Element cycling in bottom sediments

Abstract

Significant cycling of trace elements can occur during early diagenesis of oceanic sediments. For some elements this leads to a benthic flux at the water—sediment interface which influences their distributions in the water column. In other cases, redistribution occurs within the sediment column, leading to metal-enriched horizons within sediments. Element cycling in bottom sediments is an important factor in the flow o f elements within the oceans.