Geochemical study of core sediments from Ennore Creek, North of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the down core variation of trace metal concentration in core samples of the study area. Six core samples were collected to assess the trace metal distribution in Ennore. All the core samples are dominated by coarse fraction of the sediments. In general, all the core samples have higher concentration of OM and are depleted in CaCO3 concentration. The highly inconsistent Mn concentration in surface sediments of the present study upholds the idea that oxyhydroxide flocs of Mn are transported laterally during saline bottom water inflow and deposited in quiescent parts of the estuary. Although the concentrations of Cr and Ni are both relatively higher, the influence on the former is anthropogenic, while that on the latter is more detrital. EF places Ennore under minimal to significant contamination of Cr and Cu. According to Pollution Load Index calculations, Ennore shows low-to-moderate degree of contamination.