Distributions of Some Elements in the Sediments of Gulf of Kutch

Abstract

Distribution patterns of calcium carbonate, aluminium, titanium, iron,manganese, nickel, cobalt, copper and zinc have been studied in the unconsolidated sediments of the Gulf of Kutch. Sediments are generally terrigenous in nature. With the exception of calcium carbonate and cobalt, relatively high concentrations of all other elements are associated with fine grained sediments as compared to coarse grained sediments. While the calcium carbonate in these sediments is of biogenic origin, all other elements seem to be of terrigenous origin. The similarity between the sediments of the Gulf of Kutch with those from the adjacent shelf region north of the Gulf in their chemistry indicates that the sediments coming from the north are brought into the Gulf.