Abstract
In this paper, we analyzed the grain size and heavy mineral compositions of 52 surface sediment samples collected from the Kompong Som Bay of Cambodia and the adjacent rivers to depict the marine sedimentary environments and transport processes. Heavy minerals in sediments are dominated by authigenic pyrite, siderite, and tourmaline, with average percentages of 36.52%, 29.02%, and 10.94%, respectively. Two provinces can be divided according to the spatial similarity of minerals. The sediments from Province I, covered by silt grains in the northern bay, are characterized by autogenic pyrite, indicating a weakly reducing environment; whereas in Province II, covered by sand grains in the southern bay, the siderite-tourmaline-authigenic pyrite-zircon-hornblende assemblage occurs, indicating a mild reducing environment and locally oxidizing environment. Most of the sediments in the Kompong Som Bay are introduced from the Preak Piphot River and Srae Ambel River, except that some of them in the south areas come from coastal erosion. Generally, the sediments are difficult to be transported because of the low sediment loads entering the sea and weak hydrodynamic conditions. However, they are transported from the north to the south during the tide ebbing when the hydrodynamic force is much stronger. The sediment distribution and transport patterns are controlled by many factors, including submarine topography, hydrodynamic conditions, the southwest monsoon, land contours, and sediment supply.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anond, S., and Pramot, S., 1999. Numerical Simulations of the Net Current in the Gulf of Thailand Under Different Monsoon Regimes. Samutprakan Press, Samutprakan, 54–72.
Aschariyaphotha, N., and Wongwises, S., 2012. Simulations of seasonal current circulations and its variabilities forced by runoff from freshwater in the Gulf of Thailand. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 37(5): 1389–1404.
Bernard, A., and Symonds, R. B., 1989. The significance of siderite in the sediments from Lake Nyos, Cameroon. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 39(2–3): 187–194.
Chen, L. R., 2008. Sedimentary Mineralogy of the China Sea. Ocean Press, Beijing, 476pp.
Chu, F. Y., Chen, L. R., Shen, S. X., Li, A. C., and Shi, X. F., 1995. Origin and environmental significance of authigenic pyrite from the South Yellow (Huanghai) Sea sediments. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 26(3): 227–233 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Ellwood, B. B., Chrzanowski, T. H., Hrouda, F., Long, G. J., and Buhl, M. L., 1988. Siderite formation in anoxic deep-sea sediments: A synergetic bacteria controlled process with important implications in paleomagnetism. Geology, 16(11): 980–982.
Gautier, D. L., 1982. Siderite concretions; indicators of early diagenesis in the Gammon Shale (Cretaceous). Journal of Sedimentary Research, 52(3): 859–871.
Hong, G. H., Kim, C. J., Yeemin, T., Siringan, F. P., Zhang, J., Lee, H. M., Choi, K. Y., Yang, D. B., Ahn, Y. W., and Ryu, J. H., 2013. Potential release of PCBs from plastic scientific gear to fringing coral reef sediments in the Gulf of Thailand. Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 96: 41–49.
Hu, L. M., Shi, X. F., Bai, Y. Z., Fang, Y., Chen, Y. J., Qiao, S. Q., Liu, S. F., Yang, G., Kornkanitnan, N., and Khokiattiwong, S., 2016. Distribution, input pathway and mass inventory of black carbon in sediments of the Gulf of Thailand, SE Asia. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 170: 10–19.
Hu, L. M., Shi, X. F., Qiao, S. Q., Lin, T., Li, Y. Y., Bai, Y. Z., Wu, B., Liu, S. F., Kornkanitnan, N., and Khokiattiwong, S., 2017. Sources and mass inventory of sedimentary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Gulf of Thailand: Implications for pathways and energy structure in SE Asia. Science of the Total Environment, 575: 982–995.
Hubert, J. F., 1962. A zircon-tourmaline-rutile maturity index and the interdependence of the composition of heavy mineral assemblages with the gross composition and texture of sandstones. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 32(3): 440–450.
Lin, X. T., Li, W. R., and Shi, Z. B., 2003. Characteristics of mineralogy in the clastic sediments from the Yellow River provenance, China. Marine Geology and Quaternary Geology, 23(3): 17–21 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Liu, J. Q., Cao, K., Yin, P., Gao, F., Chen, X. Y., Zhang, Y., and Yu, Y. Y., 2018a. The sources and transport patterns of modern sediments in Hangzhou Bay: Evidence from clay minerals. Journal of Ocean University of China, 17(6): 1352–1360.
Liu, J. Q., Song, H. Y., Yin, P., Zhang, Y., and Cao, Z. M., 2018b. Characteristics of heavy mineral assemblage and its indication of provenance in the mud area off the southern coast of Weihai since the late Pleistocene. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 40(3): 129–140 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Liu, J. Q., Yin, P., Chen, X. Y., and Cao, K., 2019. Distribution, enrichment and transport of trace metals in sediments from the Dagu River Estuary in the Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao, China. Minerals, 9: 545.
Liu, J. Q., Yin, P., Zhang, Y., Song, H. Y., Bi, S. P., Cao, Z. M., and Liu, S. S., 2017. Distribution and provenance of detrital minerals in southern coast of Shandong Peninsula. Journal of Ocean University of China, 16(5): 747–756.
Liu, S. F., Shi, X. F., Yang, G., Khokiattiwong, S., and Kornkanitnan, N., 2016. Distribution of major and trace elements in surface sediments of the western Gulf of Thailand: Implications to modern sedimentation. Continental Shelf Research, 117: 81–91.
