Geochemical Characterization of Major and Trace Elements in Coastal Sediments of Gulf of Govatr, Southeastern Iran

Abstract

Geochemical characteristics of the coastal sediments in Gulf of Govatr (Southeastern Iran) have been investigated by taking 13 sediment samples in the 2012 summer. The samples have been subjected to a total digestion technique and analaysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP)–Mass Spectrometry (MS) for selected major (i.e. Al, Ca, Fe, K, Ti, Mg, Mn and Na) and trace elements (e.g. Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, P and V). The main objectives are to understand the processes controlling major and trace elements to identify natural and anthropogenic sources in the coastal environment using statistically regressed elemental concentrations to establish regional baseline levels. Geochemical maps of major and trace element show that the highest concentrations of this element are related to the Pasabandar coastal sediments so that the element concentrations of Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn and Cr, are 15.3, 53.2, 35.1, 24.4, and 100 times respectively to the normal concentration in the study area. Correlation coefficients indicate that colloids such as iron and manganese hydroxides and clay minerals have great role in the mobility of heavy metals in the study area. High correlation of the chromium, magnesium, nickel, and iron elements show that the source of these elements is weathering of ophiolitic rocks by Bahokalat river and transfer of these elements to the sea.

Keywords: Govatr Gulf, coast sediment, major and trace elements