Geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of recent clastic sediments from lower Godavari river: Implications of source rock weathering

The major, trace and rare earth elements geochemistry and clay mineral compositions in the river bed sediments from lower reaches of Godavari river suggest that they are derived from weathering of felsic rocks. Trace and rare earth elemental compositions indicate evidence of sedimentary sorting during transportation and deposition. Lower concentrations of transition elements, such as V, Ni and Cr imply enrichment of felsic minerals in these bed sediments. The REE pattern in lower Godavari sediments is influenced by the degree of source rock weathering. The light rare earth elements (LREE) content are indicating greater fractionation compared to the heavy rare earth elements (HREE). A striking relationship is observed between TiO₂ and gZREE content suggesting a strong control by LREE-enriched titaniferous minerals on REE chemistry. Shale-normalized REE pattern demonstrate a positive Eu anomaly, suggesting weathering of feldspar and their secondary products, which are enriched in Eu. Chondrite-normalised REE pattern is characteristic of felsic volcanic, granites and gnessic source rocks. Trace elemental compositions in sediments located near urban areas suggest influence of anthropogenic activity. Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) is high (avg. 65.76), suggesting a moderate chemical weathering environment. X-ray diffraction analysis of clay fraction shows predominance of clay minerals that are formed because of the chemical weathering of felsic rocks.     

Loading and fate of particulate organic carbon from the Himalaya to the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta

We use the evolution of river sediment characteristics and sedimentary C_org from the Himalayan range to the delta to study the transport of C_org in the Ganga-Brahmaputra system and especially its fate during floodplain transit.A detailed characterisation of both mineral and organic particles for a sampling set of river sediments allows taking into account the sediment heterogeneity characteristic of such large rivers. We study the relationships between sediment characteristics (mineralogy, grain size, specific area) and C_org content in order to evaluate the controls on C_org loading. Contributions of C3 and C4 plants are estimated from C_org stable isotopic composition (δ¹³C_org). We use the evolution of δ¹³C_org values from the Himalayan range to the delta in order to study the fate of C_org during floodplain transit.Ganga and Brahmaputra sediments define two distinct linear relations with specific area. In spite of 4-5 times higher specific area, Ganga sediments have similar C_org content, grain size and mineralogy as Brahmaputra sediments, indicating that specific area does not exert a primary control on C_org loading. The general correlation between the total C_org content and Al/Si ratio indicates that C_org loading is mainly related to: (1) segregation of organic particles under hydrodynamic forces in the river, and (2) the ability of mineral particles to form organo-mineral aggregates.Bed and suspended sediments have distinct δ¹³C_org values. In bed sediments, δ¹³C_org values are compatible with a dominant proportion of fossil C_org derived from Himalayan rocks erosion. Suspended sediments from Himalayan tributaries at the outflow of the range have low δ¹³C_org values (−24.8‰ average) indicating a dominant proportion of C3 plant inputs. In the Brahmaputra basin, δ¹³C_org values of suspended sediments are constant along the river course in the plain. On the contrary, suspended sediments of the Ganga in Bangladesh have higher δ¹³C_org values (−22.4‰ to −20.0‰), consistent with a significant contribution of C4 plant derived from the floodplain. Our data indicate that, during the plain transit, more than 50% of the recent biogenic C_org coming from the Himalaya is oxidised and replaced by floodplain C_org. This renewal process likely occurs during successive deposition-erosion cycles and river course avulsions in the plain.     

Dissolution rates of metals in Fe oxides: implications for sampling ferruginous materials with significant relict Fe oxides

