Yttrium in the Vigo Ria (NW Iberian Peninsula): Sources, distribution, and background levels

Certain heavy minerals enriched in yttrium, such as monazite and xenotime, have previously been indexed in the Vigo area. The levels and spatial distribution of this element were studied in 50 surface sediment samples from the Vigo Ria. The highest levels were found along the southern margin in the...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: C Vale, R Prego, H de Pablo, M Caetano, AJ Marmolejo-Rodríguez
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2008
País:México
Institución:Instituto Politécnico Nacional
Repositorio:Redalyc-IPN
OAI Identifier:oai:redalyc.org:48034313
Acceso en línea:https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=48034313
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ciencias de la Tierra
Spain
Yttrium
Vigo Ria
background levels
Descripción
Sumario:Certain heavy minerals enriched in yttrium, such as monazite and xenotime, have previously been indexed in the Vigo area. The levels and spatial distribution of this element were studied in 50 surface sediment samples from the Vigo Ria. The highest levels were found along the southern margin in the middle of the ria, coinciding with the geological source of the GaliñeiroComplex. From this zone, a dilution of yttrium in the sediments was observed seaward due to the presence of calcium carbonate (outer ria) and upstream due to the input of migmatites, anatexites, and two-mica granites (inner ria). The estimated backgroundconcentration in the Vigo Ria was 14.6 ± 2.6 mg kgֿ¹ (Sc normalized), which is close to the average concentration found in surface sediments (13.4 ± 5.4 mg kgֿ¹). This suggests that yttrium in the Vigo Ria sediments is mainly of lithogenic origin.