Advances in Earth Science ›› 2003, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (3): 420-426. doi: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2003.03.0420

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THE DETERMINATION OF BIOGENIC SILICA AND ITS BIOGEOCHEMISTRY SIGNIFICANCE

Ye Xiwen 1,Liu Sumei 1,Zhang Jing 1,2   

  1. 1.College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Ocean University of Qingdao,Qingdao 266003,China;2.State Key Laboratory of Estuary and Coast, Eastchina Normal of University, Shanghai 200062,China
  • Received:2002-07-02 Revised:2002-10-24 Online:2003-06-01 Published:2003-06-01

Ye Xiwen,Liu Sumei,Zhang Jing. THE DETERMINATION OF BIOGENIC SILICA AND ITS BIOGEOCHEMISTRY SIGNIFICANCE[J]. Advances in Earth Science, 2003, 18(3): 420-426.

Biogenic silica(BSi) is a chemical determination of the amount of amorphous. BSi is also known as biogenic opal or simple opal by geologists. Recent compilation of percent biogenic silica in surface sediments have revealed a close link to biosiliceous productivity patterns in the overlying surface waters. Amorphous silica can be comprised of different components mainly of biological origin such as diatoms phytoliths, radiolarians, silicoflagellates and sponge spicules. The opal content of marine sediments carries a valuable paleoceanographic record of changes in the strengths and locations of surface ocean productivity. Measuring the silicon isotopic composition of diatoms can provide a record of environmental change. The BSi sedimentary record also has been used to study climate change. The sedimentary BSi record is a sensitive indicator of anthropogenic nutrient enrichment because it integrates seasonal uptake of dissolved silicate utilized in diatom production. In this paper,the  author discussed some questions in the measurement of BSi in marine sediments and particulates. The importance of determination of biogenic silica in biogeochemical research is also analyzed.

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