Liu, S. F., Zhang, H., Zhu, A. M., Wang, K. S., Chen, M. T., Khokiattiwong, S., Kornkanitnan, N., and Shi, X. F., 2018c. Distribution of rare earth elements in surface sediments of the western Gulf of Thailand: Constraints from sedimentology and mineralogy. Quaternary International, 527: 52–63.
Liu, Y. L., Liu, J. Q., Xia, X. F., Bi, H. B., Huang, H. J., Ding, R. W., and Zhao, L. H., 2021. Land subsidence of the Yellow River Delta in China driven by river sediment compaction. Science of the Total Environment, 750: 142165.
Meksumpun, S., Meksumpun, C., Hoshika, A., Mishima, Y., and Tanimoto, T., 2005. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of sediment in the Gulf of Thailand: Evidence for understanding of marine environment. Continental Shelf Research, 25(15): 1905–1915.
Mortimer, R. J., Galsworthy, A. M., Bottrell, S. H., Wilmot, L. E., and Newton, R. J., 2011. Experimental evidence for rapid biotic and abiotic reduction of Fe (III) at low temperatures in salt marsh sediments: A possible mechanism for formation of modern sedimentary siderite concretions. Sedimentology, 58(6): 1514–1529.
Morton, A. C., 1985. Heavy minerals in provenance studies. In: Provenance of Arenites. NATO ASI Series (Series C: Mathematical and Physical Sciences). Zuffa, G. G., eds., Springer, Dordrecht, 249–277.
Morton, A. C., and Hallsworth, C. R., 1994. Identifying provenance-specific features of detrital heavy mineral assemblages in sandstones. Sedimentary Geology, 90: 241–256.
Mozley, P. S., and Wersin, P., 1992. Isotopic composition of siderite as an indicator of depositional environment. Geology, 20(9): 817–820.
Mozley, P. S., 1989. Relation between depositional environment and the elemental composition of early diagenetic siderite. Geology, 17(8): 704.
Qiao, S. Q., Shi, X. F., Fang, X. S., Liu, S. F., Kornkanitnan, N., Gao, J. J., Zhu, A. M., Hu, L. M., and Yu, Y. G., 2015. Heavy metal and clay mineral analyses in the sediments of upper Gulf of Thailand and their implications on sedimentary provenance and dispersion pattern. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 114: 488–496.
Saadon, M. N., Rojana-anawat, P., and Snidvongs, A., 1999. Physical characteristics of water mass in the South China Sea, Area I: Gulf of Thailand and east coast of Peninsula Malaysia. Proceedings of the 1st Technical Seminar on Marine Fishery Resources Survey in the South China Sea, Area I: 1–5.
Sapota, T., Aldahan, A., and Alaasm, I. S., 2006. Sedimentary facies and climate control on formation of vivianite and siderite microconcretions in sediments of Lake Baikal, Siberia. Journal of Paleolimnology, 36(3): 245–257.
Shi, X. F., Liu, S. F., Fang, X. S., Qiao, S. Q., Khokiattiwong, S., and Kornkanitnan, N., 2015. Distribution of clay minerals in surface sediments of the western Gulf of Thailand: Sources and transport patterns. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 105: 390–398.
Song, H. Y., Liu, J. Q., Yin, P., Zhang, Y., and Chen, X. Y., 2018. Characteristics of heavy minerals and quantitative provenance identification of sediments from the muddy area outside the Oujiang Estuary since 5.8 kyr. Journal of Ocean University of China, 17(6): 1325–1335.
Srisuksawad, K., Porntepkasemsan, B., Nouchpramool, S., Yamkate, P., Carpenter, R., Peterson, M. L., and Hamilton, T., 1997. Radionuclide activities, geochemistry, and accumulation rates of sediments in the Gulf of Thailand. Continental Shelf Research, 17(8): 925–965.
Wang, K. S., Shi, X. F., and Lin, Z. H., 2003. Assemblages, provinces and provenances of heavy minerals on the shelf of the southern Yellow Sea and northern East China Sea. Advances in Marine Science, 21(1): 31–40 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Wang, K. S., Shi, X. F., Liu, S. F., Qiao, S. Q., Yang, G., Hu, L. M., Narumol, K., and Somkiat, K., 2014. Spatial distribution of heavy minerals in the surface sediments from the Western Gulf of Thailand: Implications for sediment provenance and sedimentary environment. Quaternary Sciences, 34(3): 623–634 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Windom, H. L., Silpipat, S., Chanpongsang, A., Smith, R. G., and Hungspreugs, M., 1984. Trace metal composition of and accumulation rates of sediments in the upper Gulf of Thailand. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 19(2): 133–142.
Yang, S. Y., Wang, Z. B., Guo, Y., Li, C. X., and Cai, J. G., 2009. Heavy mineral compositions of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) sediments and their provenance-tracing implication. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 35(1): 56–65.
Zhang, K. D., Li, A. C., Huang, P., Lu, J., Liu, X. T., and Zhang, J., 2019. Sedimentary responses to the cross-shelf transport of terrigenous material on the East China Sea continental shelf. Sedimentary Geology, 384: 50–59.
Acknowledgements
We appreciate two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on our original manuscript. This study was jointly funded by China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund: China-ASEAN Marine Geoscience Research and Disaster Reduction and Prevention Initiatives, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 4170 6074 and 41506107).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, J., Chen, X., Yin, P. et al. Sediment Characteristics, Sources, and Transport Patterns in Kompong Som Bay, Cambodia: Indications from Grain Size and Heavy Minerals. J. Ocean Univ. China 20, 329–339 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-021-4574-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-021-4574-x