Abstract: A number of major and trace elements including C, N, Ca, and Al were measured in 20 surface sediment samples collected from Prydz Bay, Antarctica, during the CHINARE 18–27 cruises. The distributions of these elements and their characteristics of association were used to explore the sedimentary environment and material sources within the study area. The results showed that the values of most of the elements in the surface sediments changed over a wide range. Furthermore, the elemental distribution, correlation, and clustering features presented two patterns. One represented by OC, TN, and S that indicated a source of marine organisms, and the other represented by K, Ti, and Rb that indicated a source of terrigenous clastics. The results also suggested that sedimentation at the center of Prydz Bay and the southeastern area was controlled by biological production, whereas sedimentation near the Fram Bank and continental shelf in front of the Amery Shelf, contained a large number of ice-rafted clasts.

Key words: Prydz Bay, sediment, multi-element analysis, source analysis