TY - JOUR T1 - Partitioning of organic matter in continental margin sediments among density fractions JF - Marine Chemistry Y1 - 2009 A1 - Wakeham, S. G. A1 - Canuel, E. A. A1 - Lerberg, E. J. A1 - Mason, P. A1 - Sampere, T. P. A1 - Bianchi, T. S. AB - Hydrodynamic processes sort and redistribute organic matter (OM) and minerals on continental margins. Density fractionations were conducted on sediments from diverse margins (Mexico margin, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River delta, Eel River margin) to investigate the nature, provenance and age of OM among density fractions. Mass. elemental (C and N), lignin, and surface area distributions, as well as stable carbon and radiocarbon isotopic compositions were measured, The lowest density fractions (2.5 g cm(-3)) were OC-poor (%OC -200 parts per thousand). Ratios of vanillic acid to vanillin (Ad/Al)v among lignin oxidation products increase with increasing particle density suggesting variable lignin sources or selective degradation of lignin among the different density fractions. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. VL - 115 IS - 3-4 N1 - id: 1844; 521ZI Times Cited:0 Cited References Count:99Y JO - Partitioning of organic matter in continental margin sediments among density fractions ER -