Distribution of Trace and Rare-Earth Elements, and Nd, Pb, and Sr Isotopes in the Surface Sediments of the Barents Sea

Abstract—The distribution of Sc, Co, Hf, Cr, Th, and rare-earth elements in samples of surface sediments collected during cruises 67th and 68th of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh in the Barents Sea and in its bays is analyzed. The results obtained suggest that the predominant part of the bottom sediments of the Barents Sea is composed of thin-grained siliciclastics that was supplied with suspended particulate matter of the North Cape (Atlantic) Current through the erosion of the northwestern Scandinavian coasts and some seafloor areas. Some sediments in the northern part of the sea were formed through the erosion of rocks of the Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land. A certain role in their formation was probably played by material from Svalbard as well as by the Pechora River suspended particulate matter. The established isotopic characteristics (εNd, 207Pb/206Pb and 87Sr/86Sr) of surface sediments suggest that the main contribution to the formation of bottom sediments of the central Barents Sea was made by rocks of the mainland part affected by the North Cape Current. The comparison of the 87Sr/86Sr values ​​in the surface sediments of the central part of the Barents Sea and in the ice-rafted sediments carried by the Transpolar Drift showed their significant difference. This suggests a reatively small contribution of ice-rafted material to the formation of surface sediments of the Barents Sea.