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Sediment geochronology and geochemical behavior of major and rare earth elements in the Oualidia Lagoon in the western Morocco

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Abstract

Naturally occurring radionuclides and 137Cs were measured in a sediment core and surface deposit collected from the bed channel of the Oualidia Lagoon located in the western Morocco. Major and rare earth elements (REE) profiles were determined by instrumental NAA technique. 210Pb and 137Cs were used to establish the sedimentation chronology over the last decades by using conventional models. 210Pb displayed relatively higher concentrations and rate of supply to the sediment than typical levels found in other coastal areas in Morocco. REE ratios and Ce anomalies showed that the direct incorporation of particles from seawater to the bed sediment is the most important, followed by the terrigenous component.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been carried out within the framework of the regional IAEA - TC project RAF/7/009 “Supporting an Integrated Approach for Marine Pollution Monitoring Using Nuclear Analytical Techniques”, and the program REMER (Réseau National des Sciences et Techniques de la Mer) related to marine pollution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Géologie Appliquée, Géomatique et Environnement - Faculté des Sciences - Ben Msik, Casablanca, Morocco

    N. Mejjad, O. El-Hammoumi & A. Fekri

  2. Centre National de l’Energie, des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires – Rabat, Rabat, Morocco

    A. Laissaoui, M. Benmansour, H. Bounouira, A. Benkdad & M. Bounakhla

  3. Institut National de Recherche Halieutique, Casablanca, Morocco

    S. Benbrahim & F. Z. Bouthir

Authors
  1. N. Mejjad
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  2. A. Laissaoui
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  3. O. El-Hammoumi
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  4. M. Benmansour
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  5. S. Benbrahim
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  6. H. Bounouira
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  7. A. Benkdad
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  8. F. Z. Bouthir
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  9. A. Fekri
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  10. M. Bounakhla
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Correspondence to A. Laissaoui.

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Mejjad, N., Laissaoui, A., El-Hammoumi, O. et al. Sediment geochronology and geochemical behavior of major and rare earth elements in the Oualidia Lagoon in the western Morocco. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 309, 1133–1143 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4714-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4714-8

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