Distribution of the rare earth elements in sediments of the Northwestern Iberian Continental Shelf

The temporal and spatial distribution of the REEs was determined, by INAA, in sediment cores collected at Northern Iberian shelf along the area between the Finisterra Cape and the mouth of Minho river, to contribute to the understanding of the origin and sedimentation processes of sediments deposited at the Continental Shelf. The distribution pattern of the REEs were flat and similar to the shales. A negative Eu anomaly was found for all the sections of the analyzed cores. Significant positive correlations between the REE and Zr and Hf contents suggest that zircon is responsible for hosting both light and heavy REEs.