Premium
TRACE ELEMENT TRAPPING IN PTEROPOD TESTS 1
Author(s) -
Turekian Karl K.,
Katz Amitai,
Chan Lui
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1973.18.2.0240
Subject(s) - neutron activation analysis , trace element , seawater , plankton , pelagic zone , environmental chemistry , deep sea , calcium carbonate , dissolution , trapping , chemistry , oceanography , environmental science , mineralogy , geology , geochemistry , radiochemistry , ecology , biology , organic chemistry
Pteropod tests from the Gulf of Aqaba and the South Atlantic Ocean and “bulk” (soft tissue) plankton samples from Long Island Sound were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) for 11 trace metals (Fe, Ce, La, Sm, Eu, Th, Sc, Cr, Co, Sb, Sc) to study the trapping and transport mechanisms for these metals in the oceans and the capability of pteropods to modify the composition of seawater during this process. The internal correlations among these metals strongly suggest that a finely particulate ( <0.2 µ ) authigenic iron‐rich phase (hydrated oxide or phosphate) is trapped by both the soft and hard tissues of plankton and that this phase is the major carrier of several of the trace metals. Assuming that the iron‐rich floc‐trapping mechanism is applicable to all pelagic calcareous tests, then the downward flux of iron and associated trace elements carried by these tests can be assessed. To the precision of our knowledge about the transport and dissolution of calcium carbonate in deep water, this assumption leads to the conclusion that the iron and the associated trace elements have residence times in the deep water of the same order of magnitude as that of the deep water itself.