Distribution of Al, Mn, Ni, Co and Cu in the Non-lithogenous Fractions of Sediments of the Northern Half of the Western Continental Shelf of India

Abstract

Higher amounts of elements are associated with the nonlithogenous fractions of the fine grained terrigenous sediments of the innershelf region with low carbonate content than with the corresponding fractions of the coarse grained sediments of the outer shelf region with high calcium carbonate content and all the elements covary with each other in the environment. From an evaluation of the role of different processes with the incorporation of elements, particularly trace elements into the nonlithogenous fractions, it is inferred that in the innershelf region they are incorporated in association with the hydroxide of iron and manganese while in the outer shelf region they are associated with the carbonate phase.