Cited by 108Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsGeochemistry and Elemental AnalysisGeological formations and processes

The Missing Silica Sink: Revisiting the Marine Sedimentary Si Cycle Using Cosmogenic 32 Si

Rahman, S., Aller, R. C., Cochran, J. K.·2017·Global Biogeochemical Cycles

Abstract

Burial of biogenic silica (bSi total ) in high sedimentation rate continental margins remains highly uncertain. Cosmogenic 32 Si (t 1/2 ~140 years) can be used to trace the fates of bSi total postdeposition, including as opal (bSi opal ) and diagenetically altered opal (bSi altered ), the latter dominantly authigenic clay (bSi clay ). To determine the magnitude and form of bSi total storage in coastal sediments, conventional operational leaches targeting bSi opal and bSi altered (including bSi clay ) were modified for large‐scale samples necessary for measurement of 32 Si. The 32 Si activity was used to estimate total biogenic silica burial (bSi total = bSi opal + bSi altered ) in several depositional settings: Gulf of Papua, Gulf of Mexico, Long Island Sound, and in the previously studied Amazon‐Guianas deltaic system. In subtropical and temperate regions, 32 Si was detected in both traditional biogenic silica leaches (bSi opal ) and residual authigenic clays. Traditional bSi opal and modified operational leaches designed to target the most reactive authigenic silicates (~bSi altered ) consistently underestimate authigenic clay formation (bSi clay ) and thus the magnitude of bSi total burial in temperate coastal zones and subtropical deltas by 2–4‐fold. In tropical deltas, 32 Si activities in the residual fraction after removal of bSi opal demonstrate rapid and almost complete alteration of initial bSi opal to new forms, most likely bSi clay . Globally, 4.5–4.9 Tmol/yr Si may be trapped in marine nearshore deposits as rapidly formed clay (bSi clay ), 100% of the “missing silica sink” in the marine silica budget.

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Crossref · 10.1002/2017gb005746

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  • Estimates of today's reverse weathering flux vary an order of magnitude.

    “Estimates of today’s RW flux (mol Si/year) vary an order of magnitude (177, 178), the rate coefficient for RW reactions varies by many orders of magnitude (179, 180), and the solubility of authigenic phyllosilicates (needed to calculate RW) varies by over an order of magnitude.”

    From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [178]

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Authors
Rahman, S., Aller, R. C., & Cochran, J. K.
Affiliations
  • University of Florida (US)
  • Stony Brook University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Rahman, S.
  • Aller, R. C.
Venue
Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Published
2017-10
Volume
31
Issue
10
Pages
1559-1578
ISSN
  • 0886-6236 (ISSN-L)
  • 1944-9224
OpenAlex
W2754926109
Cited by
108
References
170
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 1
FWCI
6.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Global Biogeochemical Cycles (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation (1060915)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Earth-Surface Processes › Geological formations and processes
Keywords
biogenic silica, authigenic clay minerals, continental margin, tropical deltas, coastal sediments

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