A study of the pattern of dissolution of synthetic and natural Fe oxides in 6 M HCl indicates that the rate of element release from synthetic Fe oxides is strongly influenced by mineralogy and the level of element incorporation. Synthetic maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) samples are subject to much more rapid dissolution than goethite (FeOOH) and hematite (α-Fe₂O₃). In samples dominated by hematite and maghemite, Cu, Zn and particularly Pb, in comparison to Fe, are preferentially released during the early stages of dissolution. Similar patterns are apparent from the dissolution of hematite- and maghemite-dominated samples derived from natural gossan. Comparison of XRD scans with data from the dissolution of natural gossan samples transformed by incremental heating to hematite- and maghemite-dominated assemblages suggests that the degree of crystallinity may also be a significant factor in the release of elements incorporated in the Fe oxides. Ferruginous materials made up of varying proportions of goethite, hematite, maghemite, kaolinite and quartz are important sampling materials in a range of regolith environments. These are products of complex chemical and mechanical mobilization over long periods of geological time. If the patterns of Fe oxide dissolution in 6 M HCl and the release of incorporated metals reflect stability in such weathering regimes, knowledge of the retention characteristics of incorporated metals in different Fe oxide phases, as indicated by this study, will be useful in the planning and interpretation of geochemical surveys in such regions.     

Provenance of bar-top sediments at Tons river near Allahabad

The bar-top sediments at the Tons river deposited mainly from the suspension current during waning stage condition of river are collected to study their provenance on the basis of clay mineralogy, heavy minerals and magnetic properties. The clay mineral assemblages in samples predominantly consist of illite, with minor amounts of kaolinite, smectite and chlorite. The clay minerals are contributed due to (i) weathering and decomposition of shales, argillaceous limestones and pyroclastic deposits of upper Vindhyan Groups and (ii) weathering and erosion of Banda plain of Gangetic alluvium. The low ZTR index for the studied samples indicates poor sediment maturity, rapid erosion in the source region and short transportation of detritus. The transparent heavy mineral assemblages in the sediment samples predominantly consist of garnet, with minor amounts of tourmaline, zircon, hornblende, enstatite, hypersthene, rutile, tremolite, kyanite, sillimanite, andalusite, chlorite, epidote, wollastonite, and staurolite. The heavy minerals are dominantly angular to sub-angular with some rounded to sub-rounded grains. The rounded grains indicate multicyclicity and derivation fromVindhyan sandstones. The angular grains are either contributed due to erosion of primary rocks of Bundelkhand gneissic complex and or various Gangetic alluviums. The magnetic properties from sediment samples indicate that the antiferromagnetic minerals (illite, chlorite and smectite) are more concentrated in clay sized particles and it also indicated mixed source rocks for the bar-top sediment of Tons river.     

Clay mineral variations in Holocene terrestrial sediments from the Indus Basin

We employed X-ray diffraction methods to quantify clay mineral assemblages in the Indus Delta and flood plains since ~ 14 ka, spanning a period of strong climatic change. Assemblages are dominated by smectite and illite, with minor chlorite and kaolinite. Delta sediments integrate clays from across the basin and show increasing smectite input between 13 and 7.5 ka, indicating stronger chemical weathering as the summer monsoon intensified. Changes in clay mineralogy postdate changes in climate by 5–3 ka, reflecting the time needed for new clay minerals to form and be transported to the delta. Samples from the flood plains in Punjab show evidence for increased chemical weathering towards the top of the sections (6–< 4 ka), counter to the trend in the delta, at a time of monsoon weakening. Clay mineral assemblages within sandy flood-plain sediment have higher smectite/(illite + chlorite) values than interbedded mudstones, suggestive of either stronger weathering or more sediment reworking since the Mid Holocene. We show that marine records are not always good proxies for weathering across the entire flood plain. Nonetheless, the delta record likely represents the most reliable record of basin-wide weathering response to climate change.     

Pre- and post-monsoon variations in the magnetic susceptibilities of soils of Mumbai metropolitan region: implications to surface redistribution of urban soils loaded with anthropogenic particulates

Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR) in India represents one of the most industrialized and thickly populated areas of the monsoon dominated Asian region. We present here pre- and post-monsoon magnetic susceptibility variations in the top-soils representing sampling domains of industrial, heavy traffic and forested areas within MMR. The rock magnetic studies (including isothermal and anhysteric remanent magnetization and hysteresis loop analysis) infer predominant pseudo single domain to multi domain grains in an overall ferrimagnetic dominant mineralogy of the soils. The susceptibility-temperature variations (from ?190 to 700°C) infer maghemite (??-Fe₂O₃) as the chief mineral component of pedogenic origin, and the pure magnetite (Fe₃O₄) is of anthropogenic nature. Spatial distribution of ferrimagnetic concentration is in agreement with polluting sources. The post-monsoon redistribution pattern is greatly controlled by the surface runoff and topographic conditions. The study demonstrates that in a ferrimagnetically reach substrate like MMR, the spatial distribution patterns derived from routine concentration- and grain-size-dependent rock magnetic parameters integrated with topographic and seasonal attributes yield significant information on the style and surface re-distribution of anthropogenically loaded soils and sediments to identify its seasonal dumping. Alternatively, knowing the source of signal, the magnetic susceptibility can be further used as a robust parameter to produce detailed maps to monitor the pollutions in urban areas.     

Sediment geochemistry of coastal environments,southern Kerala,India: implication for provenance

Late Quaternary sediments representing the floodplain, estuary and offshore environments of southern Kerala were investigated to infer provenance. The grain size reveals the dominance of sand to silty clay, clay to clayey silt and clayey silt in the floodplain, estuary and offshore sediments, respectively. The chemical index of alteration (CIA) values and A-CN-K plot attributes to high, moderate and low weathering in floodplain, estuary and offshore regions, respectively. The SiO₂/Al₂O₃ values lesser than Post-Archean Australian Shale indicate low to moderate maturity for the estuarine and offshore sediments. The geochemical immaturity indicates its derivation from low to moderately weathered source rocks. The major and trace elemental ratios and discriminant function diagrams attribute that the sediments were derived from intermediate to felsic source rocks. The enrichment of Cr and Ni concentration in the sediments compared to the upper continental crust, related to the contribution of orthopyroxenes, weathered from charnockite and garnets from the granulite terrain, respectively.     

Ferrimagnetic minerals in red paleosols of Pleistocene Epoch, eastern China

The type,grain size and origin of ferimagnetic minerals separated from red paleosols of pleistocene Epoch(Q2)in eastern China ,were studied by using mineral magnetic measurement,X-ray powder diffraction and electron microscopy.Results showed that the iron oxider in red paleosols were composed of hematite(α-Fe2O3),maghemite(γ-Fe2O3) and goethite(α-FeOOH),Mineral magnetic parameters and X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that maghemite was the dominant remanence carrier in red paleosols,which is characterized by superparamagnetic(SP) and stable single domain(SSD) grains,The variations of magnetic susceptibility(χ） ,anhysteretic magnetic susceptibility(χRAM）and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization(SIRM) for red paleosols following heating to various temperatures showed two peak values at 700℃ and 900℃.The spherulitic magnetic particles measuring 250-1000μm in diameter in red paleosols were separated by the magnetic separation method,indicating that these magnetic particles were an assemblage of superparamagnetic and stable single domain ferrimagnetic grains,It is suggested that the ferrimagnetic minerals of red paleosols be a pedogenic ferrimagnetic component under high temperature and high humid conditions in the Pleistocene Fpoch(Q2).It is concluded that the magnetism characteristics of red paleosols can be used to evaluate the environmental changes of Quaternary in eastern China.     

长江三角洲ZK01孔末次盛冰期以来沉积物粒度特征及环境演化

根据长江三角洲ZK01孔的粒度资料,从粒度参数、斜体图、概率累积曲线和频率分布曲线等对末次盛冰期以来的沉积物粒度特征进行了详细分析,并结合沉积物的岩性、沉积构造和有孔虫的分布特点,探讨了该区末次盛冰期以来的沉积环境演化。分析表明,ZK01孔末次盛冰期以来,沉积物自下而上可分为5段:河床沉积物以砂和砾质砂为主,粒度概率累积曲线为以跳跃总体为主的两段式;河漫滩相为砂质和黏土互层,概率累积曲线呈以悬浮总体为主的具过渡的两段式,频率分布曲线为双峰或多峰式;河口湾沉积物的粒度参数变化显著,在C-M图上表现为粗细分异明显的两类,对应两种两段式累积曲线,频率分布曲线亦有单峰和双峰式两类;浅海相主要为淤泥质黏土,粒度参数较稳定,概率累积曲线为一段式,几乎均为悬浮总体;三角洲沉积物以细砂和粉砂为主,概率累积曲线为以跳跃总体为主的具过渡的两段式。研究区该时期依次经历了河床、河漫滩、河口湾、浅海和三角洲等5种沉积环境。     

