Distribution and fractionation of rare earth elements in sediments and mangrove soil profiles across an estuarine gradient.

Many hypotheses have been raised about the controls of the distribution and fractionation of the rare earth elements (REE) in coastal ecosystems. Here, REE were measured in estuarine sediments and in six mangrove soil profiles along the estuarine salinity gradient of the Jaguaripe estuary, northeastern Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fractionation, distribution, remobilization, and possible sources of these elements. The ΣREE and Y in oxic estuarine sediments ranged from 202 to 220 mg kg and from 12 to 15 mg kg, respectively. The normalized abundances to the Post Archean Australian Shale (PAAS) showed that light REE (LREE; La, Ce, Pr, and Nd) were consistently enriched over heavy REE (HREE; Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu). Among the REE, only LREE showed significant correlation with Al (r = 0.85) and Fe (r = 0.96) indicating that Al and Fe oxy-hydroxides are the main host phases of the LREE in estuarine sediments. The average ΣREE for mangrove soils throughout the salinity gradient ranged from 161 ± 18 mg kg (lower estuary) to 183 ± 16 mg kg (upper estuary). Al-normalized Mn and Fe concentrations showed small peaks down-core, indicating diagenetic remobilization. Vertical REE profiles have shown that post-deposition processes might contribute to the patterns in the abundances of the ΣREE and their fractionation at the surface and subsurface mangrove soils. Below the top 15 cm, diagenetic alteration after burial is not leading to substantial variation in the LREE/HREE profiles. The coincidence of peaks in individual REE/Al down core along with Fe and Mn peaks reflects the participation of the REE in early diagenesis. The REE abundances observed here corroborate to the characterization of the Jaguaripe estuary as a pristine system and can be used as a background for the region.