| Abstract: | The spatial distribution patterns of surficial sediment samples from different sedimentary domains(shallow to deep-sea regions) of the eastern Arabian Sea were studied using sediment proxies viz.environmental magnetism,geochemistry,particle size and clay mineralogy.Higher concentrations of magnetic minerals(high x_(lf)) were recorded in the deep-water sediments when compared with the shallow water sediments.The magnetic mineralogy of one of the shallow water samples is influenced by the presence of bacterial magnetite as evidenced from the x_(ARM)/x_(lf)~(vs).x_(arm_/x_(fd)biplot.However,the other samples are catchment-derived.The high correlation documented for x_(lf).anhysteretic remanent magnetisation(x_(arm)) and isothermal remanent magnetisation(IRM) with Al indicates that the deep-sea surficial sediments are influenced by terrigenous fluxes which have been probably derived from the southern Indian rivers,the Sindhu(the Indus) and the Narmada-Tapti rivers.A lower Mn concentration is recorded in the upper slope sediments from the oxygen minimum zone(OMZ) but a higher Mn/Al ratio is documented in the lower slope and deep-sea sediments.Clay minerals such as illite(24-48.5%),chlorite(14.1-34.9%),smectite(10.6-28.7%) and kaolinite(11.9-27.5%) dominate the sediments of shallow and deep-sea regions and may have been derived from different sources and transported by fluvial and aeolian agents.Organic carbon(OC) data indicate a low concentration in the shallow/shelf region(well oxygenated water conditions) and deeper basins(increased bottom-water oxygen concentration and low sedimentation rate).High OC concentrations were documented in the OMZ(very low bottom-water oxygen concentration with high sedimentation rate).The calcium carbonate concentration of the surface sediments from the continental shelf and slope regions( 1800 m) up to the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge show higher concentrations(average = 58%) when compared to deep basin sediments(average = 44%).Our study demonstrates that particle size as well as magnetic grain size,magnetic minerals and elemental variations are good indicators to distinguish terrigenous from biogenic sediments and to identify sediment provenance. |
