Distribution Patterns of Heavy Minerals in Siberian Rivers, the
Laptev Sea and the Eastern Arctic Ocean: An Approach to Identify
Sources, Transport and Pathways of Terrigenous Matter
M. Behrends!, E. Hoops2 and B. Peregovich 3
(1) Alfred- Wegener-1nstitutfiir Polar- und Meeresforschung, Postfach 120161, D 27568 Bremerhavfn,
Germany
(2) Alfred- Wegener-1nstitut jiir Po/ar- und Meere;forschung, Forschungsstelle Potsdam, Telefirafenberg A43,
D 14473 Potsdam, Germany
(3) GEOMAR Forschungszelltrumjiir marine Geowissellschaften, Wischhofstrasse /-3, D 24148 Kid,
Germanv
Received II March 1997 and accepted in revised fonn 21 January 1998
Abstract - Heavy minerals of sediments from the rivers draining into the Laptev Sea, the
Laptev Sea shelf, the central Arctic Ocean and additional potential source areas were
investigated to identify transport pathways of terrigenous matter. The western part of the
Laptev Sea is dominated by clinopyroxene, delivered by the river Khatanga, which derived
from the sheet basalt complexes of the Taimyr Peninsula, and from Severnaya Zemlya. The
eastern part of the Laptev Sea is characterized by very high amounts of amphibole. supplied
by the rivers Lena and Yana from the Siberian hinterland and/or the erosion products from
Kotelny Island. Orthopyroxene, present on the whole Laptev Sea shelf but not found
elsewhere in comparable amounts in the study area, seems to be characteristic for this
region. This heavy mineral composition is indicative for a Laptev Sea source and can be
found in the sediments of the central Arctic Ocean. Sediment input from the western Arctic
via the Beaufort Gyre is indicated by the occurrence of detrital carbonate and significant
amounts of opaque minerals.
The clay assemblages of sea-ice sediments and clay mineral assemblages of underlying
surface sediments of the central Arctic Ocean reveal different patterns due to winnowing
processes of clay particles after release. Heavy minerals may fill the gap as indicator for
sediment supply by sea ice in surface sediments from the sources up to the Fram Strait.
Introduction
Large amounts of sea ice are formed in the broad and shallow Eurasian shelf regions, of which
the Laptev Sea is believed to be the most important source of sea ice traversing the central Arctic
Ocean with the Transpolar Drift into the Fram Strait area (Dethleff et a!., 1993; Wollenburg,
1993; Kassens & Karpij, 1994; Nlirnberg et a!., 1994; Eicken et a!., 1995; Reimnitz et a!.,
1995). Estimates of ice export from the Laptev Sea range from 400 km3yr- 1 (Eicken et a!.,
1996) to 540 km 3 yr- 1 (Timokhov, 1994). In comparison the estimated ice export from the
Barents Sea is 40 km 3 yr- l , Kara Sea 240 km 3 yr- l , East Siberian Sea 150 km3yr- 1 and the
Chukchi Sea 10 km 3 yr- 1 (Timokhov, 1994).
Investigations of particulate matter in sea ice from the Transpolar Drift suggest its source
originating from the Laptev Sea (Pfirman et a!., 1990, 1997; Abelmann, 1992; Wollenburg,
1993; J. Wollenburg, 1995; Niirnberg et a!., 1994). Clay mineral distribution of surface
sediments in the central Arctic show different pattern due to winnowing processes (Stein et aI.,
1994b) and transport in the water column after release of particles. Heavy minerals reach the
open ocean after entrainment into sea ice. Because of their high density they settle down where
they are released from sea ice and are less affected by currents. Thus, heavy minerals have
proven to be a useful tool to identify source areas and sea-ice pathways in the Arctic Ocean
(e.g. Lapina, 1965; Lisitzin, 1996; Silverberg, 1972; Naugler, 1967; Luepke and Escowitz,
1989).
In: Kassens, H., H.A. Bauch, I. Dmitrenko, H. Eicken, H.-W. Hubberten, M. Melles, J. Thiede and L. Timokhov (eds.)
