Distribution of Some Trace Elements in the Ice-Rafted Sediments in the Area of Yermak Plateau, the Arctic Ocean
The distribution of V, Co, Ni, Sr, Nb and rare earth elements (REE) in ice-rafted sediments (IRS) collected in the Yermak Plateau (the Arctic Ocean) during ARK- XX/3 cruise of the R/V Polarstern in September 2004 has been analyzed. It was determined that Nb/V ratio in these IRS has an intermediate value between its values in suspended particulate matter of the Yenisey and Khatanga rivers and MZ-KZ basalts from the one hand and suspended particulate matter of the Ob and Lena rivers and Post-Archean Australian shale (PAAS). The distribution of REE demonstrates the same peculiarities. The IRS points at Nb-Sr, Ni-Co, Со-Sr, and some other diagrams are generally confined to the points of the average composition of suspended particulate matter of the draining catchment areas of the Ob and Lena rivers where sedimentary rocks dominate. The content of Nb, Sr, Ni and Co in the studied IRS is close to their content in PAAS. Thus, we conclude that the main sources of studied IRS are located in the eastern Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea on their shelves where the products of weathering of sedimentary and metamorthic rocks of Verkhoyansk folded belt dominate.