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Geochemical variations of major and trace elements in recent sediments, off the Gulf of Mannar, the southeast coast of India

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

The Gulf of Mannar along the Tuticorin coast is a coral base of the southeast coast of India. To obtain a preliminary view of its environmental conditions, geochemical distribution of major elements (Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, K, P), trace elements (Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, Cd) and acid leachable elements (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, Cd) were analyzed in surface sediment samples from two seasons. Geochemical fractionation confirmed the lithogenic origin of metals, which were mainly associated with the detrital phase. The sediments in the gulf are sandy with abundant calcareous debris, which controls the distribution of total and acid leachable elements. Enrichment factors relative to crust vary by a magnitude of two to three and the presence of trace metals indicates the input of Cr, Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in both forms through industrial activities. Factor analysis supports the above observation with higher loadings on acid leachable elements and its association with CaCO3. The increase in concentration of trace metals (Cr, Pb, Cd, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn) along the Gulf of Mannar indicates that the area has been contaminated by the input from riverine sources and the industries nearby. The present study indicates that other sources should be evaluated in the long-term monitoring program.

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Acknowledgements

This study is partly sponsored by the University Grants Commission—Special Assistance Programme (Phase II), COSIST & DST-FIST awarded to the Department of Geology, University of Madras. M. P. Jonathan thanks the financial assistance from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, India. The authors thank Prof. S. P. Mohan, Department of Geology, University of Madras, Chennai for providing laboratory facilities and Dr. N. Rajeshwara Rao for fine tuning the manuscript.

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  1. School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Geology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, 600025, Chennai, India

    M. P. Jonathan, V. Ram-Mohan & S. Srinivasalu

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  1. M. P. Jonathan
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Jonathan, M.P., Ram-Mohan, V. & Srinivasalu, S. Geochemical variations of major and trace elements in recent sediments, off the Gulf of Mannar, the southeast coast of India. Env Geol 45, 466–480 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-003-0898-7

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