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 1999, 265-286.
Laptev Sea and the Eastern Arctic Ocean: An Approach to Identify
Sources, Transport and Pathways of Terrigenous Matter
M. Behrends!, E. Hoops2 and B. Peregovich 3
(1) Alfred- Wegener-1nstitutfiir Polar- und Meeresforschung, Postfach 120161, D 27568 Bremerhavfn,
Germany
(2) Alfred- Wegener-1nstitut jiir Po/ar- und Meere;forschung, Forschungsstelle Potsdam, Telefirafenberg A43,
D 14473 Potsdam, Germany
(3) GEOMAR Forschungszelltrumjiir marine Geowissellschaften, Wischhofstrasse /-3, D 24148 Kid,
Germanv
Received II March 1997 and accepted in revised fonn 21 January 1998
Abstract - Heavy minerals of sediments from the rivers draining into the Laptev Sea, the
Laptev Sea shelf, the central Arctic Ocean and additional potential source areas were
investigated to identify transport pathways of terrigenous matter. The western part of the
Laptev Sea is dominated by clinopyroxene, delivered by the river Khatanga, which derived
from the sheet basalt complexes of the Taimyr Peninsula, and from Severnaya Zemlya. The
eastern part of the Laptev Sea is characterized by very high amounts of amphibole. supplied
by the rivers Lena and Yana from the Siberian hinterland and/or the erosion products from
Kotelny Island. Orthopyroxene, present on the whole Laptev Sea shelf but not found
elsewhere in comparable amounts in the study area, seems to be characteristic for this
region. This heavy mineral composition is indicative for a Laptev Sea source and can be
found in the sediments of the central Arctic Ocean. Sediment input from the western Arctic
via the Beaufort Gyre is indicated by the occurrence of detrital carbonate and significant
amounts of opaque minerals.
The clay assemblages of sea-ice sediments and clay mineral assemblages of underlying
surface sediments of the central Arctic Ocean reveal different patterns due to winnowing
processes of clay particles after release. Heavy minerals may fill the gap as indicator for
sediment supply by sea ice in surface sediments from the sources up to the Fram Strait.
Introduction
Large amounts of sea ice are formed in the broad and shallow Eurasian shelf regions, of which
the Laptev Sea is believed to be the most important source of sea ice traversing the central Arctic
Ocean with the Transpolar Drift into the Fram Strait area (Dethleff et a!., 1993; Wollenburg,
1993; Kassens & Karpij, 1994; Nlirnberg et a!., 1994; Eicken et a!., 1995; Reimnitz et a!.,
1995). Estimates of ice export from the Laptev Sea range from 400 km3yr- 1 (Eicken et a!.,
1996) to 540 km 3 yr- 1 (Timokhov, 1994). In comparison the estimated ice export from the
Barents Sea is 40 km 3 yr- l , Kara Sea 240 km 3 yr- l , East Siberian Sea 150 km3yr- 1 and the
Chukchi Sea 10 km 3 yr- 1 (Timokhov, 1994).
Investigations of particulate matter in sea ice from the Transpolar Drift suggest its source
originating from the Laptev Sea (Pfirman et a!., 1990, 1997; Abelmann, 1992; Wollenburg,
1993; J. Wollenburg, 1995; Niirnberg et a!., 1994). Clay mineral distribution of surface
sediments in the central Arctic show different pattern due to winnowing processes (Stein et aI.,
1994b) and transport in the water column after release of particles. Heavy minerals reach the
open ocean after entrainment into sea ice. Because of their high density they settle down where
they are released from sea ice and are less affected by currents. Thus, heavy minerals have
proven to be a useful tool to identify source areas and sea-ice pathways in the Arctic Ocean
(e.g. Lapina, 1965; Lisitzin, 1996; Silverberg, 1972; Naugler, 1967; Luepke and Escowitz,
1989).
In: Kassens, H., H.A. Bauch, I. Dmitrenko, H. Eicken, H.-W. Hubberten, M. Melles, J. Thiede and L. Timokhov (eds.)
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 1999, 265-286.