New observations on Rajahmundry Traps of the Krishna-Godavari Basin

The Rajahmundry Traps of the Krishna Godavari Basin (K-G Basin) consist of three distinct basalt flows interbedded with two intertrappean sedimentary horizons, which in turn are underlain by the late Cretaceous fossiliferous limestone bed (infratrappean) and overlain by the Cenozoic Rajahmundry Formation (conglomerate/sandstone). Among the three, the lower flow is characterized by the presence of the physical volcanological features such as rootless cones, tumuli and dyke like forms along with single to multitier columnar and radial jointing. The middle and upper flows are simple, massive and vesicular and exhibit spheroidal weathering. Physical volcanological features and lithological attributes indicate that the lower flow was formed by an explosive volcanic activity in hydrous environment, followed by sub aerial eruption to form the middle and upper flows. The fossiliferous limestone bed is a representative horizon for the K-T boundary mass extinction caused due to intense volcanism. Intertrappean sediments exhibit weathered soil profiles (palaeosols) with limestone beds denoting a distinct time gap during various phases of lava eruption. Evaluation of the palaeogeographic scenario of the Krishna and Godavari Rivers does not provide any evidence for the existence of Cretaceous palaeovalley which would have provided pathway for lava transportation from the Deccan volcanic province of western India to the K-G Basin situated along the east coast. The present study opens up an alternative approach to explain the origin of basalt flows at Rajahmundry. In all probability the lavas could be intrabasinal. NW-SE and NESW faults or their intersection zones are probable pathways for lava eruption in the K-G Basin.     

Geochemistry of magnetite and maghemite in soils in European Russia

A method is proposed for determining the proportions of soluble Fe oxides (magnetite, FeOFe₂O₃, and maghemite, γ-Fe₂O₃) based on the measured magnetic susceptibility before and after treatment of soil with the Tamm or Mehra-Jackson (DCB) reagents. The development of hydromorphism in steppe soils in Ciscausiaia is associated with an increase in the magnetite fraction and, consequently, the average magnetite: maghemite ratio increases from 0.8–0.9 to 1.1. In these soils, smectites facilitate magnetite oxidation to maghemite. Soddy-podzolic and dark humic soils in the Cis-Ural region are noted for low values of the magnetite: maghemite ratio (0.5 on average) due to maghemite predominance. Soils in the Cis-Ural region on cover red-earth clays inherit lithogenic Fe oxides: hematite and maghemite. Hydromorphism in humid environments in northern taiga is accompanied by a significant increase in the magnetite: maghemite ratio to 4–9. Some issues of Fe geochemistry in magnetite and maghemite are considered.     

Palynology and clay mineralogy of the Deccan volcanic associated sediments of Saurashtra,Gujarat: Age and paleoenvironments

The intertrappean sediments associated with Deccan Continental Flood Basalt (DCFB) sequence at Ninama in Saurashtra, Gujarat yielded palynoassemblage comprising at least 12 genera and 14 species including Paleocene taxa such as Intrareticulites brevis, Neocouperipollis spp., Striacolporites striatus, Retitricolpites crassimarginatus and Rhombipollis sp. The lava flows of Saurashtra represent the northwestern most DCFB sequence in India. It is considered that the Saurashtra lava flows represent the earliest volcanic activity in the Late Cretaceous of the Reunion Mantle Plume on the northward migrating Indian Plate. The present finding of the Paleocene palynoflora from Ninama sediments indicate Paleocene age for the associated lava flows occurring above the intertrappean bed which suggests that the Saurashtra plateau witnessed eruption of Deccan lava flows even during Paleocene. The clay mineral investigation of the Ninama sediments which are carbonate dominated shows dominance of low charge smectite (LCS) along with the presence of mica and vermiculite. Based on the clay mineral assemblage it is interpreted that arid climatic conditions prevailed during the sedimentation. The smectite dominance recorded within these sediments is in agreement with global record of smectite peak close to the Maastrichtian–Paleocene transition and climatic aridity.     

