Early diagenetic alterations of biogenic and reactive silica in the surface sediment of the Yangtze Estuary

Sedimentary biogenic silica (BSi) is an important parameter for understanding biogeochemical processes in estuarine ecosystems. In this study, a two-step mild acid–mild alkaline extraction procedure was used to leach BSi and its early diagenetic products from the sediments of the Yangtze Estuary. A Si/Al correction of the mild alkaline leachable silica (Si-Alk) was applied to estimate the contents of BSi in the sediments. The BSi contents varied from 18.90 to 120.10 μmol Si/g in the sediments, whereas mild acid leachable silica (Si-HCl) and Si-Alk levels ranged from 17.43 to 73.56 and from 19.56 to 185.63 μmol Si/g, respectively. Furthermore, the degrees of diagenetic alteration of biogenic and reactive silica were also calculated and discussed. The diagenetic alteration ratios of biogenic and reactive silica increased seaward during May, August and November 2012, whereas an opposite trend was observed in March 2013. The diagenetic alteration of the biogenic and reactive silica was mainly controlled by the redox conditions in benthic sediments. Additionally, the deposition of fresh diatoms and authigenic products could temporarily affect the distribution of silica pools in the sediments and ultimately affect the diagenetic alteration ratios of biogenic and reactive silica. Detailed investigations are still necessary to understand the early diagenetic processes of biogenic and reactive silica in this warm temperate area.