Geochemical Analysis of Quaternary Sediments in Nantong, China

Geochemical theories and methods have great importance for mineral prospecting, evaluation and development, and in agricultural development and environmental science. In this paper, a geochemical method is used to analyze the chemical elements of sediments in a coastal area of Jiangsu Province. At the same time, a better understanding of the Quaternary paleoclimate changes and evolution of the characteristics of the sedimentary environment in this area is obtained. The lithology of the Quaternary system in the surveyed area in Nantong can be categorized into nine different layers in accordance with the variations in the amount of constant and trace elements with depth. The results show that the Quaternary strata in the surveyed area have been in a cold climate for a long time, especially at a depth of 47–65 m. The greatest climate fluctuations is found at a depth of 163–307 m, which indicates that the climate in this period of time alternated between cold and warm. There is a strong correlation between the amount of elements such as Si and Ti, Al and Fe, Ti and P as well as Fe.