TITLE:
Geochemical, Sedimentological and Mineralogical Characterization of Surficial Sediments in Eynak Marsh (North of Iran)
AUTHORS:
Ayda Hazermoshar, Razyeh Lak, Mohammad Reza Espahbood, Nader Kohansal Ghadimvand, Reza Farajzadeh
KEYWORDS:
Eynak Marsh, Sedimentology, Geochemistry, Element Distribution Pattern, Element Correlation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.6 No.7,
July
28,
2016
ABSTRACT: A multidisciplinary study of the sedimentology, geochemistry and
mineralogy has been conducted to understand the linkage between marsh and
alluvial sediments and also their potential sources in Eynak marsh, North of
Iran. The influence of the upstream potential sources on recent sediment
geochemistry has been discussed based on geochemical,
sedimentological and mineralogical results. A spatial grain size distribution
study was carried out to investigate the hydrodynamic and deposition system of
the marsh. So, the surficial sediment sampling was carried out to describe the
sedimentological parameters and elemental geochemistry of sediments in Eynak
marsh. Mineralogical complexes are mainly made up of felsic minerals such as
quartz, calcite, feldspar, pyrite, mica, and clay minerals (in very low values)
indicated by high amounts of Al, Ca, and Ni. As expected, the mineralogy of
sediments is controlled mainly by the rock formations. Also sediment textures are
controlled by the hydrodynamic condition in the marsh. So its distribution has been
influenced by distance from the entrance sediments to Eynak marsh. The results
showed that there are no enrichments related to fine grain sediment
distributions. An association of Al with the trace elements such as Sc, Y, La,
Ce, and Zr indicates that their distributions are mainly controlled by the
felsic rocks in the upstream. On the other side, due to the waste water
entrance to the marsh, Ni and Pb concentration could be under the effects of
anthropogenic activities around the marsh. Results represented high values for
Mn concentration (min 462, max 1784 and average 1037 ppm) and it showed a
significant correlation with Ca, Sr, and Mg. A redox habitat and constantly
calm hydrodynamic circumstance in the study area, likely cause high
concentration of Ca, Sr, and Mg, and Mn. And they are representing negative
correlations with some elements such as Al, Be, Fe, K, and Na.