Texture Mineralogy And Chemistry Of Arctic Ocean Sediments

Lorsqu'il n'est pas en notre pouvoir de discerner les plus vraies opinions, nous devons suivre les plus pro babies.-Rene Descartes When, in the early 1960's I undertook to covered, due to limitations imposed by a single study Arctic Ocean deep-sea cores, I did not volume. anticipate that 10 years later the climatic history Although not comprehensive, it is hoped that of the north polar basin would be still a matter of this book will provide an insight into the current debate. Although much new data have accumu status of Arctic research and will also serve as a lated in various fields of Arct.

Collection of scientific papers from two successive marine ecological baseline cruises to western Beaufort Sea; includes preliminary results of physical, chemical, biological and geological data.

From a general point of view the importance of striving to minimize envir- mental disturbances on the continental shelf cannot be overemphasized. Coastal areas are sites of population centers, navigation and recreation activities, and - source development, all of which contribute to environmental stress on the shelf. Proper management of the shelf for optimum use requires a thorough understanding of shelf processes. Complex problems, such as the influence of hydrodynamics on sediment dispersal, element differentiation and migration, physiochemical changes at the sediment water interface, the relationship - tween the pollutants and sediments, and the type of substrate with regard to benthic community and/or man-made structures require a multidisciplinary approach to their solution. The present study interrelates meteorologic, hyd- graphic, sedimentologic, and geochemical parameters to derme specific envir- ments on the Alaskan Shelf. These observations are then related to geologic principles in an effort to elucidate the sedimentary processes and elemental migration on the shelf. Attempts have also been made to relate the sediment texture to the geochem- try of the sediments. Obviously the chemistry is complicated as a result of b- genic contributions and variable provenance; however, to some extent elemental differentiation accompanies textural differentiation in sediments. The distribution of elements in various phases of crustal (source) rocks is gen- ally interpreted on the basis of crystallographic concepts, especially the concept of isomorphism.