C. Zeri et M. Scoullos, AN INTEGRATED MAGNETIC-CHEMICAL APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF IRON IN RHONE ESTUARY SEDIMENTS, Oceanologica acta, 21(1), 1998, pp. 81-86
Measurement of magnetic parameters in combination with the partitionin
g of iron in various sediment fractions (authigenic-lithogenous) have
been used in order to obtain information concerning the fate of iron w
ithin the sediment. Through this approach, it is shown that in the Rho
ne estuary sediments there is a dominance of the lattice-held iron, re
presented by the abundance of ferrimagnetic minerals. A considerable p
art (similar to 17 %) of the iron present is authigenic, associated ma
inly with the oxide-hydroxide forms and originating from direct fluvia
l inputs and in situ diagenetic processes. Iron oxides and hydroxides
are formed in the water column and/or porewaters and are accumulated m
ainly in the surface layer (0-2 cm) of the sediment column correspondi
ng to the mineral goethite. (C) Elsevier, Paris.