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Temporal variations of sedimentary sulfur in a Delaware salt marsh
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Temporal variations of sedimentary sulfur in a Delaware salt marsh

Gregory A. Cutter and David J. Velinsky
Marine chemistry, v 23(3-4), pp 311-327
01 Apr 1988

Abstract

Delaware geochemistry Geochemistry of rocks, soils, and sediments Great Marsh marshes mires salt marshes seasonal variations sediments sulfur Sussex County Delaware United States
The cycling of sedimentary sulphur was examined over a one year period in the Great Marsh, Delaware, using newly developed analytical procedures. Iron monosulphide (FeS) and elemental sulphur both display large seasonal changes in concentration and distribution with depth, indicating a coupling with marsh redox conditions. In contrast, the depth distribution and concentration of greigite (Fe (sub 3) S (sub 4) ) did not show appreciable changes with season. Pyrite (FeS (sub 2) ) underwent large concentration changes in the upper 15 cm of sediment during the spring, but remained relatively constant with respect to concentration and distribution below this zone. Using a mass-balance approach in the upper marsh sediment, sulphur needed for rapid pyritization is found to be derived from elemental sulphur, iron monosulphide and sulphate reduction. In the deeper sediments, pyritization occurs through a greigite intermediate, and diagenetic modelling indicates that pyrite formation is limited by the synthesis of greigite, and not by the conversion of greigite to pyrite. (Authors' abstract)

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Web of Science research areas
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Oceanography
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