中国东部海域表层沉积物粒度组成及影响因素

基于海洋区域地质调查获取的1 438个粒度数据,利用Folk分类方法将中国东部海域表层沉积物划分为砂质粉砂、粉砂质砂、粉砂、砂、砂质泥、泥质砂、泥7种沉积物类型,阐述了不同沉积物类型的粒度组成和参数特征.其中,砂质粉砂、粉砂质砂和粉砂是3种最主要的沉积物类型,分别占样品总数的34.70%、24.20%和15.51%.粉砂质砂呈条带状分布在研究区的南部且向北延伸.粉砂主要分布在长江口-浙闽沿岸、渤海西部和南黄海中北部.砂主要分布在东海外陆架、扬子浅滩和苏北浅滩、朝鲜湾等海区,其中在东海外陆架海区分布最广.影响沉积物分布的主要因素有物源、水动力环境以及水深、地形、地貌等.晚第四纪冰期旋回中海平面变化和海洋环流控制陆源沉积物的入海通量和陆架沉积体系的发育过程.综合沉积物物源供给、海洋环流、冰后期海平面变化过程,基于Folk分类的动力学属性和表层沉积物类型分布,将中国东部海域表层沉积物分布划分为河口沉积、陆架泥质沉积、潮流沉积以及残留沉积等分区.不同沉积分区的形成机制和影响因素差异显著,反映出在中国东部陆架的特殊地形影响下,不同海平面时期陆源碎屑物质的运移过程.      

南黄海西部日照至连云港海域表层沉积物粒度特征及其指示意义

基于南黄海西部日照至连云港海域200件表层沉积物样品的粒度分析结果,划分了沉积分区,探讨各分区的沉积物来源、长期运移趋势、沉积分区的成因和可能的搬运机制。结果表明,日照至连云港海域可划分为4个沉积分区,分别为中部海侵沉积区、西北部的日照近海现代沉积区以及南部的苏北废黄河水下三角洲和连云港沿海侵蚀再沉积区,特点为：1）海侵沉积区表层沉积物几乎全部为粉砂质砂,砂含量平均可达64%（剔除砾组分）。钙质结核砾石分布广泛,尤其富集在20m以深海域。该层砂质碎屑是全新世早期海侵作用的产物,应归为海侵沉积,其物源来自于原地出露的晚更新世古湖沼相或古河流相沉积物,因而具有继承性特征。2）日照近海沉积区为全新世现代沉积,沿日照海岸呈狭长带状分布,主要是砂质粉砂和粉砂。3）苏北废黄河水下三角洲的北界位于连云港埒子口外,水下三角洲前缘陡坡在120°E附近大约位于水深23m处。水下三角洲废弃后夷平作用较为显著。地势较高的水下台地剥蚀强烈,表现为硬质底的出露;而在水深相对较大或水动力较弱的局部区域,侵蚀物质再次沉积。剥蚀亚区沉积物为具有单峰态粒度曲线的粉砂质砂,而侵蚀再沉积亚区则为具有双峰态粒度曲线的砂质泥、砂质粉砂和粉砂质砂,两者差异明显,在沉积物组成和粒度参数分布图上呈现条块分割的现象,这实际上反映了夷平过程中剥蚀亚区和再沉积亚区的伴生关系。4）连云港沿海沉积区以具有双峰态粒度曲线的砂质泥和砂质粉砂为主,是淤泥质海岸侵蚀物质离岸搬运后与砂质沉积物混合改造的结果,实质上应为变余沉积。

     

Geomorphology and sedimentary/biosedimentary structures of the intertidal environment along the coast of Kuwait,north-western Arabian Gulf

The coast of Kuwait can be divided into nine intertidal geomorphological subunits, of which four are found along the northern muddy shoreline and five along the southern sandy shoreline. In the north the coast is characterized by wide intertidal mudflats, bounded landward by an extensive coastal sabkha which is partly covered by sand drifts. The upper part of the intertidal environment is covered with a mixture of aeolian sands and muddy sediments of marine origin. A number of shallow tidal channels dissect the intertidal flats and small sand bars occur near the low water line. In contrast, the southern shore is characterized by relatively steep sandy beaches fronted by narrow to moderately wide rocky intertidal platforms which are partly covered by sand, bioherms, skeletal debris and algal mats. In some areas the rocky surface is dissected by numerous small gulleys and shallow channels. Multiple sand bars lying either parallel or diagonal to the shoreline are developed near the low water line. This southern intertidal environment is bounded landward by a sandy berm and a wave-cut cliff.Ripple marks are developed almost parallel to the shoreline, showing different flow directions. Energy levels are moderate to high along the southern shore, but low along the northern shore. In the south, waves induced by winds blowing mostly from the north-east and south-east form the dominant energy source, whereas tidal and wind-driven currents are the only tangible process acting along the northern shore.     

