Trace element geochemistry of clay fraction and bulk sediments from Vamsadhara river basin, east coast of India

Abstract

The geochemical investigations of the clay fractions of the Vamsadhara river channel, estuary and bulk sediments of the estuary are carried out to understand the distribution, source and processes by which various trace elements are incorporated into the sediments. Texturally the river sediments are sandy silt and are coarse grained whereas in the estuary the sediments are clayey silts and are fine grained. In the estuarine environment the higher concentrations of elements are associated with the clay fraction of the sediments than the bulk sediments. The results indicate that the trace elements are largely dependent on the distribution of clay minerals from the source region.