Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geochemistry of Vellayani lake sediments: Indicators of weathering and provenance

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

The Vellayani lake, located on the west coast, Kerala, South India, is a natural fresh water lake. In order to understand the source and nature of the sediments; thirteen lake floor sediment samples were collected from the Vellayani lake at different intervals along the S-N transects covering the entire surface area of the lake. Textural studies indicate that lake floor sediments are dominant in sand (55.39%) followed by clay (30.57%) and silt (14.04%) fractions. Coarse components are dominant at the inlet ofthe stream into the lake. The geochemical content of the sediments reveals low SiO2, MnO, CaO, MgO, Na2O, K2O, and P2O5 content while TiO2, Fe2O3 and Al2O3 are high when compared with Post Archean Australian Shale (PAAS) and Upper Continental Crust (UCC) values. SiO2 is high in coarse fractions while Al2O3 is strongly associated with fine sediments. Major oxide contents supported by Rare Earth Element (REE) data reveal a distinct negative Eu anomaly reflecting a dominant cratonic origin of the sediments. Detailed geochemical data indicate a mixed source, predominantly, the lateritic soils, sedimentary and metamorphic bedrocks exposed around the lake and in the catchment area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ananthakrishnan, R., Parthasarthy, B. and Pathan, J.M. (1979) Meteorology of Kerala. Contrib. Marine Sci., pp.123–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, S.P., Drever, J.I. and ·Humphrey, N.F. (1997) Chemical weathering in glacial environments. Geol., v. 25, pp.399–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basu, A., Blanchard, D.P. and Brannon, J.C. (1982) Rare-earth elements in the sedimentary cycle: a pilot study of the first lag. Sediment., v.29, pp.737–742.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauluz, B., Mayayo, M. J., Fernandez-Nieto, C. and Lopez, J.M.G. (2000) Geochemistry of Precambrian and Paleozoic siliciclastic rocks from the Iberian range (NE Spain): implications for source-area weathering, sorting, provenance and tectonic setting. Chem. Geol., v.168, pp.135–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi, T.S., Mitra, S. and Mckee, B.A. (2002) Sources of terrestrially derived organic carbon in lower Mississippi River sediments: implications for differential sedimentation and transport at the coastal margin. Mar. Chem., v.77, pp.211–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braun, J.J., Ngoupayou, J.R.N., Viers, J., Dupre, B., Bedimo, J.P.B., Boeglin, J.L., Robain, H., Nyeck, B., Freydier, R., Nkamdjou, L. S., Rouiller, J. and Muller, J.P. (2005) Present weathering rates in a humid tropical catchment: Nsimi, South Cameroon. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., v.69, pp.357–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, D. (1970) Rock weathering. Plenum Press: New York, London, pp.203.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Condie, K.C. (1993) Chemical composition and evolution of the upper continental crust: contrasting results from surface samples and shales. Chemical Geol., v.104, pp.1–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cullers, R.L. and Graf, J. (1983) Rare earth elements in igneous rocks of the continental crust: intermediate and silicic rocks, ore petrogenesis. In: P. Henderson (Ed.), Rare-Earth Geochemistry. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp.275–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cullers, R.L. (1994) The chemical signature of source rocks in size fractions of Holocene stream sediment derived from metamorphic rocks in the wet mountains region, Colorado, USA. Chem. Geol., v.113, pp.327–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darmody, R.G., Thorn, C.E., Harder, R.L., Schlyter, J.P.L. and Dixon, J.C. (2000) Weathering implications of water chemistry in an arctic-alpine environment, northern Sweden. Geomorph., v.34, pp.89–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das, B.K. (2002) Biogeochemistry as an indicator of organic matter sources, paleolimnological and paleoenvironmental change in lacustrine sediments: a study of two Himalayan lakes. Environ. Geosci., v.9, pp.115–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das, B.K. and Haake, B. (2003) Geochemistry of Rewalsar Lake sediment, Lesser Himalaya, India: implications for source-area weathering, provenance and tectonic setting. Geosci. Jour., v.7, pp.299–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das, B.K. and Singh, M. (1996) Water chemistry and control of weathering of Pichola Lake, Udaipur District, Rajasthan, India. Environ. Geol., v.27(3), pp.184–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das, B.K., Al-Mikhlafi and Kaur, P. (2006) Geochemistry of Mansar lake sediments, Jammu, India: implication for source area weathering, provenance, and tectonic setting. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.26, pp.649-668.

