Geochemistry of sediment cores from Deception and Penguin Islands (South Shetland Archipelago, Antarctica)

Sediment cores were taken using a mini-box corer (25 × 25 × 55 cm) during the 2007-2008 austral summer under the framework of the Antarctic Brazilian Program (PROANTAR). Four cores were sampled in two different areas: a) Deception Island, in the proximity of the Neptune submarine volcano (core DCP01) and Fumarole Bay (core DCP02), and b) Penguin Island, 500 m offshore from penguin colonies (core PGI01) and in the outer King George Bay, 500 m offshore of the southern giant petrel colonies (core PGI02). Major elements (Si, Al, Fe, Mg and Ca) and trace metals (Mn, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb) show differences in bulk chemical composition between the two areas. Trace metals (Cr, Cu and Ni) are found at lower levels in sediments from Deception Island (11 - 19 mg kg-1, 22 - 42 mg kg-1 and 0.9 - 3.3 mg kg-1) compared to Penguin Island (49 - 82 mg kg-1, 30 - 60 mg kg-1 and 20 - 35 mg kg-1), whereas Zn levels are comparable (42 - 65 mg kg-1 and 43 - 70 mg kg-1, respectively).