Rachold: Major. Trace and Rare Earth Element Geochemistry
219
corresponding to elevated BaJAl ratios indicate that denudation rates are noticeably reduced
in the subarctic climate of the Lena basin.
2 Although the chemical composition of Lena SPM is very homogeneous throughout the river,
a trend along the course of the river could be identified. Since alteration processes within the
river, regional variations in the weathering regime, and changes in transport energy playa
minor role, this evolution is attributed mainly to material input through tributaries. The SPM
of Lena tributaries draining more restricted catchments clearly reflect the regional geology.
3 Although the Yana is characterized by the strongest variations in SPM composition as a
result of the heterogeneity of its catchment and the frequent occurrence of coarse-grained
material, Yana SPM can be clearly distinguished from Lena SPM. The enrichments in As,
Bi, Cs, Sb, and Ware typical features and are related to granitic intrusions forming the
source of Au and Sn ore-deposits in the Yana basin. Furthermore, Yana SPM shows
significantly lower CaJAl and higher NaJAl ratios.
4 The most prominent differences were observed in the Khatanga SPM, which is strongly
influenced by basaltic rocks of the Siberian Trap. Consequently, the SPM is enriched in
elements associated with basalts, i.e. Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Ni, Ti, and V, but depleted in
incompatible elements, i.e. K, Rb, U, and Th.
5 REE patterns of the SPM are closely related to the geology of the catchment. However, a
general enrichment in light REE relative to heavy REE is observed and is related to
weathering. While the REE distribution of Lena SPM is very similar to other major rivers
due to the size of the drainage basin, REE patterns of the Yana and Khatanga SPM and of
their tributaries represent characteristic signals of the lithology of the individual catchment.
6 Factor analysis of the chemical data serves as a helpful tool to distinguish between the SPM
of individual rivers. The variations within the data set can mainly be explained by two
factors accounting for more than 70 % of the variance. Factor I discriminates elements
associated with basalts and consequently separates the Khatanga SPM from the Lena and
Yana SPM. Factor 2 describes the Yana basin and includes elements that are enriched in
coarse-grained material and elements originating from granitic intrusions which formed oredeposits in the Yana catchment.
As a result of differences in the lithology of the catchments, rivers supplying material to the
Laptev Sea can clearly be distinguished by means of their inorganic geochemical SPM
composition. The chemical data can thus be used to clarify sediment transport. Analyses of
Laptev Sea sediments, ice-rafted detritus, and Arctic Ocean sediments which are currently
carried out by other working groups of the "Laptev Sea" project will help to identify the
pathways of sediment transport from the Eurasian continent to the Laptev Sea and further to the
Arctic Ocean.
Acknowledgments
The author thanks M. Zimmer and H.-G. Plessen from the Geoforschungszentrum in
Potsdam, M. Tintelnot from the Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg in Wilhelmshaven, G. Kuhn
from the Alfred-Wegener-Institut in Bremerhaven, and A. Eulenburg from the Alfred-WegenerInstitut in Potsdam for supporting the analytical work. Special thanks to A. Alabyan, V. N.
Korotaev, and A. Zaitsev from Moscow State University, A. Ufimzev from the Arctic and
Antarctic Research Institute in St. Petersburg, and to the captains and crew members of "Prof.
Makkaveev", "Sarya 9", and "Lotsman". Critical comments of B. Hagedorn and the reviewers
H.-J. Brumsack and K. Wallmann are greatly appreciated. This study is part of the GermanRussian project "The Laptev Sea System" which is funded by the German Ministry of
Education, Science, Research and Technology (BMBF) and the Russian Ministry of Research
219
corresponding to elevated BaJAl ratios indicate that denudation rates are noticeably reduced
in the subarctic climate of the Lena basin.
2 Although the chemical composition of Lena SPM is very homogeneous throughout the river,
a trend along the course of the river could be identified. Since alteration processes within the
river, regional variations in the weathering regime, and changes in transport energy playa
minor role, this evolution is attributed mainly to material input through tributaries. The SPM
of Lena tributaries draining more restricted catchments clearly reflect the regional geology.
3 Although the Yana is characterized by the strongest variations in SPM composition as a
result of the heterogeneity of its catchment and the frequent occurrence of coarse-grained
material, Yana SPM can be clearly distinguished from Lena SPM. The enrichments in As,
Bi, Cs, Sb, and Ware typical features and are related to granitic intrusions forming the
source of Au and Sn ore-deposits in the Yana basin. Furthermore, Yana SPM shows
significantly lower CaJAl and higher NaJAl ratios.
4 The most prominent differences were observed in the Khatanga SPM, which is strongly
influenced by basaltic rocks of the Siberian Trap. Consequently, the SPM is enriched in
elements associated with basalts, i.e. Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Ni, Ti, and V, but depleted in
incompatible elements, i.e. K, Rb, U, and Th.
5 REE patterns of the SPM are closely related to the geology of the catchment. However, a
general enrichment in light REE relative to heavy REE is observed and is related to
weathering. While the REE distribution of Lena SPM is very similar to other major rivers
due to the size of the drainage basin, REE patterns of the Yana and Khatanga SPM and of
their tributaries represent characteristic signals of the lithology of the individual catchment.
6 Factor analysis of the chemical data serves as a helpful tool to distinguish between the SPM
of individual rivers. The variations within the data set can mainly be explained by two
factors accounting for more than 70 % of the variance. Factor I discriminates elements
associated with basalts and consequently separates the Khatanga SPM from the Lena and
Yana SPM. Factor 2 describes the Yana basin and includes elements that are enriched in
coarse-grained material and elements originating from granitic intrusions which formed oredeposits in the Yana catchment.
As a result of differences in the lithology of the catchments, rivers supplying material to the
Laptev Sea can clearly be distinguished by means of their inorganic geochemical SPM
composition. The chemical data can thus be used to clarify sediment transport. Analyses of
Laptev Sea sediments, ice-rafted detritus, and Arctic Ocean sediments which are currently
carried out by other working groups of the "Laptev Sea" project will help to identify the
pathways of sediment transport from the Eurasian continent to the Laptev Sea and further to the
Arctic Ocean.
Acknowledgments
The author thanks M. Zimmer and H.-G. Plessen from the Geoforschungszentrum in
Potsdam, M. Tintelnot from the Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg in Wilhelmshaven, G. Kuhn
from the Alfred-Wegener-Institut in Bremerhaven, and A. Eulenburg from the Alfred-WegenerInstitut in Potsdam for supporting the analytical work. Special thanks to A. Alabyan, V. N.
Korotaev, and A. Zaitsev from Moscow State University, A. Ufimzev from the Arctic and
Antarctic Research Institute in St. Petersburg, and to the captains and crew members of "Prof.
Makkaveev", "Sarya 9", and "Lotsman". Critical comments of B. Hagedorn and the reviewers
H.-J. Brumsack and K. Wallmann are greatly appreciated. This study is part of the GermanRussian project "The Laptev Sea System" which is funded by the German Ministry of
Education, Science, Research and Technology (BMBF) and the Russian Ministry of Research