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Clemente, I.M.M.M.; da Silva, F.S.; Laut, L.L.M.; Frontalini, F.; da Costa, V.L.; da Conceiçã o Rodrigues, M.A.; Pereira, E.; Bergamaschi, S.; Filho, J.G.M., and Martins, M.

. High-resolution acoustic mapping of gas charged sediments and living benthic foraminifera assemblages from the NE region of the Guanabara Bay (RJ, Brazil). Journal of Sedimentary Environments, 1 (3): 360-384. AbstractThis work was performed in the NE region of the Guanabara Bay, a highly impacted Brazilian coastal system, located in Rio de Janeiro State. It aimed to: i) identify and map the areas with occurrence of gas in the sediment, as well as its acoustic signature; ii) characterize the physical properties of the sediments and; iii) document the response of microbenthic organisms (living benthic foraminifera) to changes in quantity and quality of organic matter. Seismic surveys at the frequency of 12 kHz identified a large area with about 50% gas charged sediments in the study area.The main acoustic signatures of the shallow gas were black shadow and gas blanket. In addition, features related to gas seepages to the water column (acoustic plumes and pockmarks) and gas percolation within the sediments (intrasedimentary plumes, turbidity pinnacles) were also identified. The gas has a biogenic origin and results from the high acumulation rate between 0.03 to 0.9 cm.year -1 and from the decomposition of large amount of organic matter (10-20%). Vertical distribution of gas ranges from few centimeters to 9 m below the water-sediments interface. These occurrences are related to both gas migration from lower sedimentary layers to Holocene muds above, and to recent generation in near-surface sediments as the area display favorable conditions for gas production. Cores ranging from 150-240 cm in length have predominantly muddy sediments and variations in the P-wave velocity followed the changes in sediment density, controlled mainly by the presence of gas in sediments, bioclasts accumulation, textural variation and percentage of organic matter. Journal of Sedimentary Environments

Multiproxies (benthic foraminifera, ostracods and biopolymers) approach applied to identify the environmental partitioning of the Guadiana River Estuary (Iberian Peninsula).

This study intends to evaluate baseline concentrations of chemical elements for unpolluted sediments of Sepetiba Bay (SE Brazil). It analyzes the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) and other chemical elements (by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometry) from the upper part of the SP2 drillcore (or 2-SPT-1-RJ; with 50.30 m length), collected on the margins of Sepetiba Bay (at latitude 22° 55'S and longitude 43° 46'W). This core was described and sampled. Textural, mineralogical and geochemical analyses were performed in 17 sediment levels. The sediment layers of interest were selected, considering the period in which they were deposited, before high anthropic influence in the area, and on sediment grain-size. Only the muddy levels were selected, since fine sediments generally tend to have higher elemental concentrations. Foraminiferal occurrence was also analyzed in the selected layers. The results indicate that the studied sediments were deposited in a transitional marine context, after being exposed to multiple sedimentary cycles and weathering. The baseline concentrations, related to natural sediment sources were estimated for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) and P and for other chemical elements. These results are useful in environmental impact assessment not only in the study area, but also for other coastal regions of Rio de Janeiro State. TÍTULO: CONCENTRAÇÕES DE FUNDO DE ELEMENTOS QUÍMICOS NA BAÍA DE SEPETIBA (SE BRASIL) RESUMO:Este estudo pretende avaliar as concentrações de fundo de elementos químicos, em sedimentos não poluídos, na Baía de Sepetiba (Se Brasil). Analisa as concentrações de elementos potencialmente tóxicos (PTE) e outros elementos químicos (por Espectrometria de Massa Plasma Acoplada Indutivamente e Espectrometria de Emissão Plasma Acoplada Indutivamente) da parte superior do testemunho SP2 (ou 2-SPT-1 RJ; com 50,30 m de comprimento), coletado nas margens da Baía de Sepetiba (à latitude 22° 55'S e longitude 43° 46'W). Este testemunho foi descrito e amostrado a cada 5 cm. Análises estruturais, mineralógicas e geoquímicas foram realizadas em 17 níveis de sedimentos. Os níveis de interesse foram selecionados, considerando o período em que foram depositados, antes da alta influência antrópica na área, e no tamanho do grão do sedimento. Apenas os níveis de lama foram selecionados, uma vez que os sedimentos finos tendem geralmente a ter maiores concentrações de elementos quimicos. A ocorrência de foraminíferos foi também analisada nas camadas selecionadas. Os resultados indicam que os sedimentos estudados foram depositados num contexto marinho de transição, após serem expostos a múltiplos ciclos sedimentares e a intemperismo. As concentrações de fundo, relacionadas a fontes naturais de sedimento foram estimadas para As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) e P e para outros elementos químicos. Esses resultados são úteis para a avaliação de impacto ambiental, não apenas na área de estudo, mas também em outras regiões costeiras do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Multi-indicadores. Sedimentos. Registros Holocénicos. Litoral. Atlântico Sul.

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This work is based on the study of the core T1 collected in the Guaratiba Mangrove, located on the northeastern margin of Sepetiba Bay. Few studies dealing with the application of benthic foraminifera to study sea level changes during the Holocene have been conducted in Sepetiba Bay, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In order to fill this gap, the core T1 was studied using textural, geochemical (carbonate, total organic carbon, total sulfur and stable isotopes evaluated in Ammonia tepida) and microfaunal (benthic foraminifera) data, unveiling paleoecological relationships of these organisms and the evolutionary scenario of Guaratiba Mangrove. Radiocarbon results indicate an estimated age of about 2400 yrs cal BP for the core base. Textural, geochemical and benthic foraminifera data suggest that the study area changed significantly during the last 2400 yrs cal BP. It experienced coastal waves action and shoreface processes in the period between ≈2.400-1.400 yrs cal BP; then, this phase gave place to a shallow marine environment similar to that found currently in internal and protected areas of Sepetiba Bay, between ≈1.400-350 yrs cal BP. Thenceforth, the study area evolved to the present mangrove environment. Factors related to climatic oscillations and the formation, evolution and events of rupture of Marambaia sand ridge influenced the late Holocene evolution of the northeast intertidal area of Sepetiba Bay.

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