海南昌化江入海口底表沉积物粒度特征及输运趋势

对海南岛昌化江入海口110个底表沉积物样品进行了粒度分析,并利用二维沉积物粒径趋势分析模型对沉积物粒度参数开展趋势分析.研究结果表明,按照Folk沉积物分类三角图解法,昌化江入海口外底表沉积物可划分为含砾砂、砂、砾质泥质砂、砂质砾、粉砂、泥、砂质泥、砾质砂、砂质粉砂和粉砂质砂共10种沉积物类型,其中砂和砾组分的分布范围...     

Post‐glacial biota from the inner part of southwest Joseph Bonaparte Gulf

Seventeen vibrocores from the inner part of Joseph Bonaparte Gulf off northwestern Australia penetrate a range of marine and marginal‐marine sediments deposited in the post‐glacial transgression and highstand. Ranging from gravelly sand to fine silt, these sediments contain a diverse fossil biota dominated by molluscs and bryozoans, but also including ostracods and foraminifers. Minor components include solitary corals, echinoids, soft coral and sponge spicules, wood debris and bone fragments. The biota can be divided into five major marine or marginal‐marine environments (intertidal, lagoonal, estuarine, strandline and shelf) and one terrestrial (riverine) environment. The intertidal environment contains four sub‐assemblages (mangroves, salt marsh, mud flat and sand flat) and the shelf environment six sub‐assemblages (hard substrate inner shelf, sandy substrate inner shelf, muddy substrate inner shelf, epiphytic, inshore and oceanic). The most useful organisms for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction are bryozoans for differentiating various shallow‐marine substrates, and foraminifers and ostracods for defining water depths, euryhaline, freshwater and oceanic influences. Palynomorphs were the only microfossils capable of providing control on terrestrial environments. The scarcity of marine plankton and the dominance of terrestrial palynomorphs in these marine sediments provides a salutary warning of the dangers of relying on plant microfossils alone when no independent environmental data are available to test the interpretation. The mollusc and bryozoan biota in the inner part of Joseph Bonaparte Gulf superficially resembles the bryomol assemblage of cool‐water shelves. This biotic assemblage is the result of turbidity rather than water temperature. The turbidity suppresses the photosynthetic, zooxanthellate and hermatypic organisms allowing molluscs, bryozoans and other apparently cool‐water biotic elements to dominate.     

Evidence of probable paleotsunami deposits on Kho Khao Island, Phang Nga Province, Thailand

The 2004 tsunami deposits and probable paleotsunami deposits were studied at the southern Kho Khao Island, on Andaman Sea coast of Thailand. The 2004 tsunami laid down about 8?cm of fining upward medium sand and locally about 40?cm of massive coarse sand with common mud clasts. The sediments were characterized by the presence of marine foraminiferal assemblage; however, already after 5?years many of carbonate foraminiferal tests were partly or completely dissolved. The probable paleotsunami deposits form layer about 1?m thick. It consists of massive very coarse sand with common big shells and mud clasts. Its composition suggests a marine origin and the presence of mud clasts, and similarity to the 2004 tsunami deposits suggests that the layer was left by paleotsunami, which took place probably during the late Holocene, even though two shells within the layer gave ¹⁴C ages of 40,000?years or more.     

Environmental texture and geochemistry of the sediments of a subtropical mangrove ecosystem and surrounding areas,Red Sea Coast,Egypt

The textural and geochemical aspects of the sediments of subtropical mangrove ecosystem and surrounding areas have been studied and discussed. Forty sediment samples were collected from different areas of mangrove environment and surrounding areas along the Egyptian Red Sea coast. The sediments of each study areas are characterized by the abundance of sand with minor amounts of mud and gravel. The mean size of the sediments ranged from medium grained to fine grained at the study areas. Cluster analysis showed that the distribution of gravel, sand, and mud fractions is related to bottom facies and type of sediment source. Generally, sand fraction is the main category among the three constituents. Carbonate content recorded minor values in the study areas. The CaCo₃ content of the sediments ranged from 4.7 % at Hamata area to 64.9 % at Erier area. Terrigenous and biogenic components are the factor controlling of the carbonate content of studies sediments. The organic carbon content ranged from 1.10 at Hamata area to 3.1 % at Sharm el-Qibli and Erier areas, which is controlled by particle size of the sediments. Phosphorus content in the different studied localities is related to the sources of phosphorus to the area. Our observations provide evidence that there are no significant differences in environmental texture and geochemistry of the sediments of subtropical mangrove ecosystem and surrounding areas of the Egyptian Red Sea coast.     

