Chemical diagenesis in Narragansett Bay sediments.

Abstract

Pore water concentrations of SigmaCO2, SO42-, H2S, major cations, nutrients (NH3, NO3-, NO2-, H4SiO4), iodine, and the trace metals, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu and Cd are reported for cores from three study sites in Narragansett Bay: Jamestown North, a relatively unpolluted, heavily bioturbated site in the center of the Bay, Sabin Point, a badly polluted and very slightly turbated site at the (urban) head of the Bay and Rumstick Neck, an intermediate site. Application of a diagenetic model shows that the rate of organic matter decomposition is significantly lower at the Jamestown North site than at the Sabin Point site.-from Authors