  • Fedo, C.M., Eriksson, K.A. and Krogstad, E.J. (1996) Geochemistry of shales from the Archean (~3.0 Ga) Buhwa Greenstone Belt, Zimbabwe: implications for provenance and source-area weathering. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.60, pp.1751–1763.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaudette, H.E., Flight, W.R., Toner, L. and Folger D.W. (1974) An inexpensive titration method for the determination of organic carbon in recent sediments. Jour. Sediment. Petrol., v.44, pp.249–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedges, J.I. and Keil, R.G. (1995) Sedimentary organic matter preservation: an assessment and speculative synthesis. Mar. Chem., v.49, pp.81–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herron, M.M. (1988). Geochemical classification of terrigenous sands and shales from core or log data: Jour Sediment. Petrol., v.58, pp.820–829.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, S. (1988) Lake sediment geochemistry, General Geology, Encyclopedia of Earth Science., pp.373–379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin, Z.D., Wang, S., Shen, J. and Wang, Y. (2003) Carbonate versus silicate Sr isotope in lake sediments and its response to the Little Ice Age. Chinese Sci. Bull., v.48, pp.95–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnsson, M.J., Stallard, R.F. and Meade, R.H. (1988) First-cycle quartz arenites in the Orinoco River Basin, Venezuela and Colombia. Jour. Geol., v.96, pp.263–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krumbein, W.C. and Pettijohn, F.J. (1938) Manual of Sedimentary Petrography. Appleton-Century-Crofts: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loring, D.H. and Rantala, R.T.T. (1992) Manual for the geochemical analyses of marine sediments and suspended particulate matter. Earth Sci. Rev., v.32, pp. 235–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mclennan, S.M. (1993) Weathering and global denudation. Jour. Geol., v.101, pp.295–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mclennan, S.M. (1989) Rare earth elements in sedimentary rocks: influence of provenance and sedimentary processes. Rev. Miner., v.21, pp.170–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mclennan, S.M., Hemming, S., Mcdaniel, D.K. and Hanson, G.N. (1993) Geochemical approach to sedimentation, provenance and tectonics. Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Paper 285, pp.21–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nesbitt, H. W. and Young, G. M. (1982) Early Proterozoic climates and plate motions inferred from major element chemistry of lutites. Nature, v.299, pp.715–717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nesbitt, H. W., Markovics, G. and Price, R. C. (1980) Chemical processes affecting alkalis and alkaline earths during continental weathering. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., v.44, pp.1659–1666.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliva, P., Viers, J., Dupré, B., Fortuné, J.P., Martin, F., Braun, J.J., Nahon, D. and Robain, H. (1999) The effect of organic matter on chemical weathering: study of a small tropical catchment: NsimiZoétélé site, Cameroon. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., v.63, pp.4013–4035.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pettijohn, F.J., Potter, P.E. and Siever, R. (1972) Sand and Sandstones: New York, Springer-Verlag, pp.618.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, N.L., Boyle, J.F., Du, Y., Yi, C., Dai, X., Appleby, P.G., Bennion, H., Cai, S. and Yu, L. (2004) Sedimentary evidence for changes in the pollution status of Taihu in the Jiangsu region of eastern China. Jour. Paleolimnol., v.32, pp.41–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinha, S., Islam, R., Ghosh, S.K., Kumar, R. and Sangode, S.J. (2007) Geochemistry of Neogene Siwalik mudstones along Punjab re-entrant, India: Implications for source area weathering, provenance and tectonic setting. Curr. Sci., v.92(8), pp.1103–1113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S.R and Mclennan, S. (1985) The Continental Crust: Its Composition and Evolution. Blackwell, Oxford, pp.312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veena, M.P., Achyuthan, H., Eastoe, E. and Farooqui, A. (2014) A multiproxy reconstruction of monsoon variability in the late Holocene, South India. Quaternary Internat., v.325, pp.63–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viers, J., Dupré, B., Braun, J.J., Deberdt, S., Angeletti, B., Ngoupayou, J.N. and Michard, A. (2000). Major and trace element abundances, and strontium isotopes in the Nyong basin rivers (Cameroon): constraints on chemical weathering processes and elements transport mechanisms in humid tropical environments. Chem. Geol., v.169, pp.211–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vital, H. and Stattegger, K. (2000) Lowermost Amazon River: evidence of late Quaternary sea-level fluctuations in a complex hydrodynamic system. Quaternary Internat., v.72, pp.53–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wedepohl, K.H. (1995) The composition of the continental crust. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.59, pp.1217–1239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wronkiewicz, D.J. and Condie, K.C. (1987) Geochemistry of Archean Shales from the Witwatersrand supergroup, South Africa: source area weathering and provenance. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., v.51, pp.2401–5416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, E.D., Fogel, M.L., Rumble, D. III and Hoering, T.C. (1998) Isotoperatio-monitoring of O2 for microanalysis of 18O/16O and 17O/16O in geological materials. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., v.62, pp.3087–3094.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai, 600 025, India

    Veena Nair & Hema Achyuthan

Authors
  1. Veena Nair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hema Achyuthan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hema Achyuthan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Nair, V., Achyuthan, H. Geochemistry of Vellayani lake sediments: Indicators of weathering and provenance. J Geol Soc India 89, 21–26 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-017-0554-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-017-0554-6

Search

Navigation