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Biotite as a geoindicator of rare earth element contamination in Gomati River Basin, Ganga Alluvial Plain, northern India

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Abstract

Rare earth elements (REE) are emerging as modern high-technology-related novel micro-contaminants in freshwater aquatic systems and are therefore attracting global attention due to their potential human health risks. The Gomati River (a tributary of the Ganga River) sediments were analyzed for REE concentrations to establish REE contamination and to identify biotite mica mineral as a geoindicator. Chondrite-normalized REE pattern of the river sediments and biotite mica mineral were similar and depict a strong light REE (LREE) enrichment and relatively flatter heavy REE (HREE). The maximum total REE (∑REE) concentration increased from 323 µg/g in 2012 to 673 µg/g in 2019. In the ∑REE, LREE contribution was > 80%, because of anthropogenic inputs, mainly petroleum-cracking catalysts and other high-technology-based products. The XRD analysis and the geochemical signature of the Gomati River sediments reveal the meaningful existence of biotite mica mineral. A distinct downstream REE enrichment pattern was identified in biotite from the mica-rich bedload sediments. The scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) mapping images of biotite also revealed the precipitation of Lanthanum, at the weathered edges, during the early stage of mineral weathering. Biotite mica was identified as a geoindicator for the assessment of REE contamination in the Gomati River and the Hindon River Basin of the Ganga Alluvial Plain. Future research is needed for the application of biotite mica mineral as a geoindicator that can help the environmental scientists to contribute more effectively to the interdisciplinary efforts in River Science.

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Data availability statement

For the Gomati River Basin. The datasets generated and analyzed for the Gomati River Basin during the current study are available from the corresponding author (Priyanka Singh) on reasonable request. All data analysed for the Hindon River Basin during this study are included in this published article (Mondal et al., 2012). Mondal et al. (2012) The geochemical signature of provenance, tectonics and chemical weathering in the Quaternary flood plain sediments of the Hindon River, Gangetic plain, India. Tectonophysics 566–567: 87–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2012.07.001.

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Acknowledgements

IBS is thankful to Indian National Science Academy (New Delhi) for the award of INSA Honorary Scientist. Subodh Kumar is thankfully acknowledged for his help during SEM-EDX analysis. Authors express thanks to Prof. S. Sensarma (University of Lucknow) for fruitful discussions and to Dr. Ratan Kar (Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences) for his support in improving the English language, during the revision of the manuscript. Authors thank the two anonymous reviewers for their critical comments, which greatly improved the presentation of the work.

Funding

This work was funded as the MHRD research fellowship to PS from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (grant no. MHR-02-41-106-429).

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  1. Indra Bir Singh Rest in Peace on March 4, 2021

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, 226025, India

    Priyanka Singh

  2. Department of Geology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India

    Jitendra Kumar Yadav, Dharmendra Kumar Jigyasu & Munendra Singh

  3. Central Muga Eri Research and Training Institute, Jorhat, 785700, India

    Dharmendra Kumar Jigyasu

  4. Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India

    Sandeep Singh

  5. Department of Environmental Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, 226025, India

    Narendra Kumar

  6. 17-11-2C, Metrocity, Nishatganj, Lucknow, 226006, India

    Indra Bir Singh

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  1. Priyanka Singh
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Singh, P., Yadav, J.K., Jigyasu, D.K. et al. Biotite as a geoindicator of rare earth element contamination in Gomati River Basin, Ganga Alluvial Plain, northern India. Environ Monit Assess 193, 361 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09105-y

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