Sedimentology and stratigraphy of a transgressive, muddy gravel beach: Waterside Beach, Bay of Fundy, Canada

Sediments exposed at low tide on the transgressive, hypertidal (>6 m tidal range) Waterside Beach, New Brunswick, Canada permit the scrutiny of sedimentary structures and textures that develop at water depths equivalent to the upper and lower shoreface. Waterside Beach sediments are grouped into eleven sedimentologically distinct deposits that represent three depositional environments: (1) sandy foreshore and shoreface; (2) tidal‐creek braid‐plain and delta; and, (3) wave‐formed gravel and sand bars, and associated deposits. The sandy foreshore and shoreface depositional environment encompasses the backshore; moderately dipping beachface; and a shallowly seaward‐dipping terrace of sandy middle and lower intertidal, and muddy sub‐tidal sediments. Intertidal sediments reworked and deposited by tidal creeks comprise the tidal‐creek braid plain and delta. Wave‐formed sand and gravel bars and associated deposits include: sediment sourced from low‐amplitude, unstable sand bars; gravel deposited from large (up to 5·5 m high, 800 m long), landward‐migrating gravel bars; and zones of mud deposition developed on the landward side of the gravel bars. The relationship between the gravel bars and mud deposits, and between mud‐laden sea water and beach gravels provides mechanisms for the deposition of mud beds, and muddy clast‐ and matrix‐supported conglomerates in ancient conglomeratic successions. Idealized sections are presented as analogues for ancient conglomerates deposited in transgressive systems. Where tidal creeks do not influence sedimentation on the beach, the preserved sequence consists of a gravel lag overlain by increasingly finer‐grained shoreface sediments. Conversely, where tidal creeks debouch onto the beach, erosion of the underlying salt marsh results in deposition of a thicker, more complex beach succession. The thickness of this package is controlled by tidal range, sedimentation rate, and rate of transgression. The tidal‐creek influenced succession comprises repeated sequences of: a thin mud bed overlain by muddy conglomerate, sandy conglomerate, a coarse lag, and capped by trough cross‐bedded sand and gravel.     

东太平洋水合物海岭BSR以上沉积物粒度变化与气体水合物分布

文中对国际大洋钻探204航次在太平洋水合物海岭8 个站位BSR深度以上气体水合物稳定带的沉积物进行了粒度分析和对比研究。结果表明,该稳定带内沉积物总体粒径变化特征为:粉砂质量分数在60%~75%之间,为气体水合物稳定带内沉积组分的主体组分。粘土质量分数一般小于35%,砂质量分数小于5%。该结果获得的粒径变化范围,与204 航次中沉积学研究所确定的粘土质粉砂、粉砂质粘土夹含砂质粉砂、含砂质粘土岩性特征一致。各站位沉积粒径变化和代表气体水合物存在的岩心红外照相IR异常低温记录之间的初步对比说明,气体水合物主要富集在沉积组分较粗,相当于粉砂或者砂级质量分数较高的粒度层。统计学的相关性研究结果定量地揭示了各个站位沉积物粒径变粗与气体水合物的存在有不同的相关关系。归纳起来发现,不同构造部位沉积物中气体水合物赋存层段的粒径范围不同。坡后盆地由于当地总体沉积物颗粒细,气体水合物赋存在极细粉砂粒级(8~26μm)的沉积物中。水合物海岭南峰顶部附近站位气体水合物主要赋存在粗粉砂和细砂(50~148μm)之间。     

