Trace Metal Geochemistry of Walker, Mono, and Great Salt Lakes
fluid-Mineral Interactions: A Tribute to H. P. Eugster © The Geochemical Society, Special Publication No.2, 1990 Editors: R. J. Spencer and f-Ming Chou Trace metal geochemistry of Walker, Mono, and Great Salt Lakes JOSEPHL, DOMAGALSKI,*andHANSP. EUGSTERt Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, U.S.A. and BLAIRF. JONES United States Geological Survey, M.S. 432, Reston, VA 22092, U.S.A. Abstract-Recent sediments were collected from three Basin and Range closed basin lakes (Walker Lake, NV, Mono Lake, CA, and Great Salt Lake, UT) to evaluate the response of a suite of trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Co, Mo, V) to diagenetic processes and assess reactivity, mobility, mineral transformations and precipitation, and organic complexation. Sediments and pore fluids, representing up to 1000 years of deposition, were analyzed for brine and metal composition, pH, alkalinity, and H2S. Sequential extractions of metals from solidswere valuable in locating core horizons where metals are mobilized or precipitated and in the interpretation of pore-fluid metal profiles. Sedimentary metals initially associated with Fe-Mn oxides and organic matter respond to changes in biologically induced redox conditions by forming sulfide solids and humic acid complexes. Walker Lake metals are tightly bound near the sediment-water interface by oxides which only slowly dissolve in the anoxic sediments. At 50-60 cm of sediment depth, dissolution of oxides results in the most extensive metal redistribution. At Great Salt Lake sedimenting particles are entrained within the dense bottom brines where maximum organic decomposition and H2S production occurs.
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