Marine muds along the Guyana coast and their origin from the Amazon basin

The mineralogical composition of clay samples from the Amazon basin and the Guyana coast, including samples collected inland and on the continental shelf, was investigated by X-ray diffraction. Also humus content, specific surface and degree of potassium fixation were determined. The muds from the Guyana coast have virtually the same composition as those of the Amazon but are very different from the Guyanese soils and river muds. This suggests that most Guyanese coastal muds come from the Amazon which is confirmed by a consideration of the quantities involved. The only measurable effect of the sea water on the mud particles moving from the Amazon to Venezuela, which takes from one month up to 1000 years, is a decrease in potassium fixation, indicating that some potassium has been taken up from the sea water. The presence of large amounts of soil chlorite in shelf samples may be due to a prolonged contact with sea water but most probably is the result of subaereal conditions during the Pleistocene.