30 ka以来东阿拉伯海U1456站位粘土粒级碎屑沉积物来源及其古环境意义

通过对国际大洋发现计划U1456站位沉积物AMS 14C年代、粘土矿物、常量元素及粒度组成的综合分析,探讨了东阿拉伯海粘土粒级碎屑沉积物的源-汇过程及其古环境指示意义.30 ka以来U1456站位的粘土矿物组合以蒙脱石和伊利石为主,并含有少量的绿泥石和高岭石.物源分析结果表明粘土粒级碎屑沉积物主要来自于印度河与德干高原.30 ka以来西南季风很可能是影响喜马拉雅山脉以及印度大陆风化剥蚀的重要因素.在西南季风减弱的阶段,印度河物源端元对研究区的输入量减少,这可能与此时热带辐合带的南移及末次冰盛期喜马拉雅山脉冰川覆盖面积的增加有关,从而导致印度河径流量及喜马拉雅山脉可供风化剥蚀的区域减少.K/Al比值指示的源区大陆化学风化作用强度与前人重建的西南季风记录间较为同步,在东阿拉伯海可以作为晚第四纪以来西南季风演化的有效重建指标.      

Geochemical and mineralogical study of bauxite deposit of Mainpat Plateau,Surguja District,Central India

Bauxite deposits of Mainpat Plateau Surguja District, India, are composed of kaolinite, gibbsite, goethite, anatase, and bohemite. Quartz and micas are absent in the samples. The presence of boehmite and goethite are evidences of intense weathering during the formation of the bauxite deposits. The Mainpat Plateau is a mesa landform, at an elevation of around 1,060 m from msl in comparison to the general elevation of 580, consisting of Archaeans (granite?gneisses, phyllite, etc.) at the base, Gondwanas and Deccan basalt, and at the top having a cover of laterite and bauxite. The extremely high values of the chemical index of alteration, and the low values of the alkali metals and alkali earth metals, support an intense weathering origin for the bauxite deposit. There is evidence of deposition in the deposits based on the presence of pisoids in the bauxite samples and the composition of the parent rock. Kaolin minerals were first produced by the hydrolytic weathering of aluminous sediments and then gibbsite was formed as early kaolin was desilicated. The bauxite is having high TiO₂ up to 17 %. The Mainpat laterite/bauxite deposits are characterized by having 50?58 % average Al₂O₃ and 10?30 % Fe₂O₃.     

Effects of grain size distribution on mineralogical and chemical compositions: a case study from size‐fractional sediments of the Huanghe (Yellow River) and Changjiang (Yangtze River)

The influence of hydrodynamics on the chemical composition of sediments is based on the uneven distribution of element abundances in different size fractions. In this study, 72 size‐fractional sediments from the Huanghe (Yellow River) and Changjiang (Yangtze River) riverbeds were measured with XRD, SEM, ICP‐AES and ICP‐MS. The analysis results show that the mineral and chemical characteristics change with grain size in the Huanghe and Changjiang sediments. According to the principal components analysis, three independent geochemical factors were found. The first factor elements, Zr, Hf, Th, U, Y, La and TiO₂ are influenced by the existence of heavy minerals. The second factor elements, Al₂O₃, alkalis, alkaline earth (excluding Ca and Sr) and most of the transitional metals are dominated by clay minerals. The third factor group includes Ca and Sr, which were controlled by calcium‐bearing mineral contents and chemical weathering intensities. The various grain size distributions greatly affect the mineralogical and chemical compositions of bulk sediments. Compared to other size fractions, the 5–6PHI size fractions of the Huanghe and Changjiang sediments have special mineralogical and chemical compositions, and intermediate volume percentages. Weight or volume percentage of each size fraction may be more suitable than mean grain‐size of the bulk sediment to elucidate the grain size effects. Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) values increase steeply with decreasing grain size, while Weathering Index of Parker (WIP) values are relatively stable. Because of the big influence of the abundance of clay minerals on CIA values, it is questionable to use CIA as a proxy of weathering intensity. Considering the clay mineral effects, stability in values and heterogeneous material properties, WIP has the potential to indicate the chemical weathering intensity of sediments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Texture and mineralogy of sediments from the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system in the Bengal Basin, Bangladesh and their environmental implications

