Multi-parameter sediment geochemistry, grain size, and biogeochemical data from the Central-Southern Adriatic Sea (<i>PERTRE Cruise, 2016</i>)

<b>Study Scope</b>This dataset originates from the <b>PERTRE research cruise</b> (16 September–4 October 2016), which investigated sediment properties across the Central and Southern Adriatic Sea. The study aimed to characterize spatial variations in sediment geochemistry, grain size, organic/inorganic carbon fractions, heavy metal content (e.g., mercury), and biogeochemical parameters to assess environmental conditions and sediment transport dynamics in a key Mediterranean basin.<br><b>Materials and Methods</b>Sampling: 107 surface sediment samples (0–5 cm depth) were collected using a box corer (10 × 17 × 25 cm) along transects perpendicular to the Italian coast (starting from Ancona to Santa Maria di Leuca). <b>Geochemical Analyses: </b>Mercury (Hg): Quantified via thermal decomposition amalgamation atomic absorption spectrometry (Milestone DMA-1), validated against certified reference material PACS-2 (accuracy: 98.3%).Carbon Fractions: Total carbon (TC), inorganic carbon (TIC), and organic carbon (TOC) measured using a Shimadzu TOC-VCPH analyzer with SSM-5000A module. TOC derived from TC–TIC difference. Major/Trace Elements: SiO₂, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na₂O, K₂O, P₂O₅, LOI (loss on ignition), and 31 trace elements (e.g., As, Ba, Ce, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, Zr) analyzed. <b>Physical Properties: </b>Grain Size: Wet sieving (sand/gravel fraction &gt;62.5 µm) and X-ray Sedigraph (pelitic fraction &lt;62.5 µm; Micromeritics 5100).Biogeochemical Parameters: pH, redox potential (Eh), water content (%), organic matter (OM; via weight loss on ignition at 500°C). Dataset Descriptions<b>Full Dataset</b><b>Format</b>: CSV, GeoPackage, Shapefile<b>Samples</b>: 107 stations<b>Parameters (52 columns)</b>:Location: Sample ID, longitude (WGS84), latitude (WGS84), depth (m). Grain Size: %Gravel, %Sand, %Silt, %Clay, 12 phi classes (φ_&lt;-1 to φ_&gt;10). Biogeochemistry: pH, Eh (mV), %Water, % OM, TOC (%), TIC (%), TC (%), N (%), % SO. Elemental Composition:<i>Major Oxides</i>: SiO₂, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na₂O, K₂O, P₂O₅ (%).<i>Trace Elements</i> (mg/kg): As, Ba, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, Hf, Hg, La, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Sn, Sr, Th, U, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr.<b>Reduced Dataset</b><b>Format</b>: CSV, GeoPackage, Shapefile<b>Samples</b>: 107 stations<b>Parameters (34 columns)</b>:<b>Location</b>: Sample ID, longitude (WGS84), latitude (WGS84).<b>Geochemistry</b>:<i>Major Oxides</i>: SiO₂, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na₂O, K₂O, P₂O₅ (%), LOI (%).<i>Trace Elements</i> (mg/kg): As, Ba, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, La, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sc, Sn, Sr, Th, V, Y, Zn, Zr.Key Features for Repository<b>Spatial Coverage</b>: Central/Southern Adriatic Sea (Italian EEZ).<b>Temporal Coverage</b>: September–October 2016.<b>Unique Attributes</b>: First high-resolution Hg/TOC correlation data in Adriatic sediments, integrated grain size–geochemistry profiles.<b>Reuse Potential</b>: Baseline for climate change studies, pollutant monitoring, sediment transport modeling, and ecological risk assessments.<b>FAIR Compliance</b>: Georeferenced data (WGS84), parameter-specific methodologies, QC documentation.<br>