Strontium and neodymium isotope data for barite separates and pore waters, and isotope and concentration data for foraminifera and fish teeth from DSDP Leg 85 sediments

Strontium and neodymium isotopic data are reported for barite samples chemically separated from Late Miocene to Pliocene sediments from the eastern equatorial Pacific. At a site within a region of very high productivity close to the equator, 87Sr/86Sr ratios in the barite separates are indistinguishable from those of foraminifera and fish teeth from the same samples. However, at two sites north of the productivity maximum barite separates have slightly, but consistently lower (averaging 0.000062) ratios than the coexisting phases, although values still fall within the total range of published values for the contemporaneous seawater strontium isotope curve. We examine possible causes for this offset including recrystallization of the foraminifera, fish teeth or barite, the presence of non-barite contaminants, or incorporation of older, reworked deep-sea barite; the inclusion of a small amount of hydrothermal barite in the sediments seems most consistent with our data, although there are difficulties associated with adequate production and transportation of this phase. Barite is unlikely to replace calcite as a preferred tracer of seawater strontium isotopes in carbonate-rich sediments, but may prove a useful substitute in cases where calcite is rare or strongly affected by diagenesis. In contrast to the case for strontium, neodymium isotopic ratios in the barite separates are far from expected values for contemporary seawater, and appear to be dominated by an (unobserved) eolian component with high neodymium concentration and low 143Nd/144Nd. These results suggest that the true potential of barite as an indicator of paleocean neodymium isotopic ratios and REE patterns will be realized only when a more selective separation procedure is developed.

(Table 4) Concentrations of radionuclides in waters of the Barents and Kara Seas in August 2003

A methodology of experimental simulation of state of spent nuclear fuel that occurs on the sea floor due to some catastrophes or dumping is developed. Data on long-term (more than 2000 days) experiments on estimation of 85Kr and 137Cs release rate from spent nuclear fuel (fragments of irradiated UO2 pellets) were firstly obtained; these estimates prove correctness of a hypothesis offered by us in early 1990s concerning to earlier 85Kr release (by one order of magnitude higher than that of 137Cs) as compared to other fission fragments in case of loss of integrity of fuel containment as a result of corrosion on the sea floor. A method and technique of onboard 85Kr and 137Cs sampling and extraction (as well as sampling of tritium, product of triple 235U fission) and their radiometric analysis at coastal laboratories are developed. Priority data on 85Kr background in bottom layers of the Barents and Kara Seas and 137Cs and 3H in these seas (state of 2003) are presented. Models necessary for estimation of dilution of fission products of spent nuclear fuel and their transport on the floor in accident and dumping regions are developed. An experimental method for examination of state of spent nuclear fuel on the sea floor (one expedition each 2-3 years) by 85Kr release into environment (a leak tracer) is proposed; this release is an indicator of destruction of fuel containment and release of products of spent nuclear fuel in case of 235UO2 corrosion in sea water.

(Table 2) Vertical distribution of particulate matter and its organic and mineral components in waters of the Tropical Atlantic in November 1984

Results of multiyear investigation of distribution and composition of suspended matter in waters off the northwest coast of Africa are presented. Large-scale circulation, upwelling, river runoff, and aeolian deposition affect distribution and evolution of biochemical composition of particulate matter. Concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen, chlorophyll, phytoplankton and trace metals in the particulate matter are determined. Ratios of these components exhibit seasonal variations.