泰国湾表层沉积物陆源碎屑的粒度特征及其展现的沉积动力环境

海洋碎屑沉积物的粒度特征是海底沉积动力环境的直接体现,是用来研究海洋动力环境变化的重要手段,尤其是陆架海底表层沉积物的粒度分布,对于研究沿岸和水柱底边界层现今海洋动力环境可起到重要作用。该项研究通过调查遍布泰国湾至湄公河口海底表层沉积物陆源碎屑的粒度分布特征,以期获得影响现今特定海域沉积作用的海洋动力环境过程。粒度分析的结果显示,泰国湾表层沉积物的陆源碎屑以细砂-细粉砂为主,分选总体较差,频率分布以正偏为主。其中,细砂-极细砂组分主要分布在曼谷湾和柬埔寨沿岸。湄公河岸外沉积物为细砂,且分选比泰国湾区域的沉积物要好。这些表层沉积物的粒度特征具有良好的环境变化指示作用。湄公河岸外分选较好、近于正态分布的中砂沉积物指示了波浪作用下的沉积环境。曼谷湾和柬埔寨沿岸分选较差的中砂-细砂粗粒沉积物反映了潮汐和波浪的共同作用;泰国湾东西沿岸区域分选中等、呈正偏态的极细砂-中粉砂沉积物体现了潮汐的控制作用;而泰国湾中部分选较差的沉积物则指示了表层洋流作用。研究表明,泰国湾和湄公河岸外表层沉积物陆源碎屑的粒度分布特征可用于区分不同海洋动力因素的控制作用,揭示出泰国湾的沉积动力环境主要受潮汐、波浪和洋流的共同影响,湄公河岸外的沉积动力环境主要受波浪的影响。     

Late pleistocene and holocene loess deposits of the Southeastern Buenos Aires province,Argentina

The Late Pleistocene and Holocene loess deposits of the SE Buenos Aires province are composed of four allostratigraphic units that represent four episodes of loess deposition. The first and the second episodes occurred in Late Pleistocene times. The second episode was followed by a soil forming interval (Early Holocene to Mid-Holocene times). The third episode took place at about 5000 yr BP, after the Holocene sea-level maximum when marine regression began. The fourth episode constitutes a historical event of only local significance.Loess shows a fairly constant granulometric and mineralogical composition. The modal fraction consists of very fine sand and coarse silt (3 to 5 phi). They are classified as sandy silts or silty sands. Three grain-size subpopulations are differentiated: coarse, medium and fine. The medium-size subpopulation, which is the most important, consists of most of the very fine sand and coarse silt. It is thought to be transported by modified saltation and short-term suspension during local dust-storms.The mineralogical composition of loess consists of a volcaniclastic assemblage derived mainly from reworked pyroclastic deposits, primary tephras and volcaniclastic sediments. The source area of these materials was located in the lower Colorado river valley about 400 km SW of the studied area. There was also a direct supply by volcanic ash falls.     

The role of organominerals in the lithification of calcareous lumps within the intertidal sediments of Bubiyan Island,Kuwait, Arabian Gulf

Calcareous lumps of varying sizes and shapes are scattered on the landward part of the muddy intertidal flat along the southern coast of Bubiyan Island, northeast Kuwait. Two main lithotypes are recognized, namely, hard sandy crust fragments which are mostly formed of porous calcareous grainstone (bio-oosparite) and lithified muddy lumps that consist of calcareous wackestone (bio-micrite). They were originally eroded from the soft tidal flat sediments then lithified. Petrographic, mineralogical, and SEM/EDS examinations revealed that lithification of these calcareous lumps is attributed to cementation by biologically influenced organominerals, mainly high magnesium calcite and aragonite. The conditions responsible for the precipitation of these organominerals as well as variation in their mineralogy within each type of these calcareous lumps were discussed.     

Textural characteristics and genesis of the aeolian sediments in the Kuwaiti desert

Several types of aeolian deposits have been recognized in Kuwait: (a) smooth sand sheets that resemble desert floor sand, (b) immobile sands that include rugged vegetated sand sheets and wadi fill deposits, and (c) mobile sands that form active sand sheets and sand dunes. Simple size frequency curves illustrate the genetic relationship between the various aeolian sediment types. The four size parameters, namely, mean size, sorting, skewness and kurtosis, were calculated. Scatter plot diagrams of sorting versus mean size and sorting versus kurtosis are effective in differentiating smooth sand sheet deposits from dune sands. Active sand sheet deposits can also be recognized because they are usually located between the two end members–smooth sand sheets and dune sands. Size parameters change with location regardless of their types. Coarsening and positive skewness usually increase downwind. Mineralogical and textural characteristics of the aeolian deposits in Kuwait revealed that they are mostly derived from the lower Mesopotamian muddy flood plain deposits, the sand fraction of the Al-Dibdibba gravelly deposits and the disintegrated material from calcretic and gypcretic duricrusts. Distribution of depositional and deflational areas indicates that the northern desert of Kuwait is characterized by a positive sand budget, whereas the southern desert has a negative sand budget.     

