors