The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Extending the applications of sediment profile imaging to geochemical interpretations using colour

Extending the applications of sediment profile imaging to geochemical interpretations using colour
Extending the applications of sediment profile imaging to geochemical interpretations using colour
Whilst Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI) is a very widely used technique in the regulatory assessment of seabed environmental health, and in the study of seafloor sediment-biology interactions, the potential for SPI images to be used in a geochemical context has not been rigorously assessed. Here we have examined relationships between colour and geochemistry in a sediment core collected from the Celtic Sea, North West European Shelf, that was digitally imaged and on which detailed geochemical analyses were also performed. Average oxygen penetration depth was 4.08 ± 0.72 mm, (n=5), whilst the apparent redox potential discontinuity (aRPD) as determined by sediment colour change was at 78 mm. As iron (oxyhydr)oxides decreased with depth, black sulfide phases increased, and the aRPD most closely correlated with this geochemical change rather than the oxygen penetration depth. Colour analysis of the image showed a clear correlation of brightness with black FeS (acid volatile sulfide). There was a general correlation of iron oxide phases with orange colour in the upper part of the sediment profile, whilst.in the lower part of the core the orange oxide phases appeared to be obscured by the black FeS present. The sulfide-brightness relationship indicates colour analysis can provide an estimate of FeS, and potentially the carrying capacity for toxic metals such as cadmium, zinc and copper as sulfides in this type of sediment. Additionally, detailed geochemical analyses of SPI cores may provide new insights into the activity and impacts of infauna and the link with sediment biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nutrients.
0278-4343
Statham, P.J.
51458f15-d6e2-4231-8bba-d0567f9e440c
Homoky, W.B.
f47c433a-bd13-4a11-88eb-96fa1a798ca3
Parker, E.R.
6840ef28-0e2c-4580-af9e-fcb3442251ec
Klar, J.K.
3beaa216-b22d-43f3-8a1b-9683c949939b
Silburn, B.
9f271f0e-642a-4c41-84c6-f2cd5d61dcb7
Poulton, S.W.
7202b606-17ff-4c59-9ffd-991b6d2e7302
Kröger, S.
83af1778-fbee-4d45-8bb1-960ad5ab0d0e
Pearce, R.B.
7d772b25-3ad0-4909-9a96-3a1a8111bc2f
Harris, E.L.
2e549ba0-7533-476c-be97-b69a88d31487
Statham, P.J.
51458f15-d6e2-4231-8bba-d0567f9e440c
Homoky, W.B.
f47c433a-bd13-4a11-88eb-96fa1a798ca3
Parker, E.R.
6840ef28-0e2c-4580-af9e-fcb3442251ec
Klar, J.K.
3beaa216-b22d-43f3-8a1b-9683c949939b
Silburn, B.
9f271f0e-642a-4c41-84c6-f2cd5d61dcb7
Poulton, S.W.
7202b606-17ff-4c59-9ffd-991b6d2e7302
Kröger, S.
83af1778-fbee-4d45-8bb1-960ad5ab0d0e
Pearce, R.B.
7d772b25-3ad0-4909-9a96-3a1a8111bc2f
Harris, E.L.
2e549ba0-7533-476c-be97-b69a88d31487

Statham, P.J., Homoky, W.B., Parker, E.R., Klar, J.K., Silburn, B., Poulton, S.W., Kröger, S., Pearce, R.B. and Harris, E.L. (2017) Extending the applications of sediment profile imaging to geochemical interpretations using colour. Continental Shelf Research. (doi:10.1016/j.csr.2017.12.001).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Whilst Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI) is a very widely used technique in the regulatory assessment of seabed environmental health, and in the study of seafloor sediment-biology interactions, the potential for SPI images to be used in a geochemical context has not been rigorously assessed. Here we have examined relationships between colour and geochemistry in a sediment core collected from the Celtic Sea, North West European Shelf, that was digitally imaged and on which detailed geochemical analyses were also performed. Average oxygen penetration depth was 4.08 ± 0.72 mm, (n=5), whilst the apparent redox potential discontinuity (aRPD) as determined by sediment colour change was at 78 mm. As iron (oxyhydr)oxides decreased with depth, black sulfide phases increased, and the aRPD most closely correlated with this geochemical change rather than the oxygen penetration depth. Colour analysis of the image showed a clear correlation of brightness with black FeS (acid volatile sulfide). There was a general correlation of iron oxide phases with orange colour in the upper part of the sediment profile, whilst.in the lower part of the core the orange oxide phases appeared to be obscured by the black FeS present. The sulfide-brightness relationship indicates colour analysis can provide an estimate of FeS, and potentially the carrying capacity for toxic metals such as cadmium, zinc and copper as sulfides in this type of sediment. Additionally, detailed geochemical analyses of SPI cores may provide new insights into the activity and impacts of infauna and the link with sediment biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nutrients.

Text
1-s2.0-S0278434317304478-main - Accepted Manuscript
Download (1MB)

More information

Accepted/In Press date: 3 December 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 6 December 2017

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 416246
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/416246
ISSN: 0278-4343
PURE UUID: a5209758-762e-4496-8d8e-a8e69da787b9

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 11 Dec 2017 17:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 06:01

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: P.J. Statham
Author: W.B. Homoky
Author: E.R. Parker
Author: J.K. Klar
Author: B. Silburn
Author: S.W. Poulton
Author: S. Kröger
Author: R.B. Pearce
Author: E.L. Harris

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×