Rare Earth Elements abundance, fractionation, and anomalies in the sediments of the Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex in Brazil

The Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex (CIELC) is an extremely productive coastal ecosystem. It encloses the Valo Grande channel, built 160 years ago, which introduces water from the Ribeira River directly into the estuarine system, contributing to important biogeochemical changes in the regi...

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Main Authors: Vitor G. Chiozzini, Deborah I. T. Fávaro, Elisabete S. Braga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo 2024-04-01
Series:Ocean and Coastal Research
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Online Access:https://www.journals.usp.br/ocr/article/view/222828
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author Vitor G. Chiozzini
Deborah I. T. Fávaro
Elisabete S. Braga
author_facet Vitor G. Chiozzini
Deborah I. T. Fávaro
Elisabete S. Braga
author_sort Vitor G. Chiozzini
collection DOAJ
description The Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex (CIELC) is an extremely productive coastal ecosystem. It encloses the Valo Grande channel, built 160 years ago, which introduces water from the Ribeira River directly into the estuarine system, contributing to important biogeochemical changes in the region. Many nutrients arrive at the estuary through this channel, as well as metals and other slightly soluble elements that become part of the sediments. This study aims to evaluate the processes that govern the distribution of rare earth elements (REE) in the sediments of the complex by using fractionation patterns, anomalies, and the geochemical signature of minerals to evaluate sources, natural levels, and the possible anthropogenic forcing to which CIELC is subjected. ∑REE* ranged from 14.2 to 285 mg kg-1 and showed a distribution related to depositional/textural characteristics influenced by the regional and local lithological setting and a possible contamination. The REE/Al ratio indicated enrichment in the sea adjacent to the estuary and at stations in the Ribeira River and Valo Grande. While the Hf/Al ratio indicated natural enrichment related to the presence of heavy minerals in most of these stations, this ratio fails to justify enrichment at some stations in the northern part of the estuary and the Ribeira River. Fractionation patterns and anomalies allowed us to identify the main heavy minerals related to REE enrichment at CIELC. Cerium (Ce) anomalies showed a possible relation with biologically mediated Ce+3 to Ce+4 oxidation processes in the most productive areas of the estuary. Europium (Eu) anomalies were strongly associated with different mineral assemblies in several CIELC sectors. Abundance, fractionation patterns, and REE anomalies corroborate the categorization of CIELC sediments as part of a pristine system in its southern region and as subject to anthropogenic influences in its northern area.
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spelling doaj-art-1d20133db118457e95e649922ee02d3c2025-08-20T02:55:52ZengInstituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São PauloOcean and Coastal Research2675-28242024-04-0171Suppl. 1Rare Earth Elements abundance, fractionation, and anomalies in the sediments of the Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex in BrazilVitor G. ChiozziniDeborah I. T. FávaroElisabete S. Braga The Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex (CIELC) is an extremely productive coastal ecosystem. It encloses the Valo Grande channel, built 160 years ago, which introduces water from the Ribeira River directly into the estuarine system, contributing to important biogeochemical changes in the region. Many nutrients arrive at the estuary through this channel, as well as metals and other slightly soluble elements that become part of the sediments. This study aims to evaluate the processes that govern the distribution of rare earth elements (REE) in the sediments of the complex by using fractionation patterns, anomalies, and the geochemical signature of minerals to evaluate sources, natural levels, and the possible anthropogenic forcing to which CIELC is subjected. ∑REE* ranged from 14.2 to 285 mg kg-1 and showed a distribution related to depositional/textural characteristics influenced by the regional and local lithological setting and a possible contamination. The REE/Al ratio indicated enrichment in the sea adjacent to the estuary and at stations in the Ribeira River and Valo Grande. While the Hf/Al ratio indicated natural enrichment related to the presence of heavy minerals in most of these stations, this ratio fails to justify enrichment at some stations in the northern part of the estuary and the Ribeira River. Fractionation patterns and anomalies allowed us to identify the main heavy minerals related to REE enrichment at CIELC. Cerium (Ce) anomalies showed a possible relation with biologically mediated Ce+3 to Ce+4 oxidation processes in the most productive areas of the estuary. Europium (Eu) anomalies were strongly associated with different mineral assemblies in several CIELC sectors. Abundance, fractionation patterns, and REE anomalies corroborate the categorization of CIELC sediments as part of a pristine system in its southern region and as subject to anthropogenic influences in its northern area. https://www.journals.usp.br/ocr/article/view/222828REE GeochemistryEstuarine RAMSAR AreaTrace MetalsBiogeochemistryPhosphogypsum
spellingShingle Vitor G. Chiozzini
Deborah I. T. Fávaro
Elisabete S. Braga
Rare Earth Elements abundance, fractionation, and anomalies in the sediments of the Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex in Brazil
Ocean and Coastal Research
REE Geochemistry
Estuarine RAMSAR Area
Trace Metals
Biogeochemistry
Phosphogypsum
title Rare Earth Elements abundance, fractionation, and anomalies in the sediments of the Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex in Brazil
title_full Rare Earth Elements abundance, fractionation, and anomalies in the sediments of the Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex in Brazil
title_fullStr Rare Earth Elements abundance, fractionation, and anomalies in the sediments of the Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex in Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Rare Earth Elements abundance, fractionation, and anomalies in the sediments of the Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex in Brazil
title_short Rare Earth Elements abundance, fractionation, and anomalies in the sediments of the Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex in Brazil
title_sort rare earth elements abundance fractionation and anomalies in the sediments of the cananeia iguape estuarine lagoon complex in brazil
topic REE Geochemistry
Estuarine RAMSAR Area
Trace Metals
Biogeochemistry
Phosphogypsum
url https://www.journals.usp.br/ocr/article/view/222828
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