The distribution and form of phosphorus in North Atlantic Ocean deep‐sea and continental slope sediment 1

The distribution of various forms of phosphorus and their association with other sediment components were determined in cores collected from the continental shelf off the Eastern United States and the central North Atlantic Ocean. The results indicate that apatite P is the most important phosphatic component and that its abundance closely follows calcium carbonate in deep‐sea sediments. Nonapatite inorganic P is closely correlated with acid‐leachable Fe and Mn. Organic P was most significant in reducing continental slope sediments, which also contained the highest amounts of organic C. Concentrations of dissolved reactive phosphate are similar to those found in shallow water sediments of the same general type.