Clay minerals of the recent fine-grained sediments on the Korean continental shelves

A total of 82 surface sediment samples of less than 2μm in grain size from the continental shelves of the Yellow Sea and the Korea South Sea were analysed by X-ray diffraction to understand four major clay mineral compositions, relative abundance and distribution in six mud-enriched regions. Regional relative abundances and distribution of illite, kaolinite, chlorite and smectite seem to be controlled by the supply of terrigenous sediments derived from distinctive sources and by the dispersal to the depositional sites. Considering clay minerals of river-borne sediments delivered from China and Korea, the fine-grained sediments associated with the clay minerals in the central Yellow Sea are likely to have the Chinese provenance that is under the influence of the old and modern Huangho River system. On the other hand, it is likely that the fine-grained sediments on the Korean continental shelves surrounding the Korean Peninsula are mainly related to the supply from five major rivers in Korea such as the Han, Keum, Yeongsan, Scomjin and Nakdong rivers.