 The Bengal basin, Bangladesh, represents one of the most densely populated recent floodplains of the world. The sediment flux through the basin is one of the highest on a global scale. A significant portion of this sediment load find its sink in the basin itself because of its lower elevation and frequent flooding. The textural, mineralogical and chemical nature of the sediments thus have an important bearing on the environmental quality of the basin as well as for the Bay of Bengal. The sediment load of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) river system consists exclusively of fine sand, silt and clay at their lower reaches within the Bengal basin, Bangladesh, and is deposited under uniformly fluctuating, unidirectional energy conditions. The sediments have a close simitarity in grain size with the sediments of the surrounding floodplain. The mineral assemblage is dominated by quartz and feldspars. Illite and kaolinite are the major clay minerals, and occur in almost equal proportion in bed sediments. The heavy mineral assemblage is dominated by unstable minerals which are mostly derived from high-rank metamorphic rocks. The characteristic smaller grain-size, i.e. having large surface-to-mass ratios, and the mineralogy of sediments suggests that they are susceptible to large chemical adsorptive reactions and thus could serve as a potential trap for contaminants. However, the sediments of the GBM river system in the Bengal basin, Bangladesh, shows lower concentration of Pb, Hg and As, and a marginally higher value for Cd as compared to that of standard shale. Considering population density and extensive agricultural practice in the basin, the sediments can in the long run become contaminated. Received: 9 November 1994 · Accepted: 18 June 1996     

Grain size and geochemistry of surface sediments in northwestern continental shelf of the South China Sea

Eighty-six surface sediments collected from the northwestern continental shelf of the South China Sea (SCS) were analyzed for grain size distribution, calcium carbonate, organic carbon, and major and trace element compositions to investigate sediment provenance and factors controlling their geochemical composition. Sediments from the eastern continental shelf of Hainan Island have higher sand and lower clay content, while the samples from the nearshore Hainan Island have higher contents of gravel and clay. Calcium carbonate contents in samples show a positive correlation with water depth in northwestern shelf of SCS, suggesting that it is related to biological factors. However, the nearshore sediments have higher contents of organic carbon compared to those of the outer shelf, possibly suggesting that the terrigenous organic matter usually deposited in nearshore environments such as bays and estuaries. Compared with the upper continental crust, the samples have relatively lower contents of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃, higher than those of the Pearl and Red river sediments. The low contents of K₂O and Na₂O in sediments from the northwestern continental shelf are consistent with intense chemical weathering in the river basin due to the seasonally hot and humid climate regime. The sediments mainly consist of three components, including the gravel fraction composed of calcareous debris, the sand fraction composed of quartz, and the silt and clay fractions mainly composed of clay minerals. The content of each component depends on grain size, sediment source, biogenesis, and hydrodynamic conditions, which finally controls the chemical composition of the sediments. The distributions of Co/Al₂O₃, Cr/Al₂O₃, and Zr/Sc ratios for sediments in the northwestern continental shelf suggest that source rocks are mainly composed of felsic rocks rather than mafic rocks. There is a distinct difference in sediment source between eastern and western shelf sediments; the eastern shelf sediments are characterized by high Zr/Sc ratios mainly derived from the Pearl River, while the western shelf sediments have relatively low values of Zr/Sc indicating a main contribution possibly sourced from the Red River Basin. Terrigenous materials from Hainan Island usually influence the geochemistry of sediments deposited in the nearshore area.     

Spatial trends in the geochemical composition of sediments in the Panuco River discharge area, Gulf of Mexico.

