Econ. Environ. Geol. 2006; 39(1): 39-51

Published online February 28, 2006

© THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY

Constraints of REE Distribution Patterns in Core Sediments and their Provenance, Northern East China Sea

Hoi-Soo Jung1*, Dhong-il Lim2, Shou Ye Yang3 and Hai-Soo Yoo1

1Marine Environment Research Department, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, Ansan, P.O. Box29, Seoul 425-600, Korea
2Southern Coastal Environment Research Department, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, 391 Jangmok-ri Jjangmok-myun, Geoje 656-830, Korea
3Department of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Lab. of Marine Geology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, PR China

Correspondence to :

Hoi-Soo Jung

hsjung@kordi.re.kr

Received: August 3, 2005; Accepted: February 6, 2006

Abstract

Rare earth elements (REEs) in transgressive shelf core sediments were analysed to identify constraints of REE distribution patterns and sediment provenances in the northern East China Sea (ECS). Sediments of Chinese and Korean rivers, such as Huanghe and Yangtz rivers, Keum and Yeongsan rivers that supply sediments to the northern ECS, were also analysed to figure out their typical REE distribution patterns. The distribution patterns of Chinese and Korean river sediments, which are normalized with upper continental crust (UCC) REE values, appear to be enriched in middle rare earth elements (MREEs) in Chinese river sediments, whereas in light rare earth
elements (LREEs) in Korean river sediments. We assign the MREE-enriched convex-type distribution pattern in Chinese river sediments as “C-type”, and the LREE-enriched linearly decreasing pattern in Korean river sediments as “D-type”. A major constraint of the REE concentration in northern ECS core sediments is interpreted to be LREE-enriched monazite ((Ce, La)PO4) that is ubiquitous in and around the study area. Meanwhile, the distribution pattern of northern ECS sediments appears to be between the C-type and the D-type. We suggest that the nothern ECS sediments are the mixture of China and Korea riverine sediments that have been accumulated in paleo-river mouth, paleo-coast, and present-day shelf environment as well.

Keywords transgressive shelf sediments, rare earth elements, monazite

Article

Econ. Environ. Geol. 2006; 39(1): 39-51

Published online February 28, 2006

Copyright © THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY.

Constraints of REE Distribution Patterns in Core Sediments and their Provenance, Northern East China Sea

Hoi-Soo Jung1*, Dhong-il Lim2, Shou Ye Yang3 and Hai-Soo Yoo1

1Marine Environment Research Department, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, Ansan, P.O. Box29, Seoul 425-600, Korea
2Southern Coastal Environment Research Department, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, 391 Jangmok-ri Jjangmok-myun, Geoje 656-830, Korea
3Department of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Lab. of Marine Geology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, PR China

Correspondence to:

Hoi-Soo Jung

hsjung@kordi.re.kr

Received: August 3, 2005; Accepted: February 6, 2006

Abstract

Rare earth elements (REEs) in transgressive shelf core sediments were analysed to identify constraints of REE distribution patterns and sediment provenances in the northern East China Sea (ECS). Sediments of Chinese and Korean rivers, such as Huanghe and Yangtz rivers, Keum and Yeongsan rivers that supply sediments to the northern ECS, were also analysed to figure out their typical REE distribution patterns. The distribution patterns of Chinese and Korean river sediments, which are normalized with upper continental crust (UCC) REE values, appear to be enriched in middle rare earth elements (MREEs) in Chinese river sediments, whereas in light rare earth
elements (LREEs) in Korean river sediments. We assign the MREE-enriched convex-type distribution pattern in Chinese river sediments as “C-type”, and the LREE-enriched linearly decreasing pattern in Korean river sediments as “D-type”. A major constraint of the REE concentration in northern ECS core sediments is interpreted to be LREE-enriched monazite ((Ce, La)PO4) that is ubiquitous in and around the study area. Meanwhile, the distribution pattern of northern ECS sediments appears to be between the C-type and the D-type. We suggest that the nothern ECS sediments are the mixture of China and Korea riverine sediments that have been accumulated in paleo-river mouth, paleo-coast, and present-day shelf environment as well.

Keywords transgressive shelf sediments, rare earth elements, monazite

    KSEEG
    Dec 31, 2024 Vol.57 No.6, pp. 665~835

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