Geochemistry of alkaline earth elements (Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) in the surface sediments of the Yellow Sea

The concentrations of alkaline earth elements were measured in the surface sediments of the Yellow Sea in an attempt to establish their sources from horizontal distributions. The maximum concentrations of Mg are found in the central Yellow Sea, and its horizontal distribution is mainly controlled by quartz dilution. The concentrations of Ca and Sr increase toward the southeastern Yellow Sea region. The relatively higher enrichment of Ca and Sr in the southeastern Yellow Sea, with Sr/Ca ratios of 0.0053, suggests the presence of carbonates which are comprised of foraminifera and/or coccoliths, like deep-sea carbonates. On the other hand, the concentrations of Ba increase toward the northeastern Yellow Sea. The higher Ba enrichment in the sandy region of the northeastern Yellow Sea is associated with the presence of feldspar as evidenced by excellent correlations among Ba/Mg, Al/Mg, and Sr/Ca ratios. Our results suggest that the transgressive and relict sand occurring in the eastern parts of the Yellow Sea contains Al, Sr, and Ba enriched feldspars which originated from Arprock River, Korea and thus can be distinguished from sand occurring in the western parts of the Yellow Sea which originated from Yellow and Yangtze Rivers.