Abstract: We used the normative calculation and sequential extraction methods to determine the concentration of biogenic barium, and compared the results of the two methods. The concentration of biogenic barium calculated using the normative calculation method was much higher than the result from sequential extraction, which suggested that barium associated with Mn and Fe oxides contributed considerably to total barium. The concentration of biogenic barium based on sequential extraction ranged from 104 to 445 μg·g⁻¹, with an average content of 227 μg·g⁻¹. The highest levels of biogenic barium were recorded in the center the bay, where the seawater is more stable, and lower values were found near the shore and over the ice shelf. Biogenic barium concentration showed a significant linear correlation with BSi and OC, and was also closely correlated to chlorophyll a concentration. This finding indicates that primary productivity of phytoplankton in the surface water column is the main environmental factor regulating the concentration and distribution of biogenic barium in Prydz Bay.

Key words: biogenic barium, sediment, Prydz Bay, Antarctic