Diagenesis of dissolved aluminum in organic-rich estuarine sediments

The sedimentary geochemistry of dissolved Al is complicated by a number of different reactions. In this study we show that complexation by organic matter, adsorption to Fe-oxyhydroxides, and reaction with Si in solution have important effects on the distribution of dissolved Al in sediments. In the absence of physical resuspension of sediment into overlying waters, dissolved Al is rapidly consumed at the sediment-water interface and is subsequently released upon reduction of Fe-oxyhydroxides. This release does not cause noticeable perturbations in dissolved Al concentrations in sediments because of rapid consumption reactions which mask the true mobility of Al. Results suggest that one of the consumption reactions may be due to formation of an Fe-Al-silicate. The amount of authigenic aluminosilicate formed in estuarine sediments must be very small relative to the detrital component. In the deep-sea, however, the long residence time of Fe-oxyhydroxides at the sediment-water interface, with resulting greater accumulation of adsorbed Al may explain the abundance of Al in Fe-smectites reported from many different areas.