Major Elements Composition and Provenance Analysis in the Sediments of the South Yellow Sea

Based on the major elements abundances of sediment samples from 295 stations in the South Yellow Sea, we have conducted the R-mode cluster analysis and R-mode factor analysis of major elements in the sediments and their relationship with the sources. Al2O3, MgO, K2O and Fe2O3 have similar distributions, whereas SiO2 is negatively correlated with these oxides. The distributions of CaO and CaCO3 in the central and western areas of the South Yellow Sea indicate a clear link with source materials related to the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. The distribution of Na2O may be related to the supply of material from the Yellow River, whereas the distribution of TiO2 reflects transport in the direction of material from Yangtze River. Materials from both recent and ancient Yellow River were deposited mainly in the western, central and southeast parts of the South Yellow Sea. Sediments in eastern part of the sea show an influence of the source materials from the Korean peninsula. Material from the Yangtze River is mostly limited to regional deposits in the southwestern and southern parts of the South Yellow Sea, though the distributions of TiO2 and Ti/Al ratio may suggest an influence of material from the Yangtze River in the central area of the South Yellow Sea.