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Rare earth elements in seawater near hydrothermal vents

Nature volume 305, pages 185–188 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

Rare earth element (REE) patterns in the deep Pacific are strongly depleted in the lighter elements and have a large negative cerium anomaly. These REE patterns and associated concentration–depth profiles are maintained by regeneration in deep waters modified by preferential scavenging of the lighter elements. Scavenging by iron- and manganese-rich hydrothermal plumes might explain why vast areas of sediments far removed from spreading centres contain a metalliferous component.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. G. Klinkhammer & H. Elderfield

    Present address: Earth Sciences Department, Cambridge University, Cambridge, CB3 0EZ, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earth Sciences Department, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    G. Klinkhammer & H. Elderfield

  2. Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, 02881, USA

    A. Hudson

Authors
  1. G. Klinkhammer
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  2. H. Elderfield
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  3. A. Hudson
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Klinkhammer, G., Elderfield, H. & Hudson, A. Rare earth elements in seawater near hydrothermal vents. Nature 305, 185–188 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/305185a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/305185a0

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