ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF MARINE CORE SEDIMENT BELONG TO CENTRAL WESTERN BAY OF BENGAL BY USING PIXE

Abstract

The aim of the present work is to estimate the accumulation of various elements related to the core sediment belong to the Krishna-Godavari marginal area with a nuclear analytical technique. Hence, a 4.12 m long marine sediment gravity core was collected from near to Nizampatnam Bay that related to Bay of Bengal and by using particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) elemental concentrations have been determined. The concentrations of major elements like Fe, Ca, K, Ti, Mn and minor (trace) elements such as Sr, Co, V, Zn, Ni, Cu, Rb, Sc and Cr have been evaluated with the obtained PIXE spectra. These values are interpreted based on the monsoonal runoff coming from the rivers causing to play an important role for bring lot of sedimentary material of the coastal waters to the Bay of Bengal. Further results are interpreted to understand biological and anthropogenic activities, chemical reactions etc during Holocene and Pleistocene periods.

Keywords

• marine sediment
• elemental concentration
• clay
• mineral
• weathering