Geochemical characterization of mangrove sediments of the Zuari estuarine system, West coast of India

• Grain size, clay mineralogy and geochemistry were analyzed in mangrove sediment cores.
• Metal sources and factors affecting accumulation, mobility, bioavailability and toxicity were studied.
• Variations in metal abundance were attributed to difference in processes viz. estuarine hydrodynamics and geomorphology.
• The estuary received material from natural weathering of rocks as well as from anthropogenic sources.
• Fractionation of metals revealed that concentrations of bioavailable Mn pose considerable risk to estuarine biota.

The grain size, clay mineralogy and geochemistry were studied in the sediment cores collected from the mangrove environments of the Zuari estuary to understand sources and factors affecting accumulation, mobility, bioavailability and toxicity of metals. Finer sediments, organic matter and metals were higher in the middle estuary and canal sediments while coarser sediments with fewer metal concentrations were seen in the lower estuary. Kaolinite, smectite, illite and traces of chlorite constituted the clay mineral assemblage and had a minor influence on metal distributions. In the study area, the hydrodynamic conditions changed from lower estuary towards the upstream regions owing to mixing of riverine and sea water that led to finer sediment deposition in the middle estuary. The variations in metal abundance were attributed to a difference in hydrodynamic conditions regulated by the tide, freshwater flow and geomorphology of the Zuari estuary. The results revealed that the estuary received material from natural weathering of rocks as well as from anthropogenic sources such as mining and industrial/domestic discharges. Enrichment factor and Geo-accumulation index showed that Fe, Mn and Cr were enriched in the mangrove sediments whereas fractionation of metals revealed that concentrations of bioavailable Mn pose a considerable risk to biota. Increased accumulation of Fe and Mn in the upper middle estuary and canal sediments, trap trace metals that may considerably affect sediment quality and dredging of these sediments can cause re-suspension and mobilize metals from loosely bound sedimentary forms to the water column.