For the first time, an element abundance table of China Shelf Sea sedi
ments is published based on 286 samples from the continental shelf of
China analyzed for 62 chemical elements. The shelf sediments result fr
om the redistribution of sediments from China over the continental she
lf. On the basis of comparison of element abundances among the China s
helf samples, hemipelagic Okinawa Trough samples, and pelagic brown cl
ay from the West Pacific, it is clear that each has its own elemental
characteristics. Hg anomaly enrichment in Okinawa Trough sediments may
be used as an indicator of hydrothermal activity.