Geochemical features of the bottom sediments in the river network of the Kamchatka Peninsula

Abstract

he authors estimated the composition and regularities of the spatial distribution of trace elements in the bottom sediments of the river network in different Kamchatka zones. For the first time we revealed that the poorest chemical composition of sediments, which closely correlates with the composition of soils and young volcanic ashes, is typical for the areas of active volcanic activity. Ca and Mg elements as well as 11 rare earth elements (Yb, Lu, Tm, Er, Dy, Ho, Gd, Y, Sm, Eu, Pr) in the priority series give evidence for the relation between the bottom sediments in the region and recent volcanic activity. In Central Kamchatka, where gold-silver ore objects are widespread, a relatively richer composition of bottom sediments has been revealed; typical companion elements of the mineralization, Sb, As, Bi, and Pb, take the lead in the priority geochemical series. On the western coast of the peninsula, where the Kamchatka Nickel-bearing province is developed, the priority elements for bottom sediments include Ni (exceeding the average content in Kamchatka by 1.8 times) and REE: La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, which accompany copper-nickel mineralization in Kamchatka.

Keywords

• bottom sediments
• Kamchatka