MATERIAL AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SUSPENDED MATTER in the RUSSIAN SECTOR OF THE BLACK SEA SHELF

Abstract

Using sediment traps (ST) in marine research expeditions from 1986 to 2010, 188 samples of suspended matter were analyzed. All the samples were received from the shallow-water area (2 to 50 meters depth) of the Black sea shelf. Sedimentary matter from the catch basins was singled out by means of direct, high vacuum, membranous ultrafiltration with nuclear filters having 0,45 μm diameter pinholes produced by the United Institute of Nuclear Investigations in Dubna (UINI). The suspended matter received was dried till weight stabilizing, scaled and underwent analytical research. The material composition of the sedimentary matter is represented by the clayed-carbonated-micaceous matter. Biogenous minerals are represented by three carbon types: tiff, aragonite and siderite. The amount of the chiselly biogenous minerals has a subordinate meaning and serves as adulteration in suspended matter. The amount of ore minerals in the suspended matter compositionreaches 2–3 % (ferric oxide – 1 %, ferric hydroxide – up to 2 %, etc.). Geochemical composition of the suspended matter is tightly related to the bioproduction and biofiltration, impact of river flow, shallow-water sediment detachment and inflow of aerosolized matter. The industrial factor plays an important part in formation of modern chemical suspended matter composition.