Rare-earth elements in ocean sediments

Abstract

The content and relative abundance distributions of rare-earth elements were determined in eight samples of ocean sediments. For any particular rare earth, the variation in absolute concentration among the samples did not exceed a factor of 3. The average rare-earth relative abundance distribution for the ocean sediments was the same as that reported previously for limestones, sandstones, and shales. This distribution is distinctly different from that found in ocean water, but this does not imply a state of disequilibrium.