The Effects of Sorption to Mineral Surfaces on the Reactivity of Organic Matter in Marine Sediments

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NOWELL 9402081 The relationships between mineral charge and texture, sorption of organic matter to mineral surfaces, and the preservation of organic matter in marine sediments will be evaluated in the course of this research. Strong correlations between organic carbon preservation and mineral fluxes & surface areas indicate that processes involving minerals influence the amounts and types of organic matter preserved. Over 90% of the organic matter present in typical marine sediments is sorbed to mineral surfaces and possibly impart stability to inherently labile organic matter, dramatically slowing or stopping the rate at which it is remineralized. Mineral characteristics (mineralogy, cation exchange capacity, surface area and microtopography) will be compared with organic measurements and lability tests to estimate the extent that changes in mineral type and texture affect the sorption and stability of organic matter in marine sediments. The analytical approach proposed here should allow a first-order estimate of the importance sediment mineralogy and texture have on organic matter preservation.