Abstract
The concentrations of 19 trace elements were determined by plasma emission spectrometry in organic fractions (organic solvent extractables, soluble humics, protokerogen and kerogen concentrates) separated from various recent and ancient sediments (mangrove sediments, algal mats, oil shales, phosphorites) as well as sediments polluted by industrial metal emissions (Rhine River, Port Pirie smelter effluent). Often the organic constituents were found to be enriched in trace elements (especially B, V, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Hg and Pb) up to more than three orders of magnitude compared to the bulk sediments, indicating the importancesof organic substances with respect to transport and fixation of trace elements within sediments. The formation of metal-organic associations was found to reflect the environment of deposition (marine to terrestrial) as well as diagenetic transformations (recent to ancient). Against an unpolluted natural background, increasing metal pollution led to increasing metal potake by organic substances (especially for B, Cr, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb).
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