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Geochemistry of sediments in three sectors of Trincomalee Bay, Sri Lanka: provenance, modifying factors and present environmental status

  • SEDIMENTS, SEC 1 • SEDIMENT QUALITY AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Abstract

Purpose

The geochemical compositions of sediments from three sectors in Trincomalee Bay (Koddiyar Bay, Thambalagam Bay and the Inner Harbour) in Sri Lanka were examined to determine fluvial and marine contributions and the effects of sorting and heavy mineral concentration. The present environmental status of the bay was also assessed.

Materials and methods

Forty-nine sediment samples were collected from Trincomalee Bay and analysed by X-ray fluorescence, yielding data for the major elements and 17 trace elements. Mean grain size and sorting were also measured. Data were compared with the compositions of sediments from the lower Mahaweli River, which supplies most of the clastic detritus to Trincomalee Bay.

Results and discussion

Sediments in the three sectors differ significantly in chemical composition, according to position relative to the Mahaweli River delta source, depositional environment, heavy mineral concentration and marine influences. According to accepted sediment quality guidelines, some As contamination may have occurred in the Inner Harbour and Thambalagam Bay and Cr contamination in all three sectors.

Conclusions

Proximal Koddiyar Bay sediments compare closely with Mahaweli River bedload. Although the clastic component in the more distal Thambalagam Bay and the Inner Harbour is also derived from the Mahaweli River, compositions are modified significantly by marine contributions. High concentrations of elements including Ti, Zr, Ce, Nb and Y in NW Koddiyar Bay are consistent with heavy mineral concentration by winnowing in high-energy zones. Some decoupling of Fe–Ti- and Zr-bearing heavy mineral assemblages may occur within the bay. Al-normalized metal enrichment factors and contour maps show that apparent contamination by As and Cr is spurious and is caused by locally high background levels from Mahaweli River detritus. This illustrates the importance of establishing local background levels of elements during environmental studies.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the Japanese government for financial assistance to carry out our study and thank the Sri Lankan Naval Force and Amila Ratnayake for support during sample collection and Toshiaki Irizuki and Tetsuya Sakai for their supervision of the grain size analysis. We also thank the Editor-In-Chief, P.N. Owens, and three anonymous reviewers for their very helpful and constructive comments, which improved the manuscript considerably. The samples were imported via plant protection of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geoscience, Shimane University, 690-8504, Matsue, Japan

    Sansfica M. Young, Hiroaki Ishiga & Barry P. Roser

  2. Department of Geology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka

    Amarasooriya Pitawala

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  1. Sansfica M. Young
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  2. Hiroaki Ishiga
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  3. Barry P. Roser
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  4. Amarasooriya Pitawala
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Correspondence to Sansfica M. Young.

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Responsible editor: Marc Babut

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Young, S.M., Ishiga, H., Roser, B.P. et al. Geochemistry of sediments in three sectors of Trincomalee Bay, Sri Lanka: provenance, modifying factors and present environmental status. J Soils Sediments 14, 204–217 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-013-0798-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-013-0798-8

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