Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2010, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (4): 40-47.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2010.04.040cstr: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2010.04.040

• Marine geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Biogenic silica in surface sediments of the northeastern and southern South China Sea

ZHOU Peng1, LI Dong-mei1, LIU Guang-shan2, MEN Wu2,3, JI Li-hong2   

  1. 1. South China Sea Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration, Guangzhou 510300, China; 2. College of Oceanography and Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; 3. Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China
  • Received:2009-05-07 Revised:2009-08-11 Online:2010-07-31 Published:2010-07-29
  • About author:周鹏(1976—), 男, 河南省开封市人, 硕士, 主要从事同位素海洋学研究。
  • Supported by:

    国家基础研究发展计划项目(2005CB422305)

Abstract:

Biogenic silica (BSi) contents in surface sediments from the northeastern South China Sea (NSCS) and southern South China Sea (SSCS) were measured. The BSi contents (SiO2%)were in the range of 1.08%–3.01% and 0.79%–9.06%, with the means of 1.76% and 4.22% for the NSCS and SSCS, respectively. The results showed that the BSi contents in surface sediments have positive correlation with water depth of the sampling locations. The BSi contents in the NSCS had no evident correlation with minerals, ferrum ion concentrations in surface sediments or nutrients in the pore waters of sediments. The BSi contents in the SSCS had positive correlations with organic material and carbonate contents but not with clay material contents.

Key words:  biogenic silica, surface sediment, northeastern South China Sea, southern South China Sea