HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Grass, L. B. Articles by Muckel, D. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Grass, L. B. Articles by Muckel, D. C. GeoRef GeoRef Citation Agricola Articles by Grass, L. B. Articles by Muckel, D. C.

Some Chemical Characteristics of Submerged and Reclaimed Sediments of the San Francisco Bay System^{1, 2,}

ABSTRACT

Samples of water, and of sediments deposited under the influence of sea water, were taken from the San Francisco Bay system. Samples of both reclaimed and unreclaimed sediments were taken from areas immediately adjacent to the bay for comparative purposes. Total sulfur and organic matter were determined and the saturation extracts analyzed for Ca, Mg, Na, and K.

These analyses show that the submerged sediments were in equilibrium with the water from which they were collected. The relative concentrations of cations in the water were: Ca, 3.8%; Mg, 20%; Na, 75%; and K, 1.2%. The total cation concentration was 470 me. per liter. Increased accumulation of sulfur during the emergence of the sediments from the water and the oxidation of reduced sulfur to H₂SO₄ accounts for the reduction in pH in reclaimed sediments. A curve was developed for use in predicting ultimate pH from sulfur analyses of the sediments.

¹ Contribution from the Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, ARS, USDA.

² Presented before the Western Society of Soil Science, San Diego, Calif., June 15, 1959.

³ Soil Chemist and Soil Scientist, Pomona, Calif., and Research Investigations Leader, Reno, Nevada, Southwest Branch, Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, ARS, USDA.

Received for publication December 27, 1961. Accepted for publication February 28, 1962.