Biogenic silica in surface sediments of the South China Sea
1. Introduction. Biogenic silica (BSi), which is mostly composed of diatom, radiolarian and sponge spicule remains, is a major biogenic component of marine sediments, and BSi-rich sediments occur at all depths, latitudes and climate zones of the world׳s oceans (Leinen et al., 1986, Mortlock et al., 1991, Ragueneau et al., …
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