Particle size scales and classification of sediment types based on particle size distributions: Review and recommended procedures

This paper provides a review of different particle size scales, size class terminology and particle size distribution (‘textural’) classification schemes which are widely used in sedimentology, geomorphology, soil science, aquatic ecology and civil engineering. It is concluded that a revised system of size class nomenclature, based on the Udden (1898) and Wentworth (1922) schemes, provides the most logical and consistent framework for use with sediments and a wide range of other particulate materials. A refined scheme is proposed which has five first‐order size classes (boulder, gravel, sand, silt and clay), each of which has five second‐order subdivisions with limits defined at one phi intervals. The scheme is simple and intuitively easy to understand. The paper also provides a review of previous schemes that have been proposed to describe and classify sediments on the basis of the proportions of gravel, sand and mud, or sand, silt and clay using trigons (also termed ternary diagrams). Many of these schemes do not have a logical basis and provide limited or uneven resolution. New gravel, sand and mud and sand, silt and clay classification systems are proposed that are both more logical and provide greater discriminatory power than previous schemes; they are therefore more suitable for use in environmental and forensic investigations. A new Microsoft Excel^® program, freely available to download from http://www.kpal.co.uk , allows rapid classification of sediments based on the proportions of gravel, sand and mud and sand, silt and clay proportions and graphical comparison of the data for different sample groups.     

Nature and geochemistry of surface sediments of the mangrove environment along the Egyptian Red Sea coast

Grain size and geochemical analyses have been carried out on 58 samples collected from different areas of mangrove environment of the Egyptian Red Sea coast. The texture characteristics of mangrove sediments show that the mean size decreases in sediments of coastal areas while increase in island sediments and the sediment type generally changes from sand to slightly gravelly muddy sand. The sediments are composed mainly of poorly sorted, negatively nearly symmetrical and leptokurtic fine sands. Cluster analysis showed that, distribution of gravel, sand and mud fractions is related to bottom facies and type of sediment source. Generally, sand fraction is the main category among the three constituents. Geochemically the factor controlling the carbonate content of studied sediments includes material supply of biogenic and terrigenous components. Therefore, sediments of Hamata area, km 17 south Safaga, Wadi El-Gemal Island and Abu-Minqar Island are terrigenous sediments, while sediments of km 37 north Quseir are highly carbonates. In general organic matter is higher in the mangrove sediments relative to adjacent areas. The high organic matter in the mangrove sediments is primarily due to the high supply from primary productivity, terrestrial and reworked sediments. Texture is the main controlling factor for the organic matter enrichment. Spatial variations in the phosphorus content in the different studied localities are related to the sources of phosphorus to the area. In comparison, cluster analysis indicates that phosphorus might be transported from terrestrial source to the sea through wadis draining the excavated Upper Cretaceous phosphate rocks. Also, the abundance of phosphorus content may be attributed to phosphatization of calcareous skeletons. Our observations provide knowledge on the physico-chemical effects and will be useful in the management and suitable development of the areas under study. In addition it represent database in the future.     

Controls on platform‐scale patterns of surface sediments,shallow Holocene platforms,Bahamas

