Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2018, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (1): 72-89.doi: 10.11978/2017023CSTR: 32234.14.2017023

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The primary sedimentary characteristics of Warm Pool in Beibu Gulf and its environmental indication*

Xiangqing HUANG(), Zhen’ang CUI, Kai LIANG, Huayang GAN, Zhen XIA, Zhenhai HUO()   

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Ministry of Land and Resources, Guangzhou 510760, China
  • Received:2017-03-01 Revised:2017-09-05 Online:2018-01-20 Published:2018-02-02
  • Supported by:
    China Geological Survey Program (1212010914027)

Abstract:

The development and change of a warm pool have close relationships with sedimentary environment. For the lack of integrated modern sedimentary environmental studies on the Warm Pool of Beibu Gulf, the samples of bottom sediments from the study area within the main part of the Warm Pool were collected and laboratory analysis and identification in granularity, geochemical elements and micropaleontology was carried out. The study and comparison using the above data showed that the provenance came from surrounding up continent crust. Median grain size ranged 1.07Φ~6.88Φ; SiO2 dominated in macro-geochemical elements with maximum 66.61% and followed by Al2O3; micro-geochemical elements and REEs ranged 9.05~297.00μg•g-1, 0.34~69.43μg•g-1, respectively, and an averaged chemical index of alteration (CIA) 47.33 and (La/Yb)N 7.46~10.07 and paleo-biodiversity index of foraminifera and diatom 0~2.52 meaning relatively significant spatial variation under gulf scale. There was primary difference between western and eastern parts of the study area: the former with highest concentration of large part of geo-chemical elements, fine grain, significant fractural in REEs, high CIA and relatively rich provenance and the latter being almost opposite with low elements, low CIA, and so on but with high CaO, MnO and Sr revealing limited provenance supply and probably authigenic carbonate sedimentation. Warm-water foraminifera and subtropical-tropical diatom species took advantage in the study area and ratios between the abundance of species also indicated warm and high saline seawater characteristics especially in the eastern part of the study area. This Warm Pool is either a dependent or an open system, and has a positive effect on maintaining the biological activity, biodiversity and sedimentary environment, especially carbonate sedimentation.

Key words: Beibu Gulf, warm pool, sedimentary environment, carbonate sedimentation

CLC Number: 

  • P736.21