Major and trace elements, organic matter, carbonates, loss of ignition, grain size, gravel, sand, silt, clay, and qualitative mineralogical composition were determined on surficial marine sediments sampled during the stormy (February), dry (May), and rainy (September) seasons in the coastal area adjacent to Panuco River discharges into the Gulf of Mexico. The sediments supplied by the river move in a north-east direction, and are deposited in the north-east extreme of the studied area. Terrigenous sediments show a strong association of Al₂O₃ with Fe₂O₃, Na₂O, K₂O, P₂O₅, Rb, Cu, Zn, organic matter, clay, and grain size (Mz). Mineralogical analysis shows that they are formed by quartz, kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite-montmorillonite and biotite. The highest metal concentration of Cu (25 mg/kg), Zn (155 mg/kg), Pb (50 mg/kg) and organic matter (1.26%) was observed in the sampling points located very close to the river mouth. A statistical analysis was done with the information contained in the variables. Five significant factors explain 77% of the total variance: factor 1 is due to sediments from a terrigenous source, factor 2 corresponds to sediments from a biogenous source, factor 3 is associated to sediments with heavy minerals, factor 4 is due to Co concentration, and factor 5 is due to Ni concentration. The sediments supplied from the river had a short-term local impact on the sediment distribution, as observed by the carbonate and heavy mineral concentration of the sediments.     

Geochemical dissociation of major and trace elements in bed and suspended sediment phases of the phosphate mines effluent water, Jordan

The bed and suspended (slime) sediment phases associated with effluent water that are produced from phosphate-ore-upgrading process at Al-Abyad mine in the southern part of Jordan were analyzed chemically and mineralogically. The results show that the effluent water is highly oxic and mildly alkaline in nature. The geochemical behavior of each phase was controlled by the effluent water physicochemical parameters, sediment particle size, mineralogical constituents of the studied phases, and the prevailing climatic nature of the area. Bed sediments have higher concentrations of many elements than slime. Accordingly, the bed sediments can be considered as a sink rather than a pool for many elements. The geochemical dissociation of major oxides and trace elements between bed and slime sediments was evident using t test, particularly between P₂O₅, SiO₂, CaO, K₂O, Mn, Sr, Y, and Co, and to lesser extent, V, U, Zn, and Cr. This might be attributed to effluent water characteristics, mineralogy, and the presence of fine-grained materials. The spatial distribution of major oxide and trace element concentrations along the stream drainage exhibited a slight increase with distance either in bed or slime sediment phases. However, they increased suddenly at the last three sampling sites, which might be due to the abundance of fine-grained materials that are mainly composed of clay minerals (montmorillonite) that would enhance the adsorption process. Moreover, the XRD results confirmed the existence of elemental geochemical dissociation as a function of mineral control.     

Lower Palar River Sediments,Southern Peninsular,India: Geochemistry,Source-Area Weathering,Provenance and Tectonic Setting

This present study describes the geochemistry of fluvial sediments of the Palar river (lower reaches), Southern Peninsular India, with an aim to evaluate their provenance, weathering and tectonic setting. The bulk sediment chemistry is influenced by grain size. The river sediments are enriched with SiO₂ and depleted in Al₂O₃, K₂O, CaO, Na₂O, MgO, P₂O₅, MnO, Fe₂O₃ as compared with UCC values. Geochemical classification indicate that the sediments are mainly arkose, wacke and shale in composition. Discriminant diagrams together with immobile element ratio plots reveal that, the Palar river sediments are mostly derived from rocks formed in an active continental margin. Additionally, the rare earth element ratios as well as chondrite-normalized REE patterns with flat HREE, LREE enrichment, and negative Eu anomalies indicate felsic rock sources. The chemical indices of alteration suggest that Palar river sediments are chemically immature and have experienced low chemical weathering effects. This is further supported by the Th/U Rb/Sr ratio and A-CN-K ternary diagram, with most of the sample data points falling close to the plagioclase-smectite line. The bivariate plot of Th/Sc versus Zr/Sc suggest a moderate recycled origin of the sediments.