title: Elemental composition and mineralogical characteristics of coastal marine sediments of Tutuila, American Samoa.
abstract: Surface sediment samples were collected from 5 pristine coastal areas and 1 potentially contaminated coastal site on Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa, an isolated island group in the South Pacific Ocean. Samples were analysed for total element analysis (15 elements) and mineralogy. The results indicated no evidence of trace element contamination at any site, including Pago Pago Harbour. Inter-site variations could be explained assuming the sediments consisted predominantly of coralline sand and rubble with varying quantities of basaltic materials derived from local catchments.
authors.affiliation: GeoQuEST Research Centre, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. johnm@uow.edu.au <johnm@uow.edu.au>
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Peshut
authors.forename: Brenda K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Lasorsa
mesh_terms: D018948:American Samoa; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D008903:Minerals