Distribution Of Geochemical Elements Research Articles

Application of singularity mapping technique to identify local anomalies using stream sediment geochemical data, a case study from Gangdese, Tibet, western China

Identifying geochemical anomalies from background is a fundamental task in exploration geochemistry. The Gangdese mineral district in western China has complex geochemical surface expression due to complex geological background and was chosen as a study area for recognition of the spatial distribution of geochemical elements and separating anomalies from background using stream sediment geochemical data. The results illustrate that weak anomalies are hidden within the strong variance of background and are not well identified by means of inverse distance weighted; neither are they clearly identified by the C–A method if this method is applied to the whole study area. On the other hand, singularity values provide new information that complements use of original concentration values and can quantify the properties of enrichment and depletion caused by mineralization. In general, producing maps of singularities can help to identify relatively weak metal concentration anomalies in complex geological regions. Application of singularity mapping technique in Gangdese district shows local anomalies of Cu are not only directly associated with known deposits in the central part of the study area, but also with E–W and N–E oriented faults in the north of the study area. Both types of anomalies should be further investigated for undiscovered Cu mineral deposits.

Multifractality as a Measure of Spatial Distribution of Geochemical Patterns

To quantify the spatial distribution of geochemical elements, the multifractality indices for Zn, Cu, Pt, Pd, Cr, Ni, Co, Pb, and As in lake-sediment samples in the Shining Tree area in the Abitibi area of Ontario are determined. The characterization of multifractal distribution patterns is based on the box-counting moment method and involves three functions: a mass exponent function τ(q); Coarse Holder Exponent α (q); and fractal dimension spectrum f(α (q)). Properties of these functions at different values of q, characterize the spatial distribution of the variable under study. It is shown that the degree of multifractality defined by τ”(1) can be used as a measure of irregularity of geochemical spatial dispersion patterns. The variations of Zn and Cu in the study area are characterized by relatively low degree of multifractality, whereas those for Pt, Pd, Cr, Ni, and Co; and particularly for As and Pb are characterized by higher multifractality indices.In the case of Zn and Cu, singularity spectra are close to a monofractal compared to the ones for As an Pb. The determination of multifractality indices allows us, in a quantitative way, to study the pattern of metal dispersions and link them to different physical processes, such as metal adsorption by organic material or glaciogenic processes.

Spatial and temporal distribution of trace elements in Yangtze Estuary, China: Significance of diluted setting

The present study is to examine the spatial and temporal distribution of eight trace elements (Sr, Ba, B, Ga, Ni, V, Cu, and F) in various Holocene marine subfacies in the Yangtze Estuary, including its subaqueous delta by sediment borehole and vibrocore. Results demonstrate that grain size is the determinant factor in controlling the concentration of most trace elements discussed. Prodelta mud that occurs usually below the normal wave base can serve as a depository sink for trapping trace elements over the long-term time period. For example, copper concentration is 5–6 times higher than those found in the estuarine sediment. Boron, which is used to be a salinity indicator, shows a strong negative correlation with paleosalinity (using sediment phosphate method), implying desalinized water setting in the Yangtze Estuary, into which a large quantity of the Yangtze freshwater (924 ×109 m3/a) has discharged. Trace element concentrations of the study area were compared with those collected from the middle and lower Yangtze River reaches, and from the east China continental shelf, including the Okinawa Trough. Result tends to show a terrigenous derivation of most geochemical components of the study area. Concentrations of strontium and barium are correlated with an increase in distance away from the estuary, rather than affected by grain size. Variation of trace elements in downcore Holocene sediment sections are fairly consistent with concentrations revealed by the modern vibrocore transect that extends from nearshore delta front, to offshore prodelta and to the delta-shelf transit zone. The overall distribution of geochemical elements discussed is capable of environmental implication to characterize the Yangtze estuarine transit between land and sea.

Separation Techniques in Sedimentary Geochemistry illustrated by Studies of Boron

THE geochemical distribution of elements in sedimentary rocks is genetically complex because they may be concentrated in the detrital fraction or resistates; the clay fraction; the chemically precipitated fraction; and the organically precipitated fraction. It follows that advances in sedimentary geochemistry depend on increased knowledge of the distribution of elements in these four constituents. Hence, analysis of the bulk rock, which is generally the standard practice in igneous geochemistry, may not be a successful method when applied to problems in sedimentary geochemistry.