摘要
In this paper, rare earth elements (REEs) of 70 surface samples were analyzed to investigate the provenance in the eastern Beibu Gulf. The samples show relative enrichments in light REEs, with flat HREE patterns and moderate Eu anomalies. REEs compositions of sediments were constrained by grain size and carbonate content. The REEs characteristics of sediments are the same as weathered upper continental crust and the sources of sediments are mainly from continental crust with felsic rocks. The studied area can be separated into four zones based on REEs characteristics and the UCC-normalized patterns of each zone are different.