Sediment-water interface, diagenetic processes near

Aller R.C. (1980) Diagenetic processes near the sediment-water interface of Long Island Sound. I. Decomposition and nutrient element geochemistry (S, N, P). Adv. in Geophys. 22, 237-350. 

DIAGENETIC PROCESSES NEAR THE SEDIMENT-WATER INTERFACE OF LONG ISLAND SOUND. I. Decomposition and Nutrient Element Geochemistry... 

The study has been broken into two parts the first concentrates on describing diagenetic processes involving organic-matter decomposition and production or consumption of the nutrients SO ", NH4, alkalinity, and HP04. The second emphasizes the associated chemical behavior of Fe and Mn (Part II). Several types of measurements were made (1) seasonal pore water and solid-phase analyses, (2) direct measurement of solute fluxes out of the sediment, (3) rates of reaction as a function of depth and temperature, and (4) the abundance and composition of the fauna at each station. Taken together, these measurements provide one of the most detailed descriptions of controls on diagenesis near the sediment-water interface that is presently available. 

An example from a slowly-accumulating (0.01-0.1 cmyr ) sediment profile in a freshwater lake in Scotland (Williams, 1992) should suffice to illustrate the formation of diagenetic metal profiles. Early diagenetic processes, such as those described before, have promoted extensive metal enrichment immediately beneath the water-sediment interface. The oxic conditions, near the water-sediment interface, that promote metal precipitation and enrichment (Mn, Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni) are entirely confined to strata of post-industrial age (Williams, 1992). 

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