Co, Hf, Ce, Cr, Th, and REE Charateristics of Modern Bottom Sediments of the Barents Sea

Abstract

The Co, Hf, Ce, Cr, Th, and REE characteristics are analyzed for modern sediments collected by a bottom grab during the 67th and 68th cruises of R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh and samples taken in the Barents Sea bays and inlets. Our results indicate that most modern bottom sediments are composed of fine siliciclastic material enhanced with a suspended matter of the North Cape current, which erodes the western coast of Scandinavia, and due to bottom erosion of some marine areas, as well as erosion of rock complexes of the Kola Peninsula, Novaya Zemlya, and Franz Josef Land (local provenances). Material from Spitsbergen also probably played a certain role. In the southern part of the Barents Sea, clastic material is carried out by Pechora River.