Benthic Dissolved Silicon and Iron Cycling at Glaciated Patagonian Fjord Heads

Glacier meltwater supplies silicon (Si) and iron (Fe) sourced from weathered bedrock to downstream ecosystems. However, the extent to which these nutrients reach the ocean is regulated by the nature of the benthic cycling of dissolved Si and Fe within fjord systems, given the rapid deposition of reactive particulate fractions at fjord heads. Here, we examine the benthic cycling of the two nutrients at four Patagonian fjord heads through geochemical analyses of sediment pore waters, including Si and Fe isotopes (δ30Si and δ56Fe), and reaction‐transport modeling for Si. A high diffusive flux of dissolved Fe from the fjord sediments (up to 0.02 mmol m−2 day−1) compared to open ocean sediments (typically 0.1 mmol m−2 day−1). High pore water δ30Si (up to +3.3‰) observed near the Fe(II)‐Fe(III) redox boundary is likely associated with the removal of dissolved Si by Fe(III) mineral phases, which, together with high sedimentation rates, contribute to the low diffusive flux of Si at the sampled sites. Our results suggest that early diagenesis promotes the release of dissolved Fe, yet suppresses the release of dissolved Si at glaciated fjord heads, which has significant implications for understanding the downstream transport of these nutrients along fjord systems. Plain Language Summary Through physical grinding and chemical reactions, glaciers are capable of releasing nutrients such as silicon and iron from the underlying rocks. In particular, there is a growing interest in the supply of these glacier‐sourced nutrients to sustain the growth of marine life in high‐latitude estuaries (fjords) and the adjacent coastal ocean. However, a substantial portion of the glacier‐sourced nutrients may be removed by rapid settling of debris (sediments) at the heads of these fjords, before they can be used by marine life. This study analyzes the chemistry of fluids within sediments collected from Patagonian fjord near river and glacial inputs to investigate the fate of glacier‐sourced nutrients (silicon and iron) that have been transferred to the fjord floor. Our laboratory analysis and calculations reveal that biological, chemical and geological proces