ON THE PROBLEM OF AN INTENSIFIED SUPPLY O F SEDIMENTARY MATERIAL AND SOME CHEMICAL-ELEMENTS TO THE OCEAN

The problem of higher recent rates of supply of sedimentary material t o the ocean as compared to Phanerozoic time is discussed in view of po ssible natural or anthropogenic factors. The examples of observed and recalculated values of Pre-Quaternary sedimention rates are given. The observed tonnages of some elements in riverine runoff are compared wi th theoretical values contained in equivalent mass of sedimentary mate rial and with estimates of the anthropogenic input of these elements i nto environment. The preliminary conclusions are made concerning the t endency of some of ''excess'' elements to be washed out by surface wat ers or to be held by soils.