Behrends et al.: Distribution Patterns of Heavy Minerals in Siberian Rivers
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+ Peregovich (this worl<)
• Behrends (this wOrl<)
Hoops (this worl<)
.... " I Kara Sea
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Barents Sea
Figure 6: Distribution of orthopyroxene (TPD = Transpolar Drift System; BG = Beaufort Gyre).
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are characterizec; by lower clinopyroxene values «30 %), except for the Kara Sea where
sediments show slightly higher amounts (Figure 5).
Distribution of orthopyroxene
The values of orthopyroxene are generally low in the investigation area. Local maximum values
only appear in the eastern East Siberian Sea, in contrast to the Laptev Sea where generally
higher contents ("?7.5 %) were found. From the Laptev Sea the distribution of orthopyroxene
shows decreasing trends to the east and west and northward to the central Arctic Ocean (Figure
6).
Distribution of detrital carbonate
The Beaufort and the Chukchi Sea sediments contain up to 16 % of detrital carbonate. The
rivers draining into the Laptev Sea, on the other hand, carry only very small amounts of detrital