Geochemistry of heavy metals and sedimentation rate in a bay adjacent to the Caspian Sea

In the present investigation down core variations of heavy metals such as; Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe and Al in a sediment core from Bay of Gorgan adjacent to the Caspian Sea was studied. Inter-relationship amongst various parameters was brought out through correlation coefficients and cluster analysis. The results of present study reveals that Zn, Ni, Co and Mn possess both lithogenous and non-lithogenous sources. The increasing trend of Al towards top of sediment core is indicative higher erosion in the recent years. Interestingly, concentration of all studied metals increases toward core top (except for Fe) that might be indicative of influence of man’s activities residing in catchment area of Gorgan Bay and also oil exploration in the Caspian Sea. Further, ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs techniques were used to find out rate of sedimentation. The result of dating is indicative of sedimentation rate between 1.4 to 2.45 mm/yr. based on ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs activities respectively.