Isolated carbonate platforms occur throughout geological history, and commonly exhibit considerable spatial variability. To evaluate the controls on the nature of sediment accumulation across the expansive, shallow platform tops, this study systematically compares and contrasts patterns in surface sediments from several shallow (<10 m) Holocene Bahamian examples. Remote‐sensing data, field observations, petrographic characterization and quantitative grain‐size analyses reveal the spatial patterns of sediment accumulation on Crooked–Acklins Platform and the Berry Islands Bank. Integration of these data with synoptic observations of waves, tides and currents, along with regional geochemical data, provides a means to explore the factors that influence platform‐scale sedimentary patterns. These data illustrate that the platform interiors of both Crooked–Acklins Platform and Berry Islands Bank are blanketed with medium to coarse sand size sediment. Peloids are most common in the interior of Crooked–Acklins Platform, whereas the Berry Islands Bank includes more abundant composite grains. In both areas, very little mud is present, with surface sediments averaging <2% mud. Comparison of these results with published data from Little Bahama Bank, Great Bahama Bank and Caicos Platform suggest that, contrary to previous interpretations, the presence of open margins and/or brisk winds are not necessary for the occurrence of a platform top with little mud. Although the muddy sediment fraction of the interior can be suspended by elevated wave energy, wind‐generated current speeds in protected platform interiors are relatively low. Instead, in parts of the platform interiors, transport and winnowing of fines is enhanced greatly by tidal currents, which carry suspended sediments off the shallow platforms, even if shielded by islands. Beyond physical influences, however, regional geochemical compilations suggest that the Bahamian tides supply highly supersaturated waters rich in dissolved oxygen to these platform interiors. This exchange is interpreted to facilitate favourable conditions for calcium carbonate precipitation in the form of ooids, marine cements and hardened peloids across vast expanses of the platform interiors. Such fundamental controls on Holocene platform‐scale sediment dynamics are likely to have influenced carbonate systems through the geological record.     

Alluvial deposits of a mud-dominated stream: the Red River, Manitoba, Canada

Abstract The Red River, Manitoba, is a mud‐dominated, meandering stream that occupies a shallow valley eroded into a clay plain. The valley‐bottom alluvium is the product of incision and lateral migration of river meanders. As revealed by a transect of five boreholes located across the floodplain at each of two successive river meanders, the alluvial deposits range from about 15 to 22 m thick and are composed primarily of silt. Sedimentary structures in the cores are weakly defined and consist mostly of beds of massive silt, thick (>0·4 m) massive silt and disturbed silt. Interlaminated sand and silt, and sand beds form relatively minor deposits, principally within the lower half of the alluvium, and thin beds of medium‐coarse sand and pea gravel can be present locally within the lower metre of the alluvium. The alluvium is interpreted to consist of overbank deposits from 0 to 2–3 m depth, oblique accretion deposits from 2–3 to 8–12 m depth and oblique accretion and/or channel deposits from 8–12 m to the base of the sequence. The massive bedding within the oblique accretion deposits is interpreted to represent the remnants of couplet deposits that were initially composed of interbedded, muddy silt and sand‐sized silt aggregates, as is consistent with the contemporary bank sedimentation. The post‐depositional disintegration and/or compaction of the aggregates has caused the loss of the sand‐sized texture. The disturbed silt beds are interpreted as slump structures caused by large‐scale rotational failures along the convex banks. Overall, the Red River represents a portion of a continuum of muddy, fine‐grained streams; where the alluvium lacks a distinct coarse unit, oblique accretion deposits form a majority of the floodplain, and large‐scale slump features are present.     

Geochemistry of Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd and Cr in the surficial sediments of a tropical estuary, southwest coast of India: a granulometric approach

 Geochemical characteristics of six trace metals – Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd and Cr – in the bulk sediment and sand, silt and clay fractions of a tropical estuary on the southwest coast of India have been studied and discussed. In bulk sediment, the trace metal concentration is controlled mainly by the textural composition of the sample. Mud, sandy mud and sandy silt register higher concentrations of trace metals than that in sand-dominant sediments. The granulometric partitioning studies also re-affirmed the role of particle size in enriching the trace metals. The silt and clay fractions exhibit 7–8 times the enrichment of Cu and Cd compared to that in sand. The enrichment factors of Zn, Cr, Ni and Co in the silt and clay fractions, compared to that in sand, are 5–6, 4–5, 2–5 and 2–3 times, respectively. The trace metals in the sand fraction, particularly Ni and Cr, exhibit strong positive correlation with the heavy mineral content of the samples. It clearly indicates a heavy mineral pathway to the trace metals in the sand fraction. Cu and Co in silt and clay fractions exhibit a marked decrease towards the high saline zones of the estuary. This is attributed to the desorption of Cu and Co from particulate phases during estuarine mixing. Contrary to Cu and Co, the content of Zn in the clay fraction shows a marginal increase towards the estuarine mouth. This could be explained by the influx of Zn-rich contaminant discharges from Zn-smelting industries located slightly north of the estuarine mouth. The released Zn will effectively be held in the lattices of the clay mineral montmorillonite, which also exhibits a marked increase towards the estuarine mouth. The anomalously high values of Cd in some places of the Central Vembanad estuary is attributed to the local pollution. Received: 10 July 1995 · Accepted: 3 June 1996