Distribution of Organic Matter and Calcium Carbonate in the Shelf Sediments off Penner River, East Coast of India

Abstract

Abstract Organic matter and calcium carbonate in the shelf sediments off Penner river are mainly controlled by the texture of the sediments. The outer shelf (30-50 m depth) sediments of the southern and northern parts have a higher content of organic matter (1.2 to 2.22%). The sharp differences in organic matter content (varies from 0.8-1.6%) and fine nature of the sediments at the river mouth reveals detrital contribution. A calcium carbonate rich zone (30-40%) associated with coarse sands occurs opposite to Penner river mouth (20-50 m depth). The source for high concentration of calcium carbonate in the coarse sands (relict) are molluscan shells, shell fragments and foraminifera indicative of the in situ origin . It is inferred that the calcium carbonate supports that the coarse sands are stillstand deposits admixtured with present conditions.