Abstract
Textural properties and geochemical composition of sediments of the River Brahmaputra and six of its tributaries were studied to understand the geochemistry of the floodplain, to understand the extent of weathering and heavy metal-texture relationship. The pH and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) of the sediment samples were also determined to study their effects on the distribution of selected metals and few nutrients. Existence of significant correlation between Organic Carbon and Phosphorus is observed. The studied properties indicated significant physical weathering than chemical weathering in the source area. Variations of weathering characteristics among northern and southern tributaries of the River Brahmaputra, Mineral sorting as a function of source area, overprinting of chemical signatures of river sediments by industrial pollution are also observed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Goswami DC (1985) Brahmaputra river, Assam, India: physiography, basin denudation, and channel aggradation. Water Res Res 21:959–978
Galy A, France-Lanord C (1999) Weathering processes in the Ganges-Brahmaputra basin and the riverine alkalinity budget. Chem Geol 159:31–60
Galy A, France-Lanord C (2001) Higher erosion rates in the Himalaya: geochemical constraints on riverine fluxes. Geology 29:23–26
Garzanti E, Vezzoli G, Andò S, France-Lanord C, Singh SK, Foster G (2004) Sand petrology and focused erosion in collision orogens: the Brahmaputra. Earth Planet Sci Lett 220:157–174
Hay WW (1998) Detrital sediment fluxes from continents to oceans. Chem Geol 145:287–323
Krishnaswami S, Singh SK, Dalai T (1999) Silicate weathering in the Himalaya: role in contributing to major ions and radiogenic Sr to the Bay of Bengal. In: Somayajuly BLK (ed) Ocean science, Trends and future directions. Indian National Science Academy and Akademia International, New Delhi, pp 23–51
Ludwig W, Probst JL (1998) River sediment discharge to the oceans: present-day controls and global budgets. Am J Sci 298:265–295
Milliman JD, Meade RH (1983) World delivery of river sediment to the oceans. J Geol 1:1–21
Milliman JD, Syvitski PM (1992) Geomorphic/tectonic control of sediment discharge to the ocean: the importance of small mountainous rivers. J Geol 100:525–544
Ridgway IM, Price NB (1987) Geochemical associations and post depositional mobility of heavy metals in coastal sediments: Loch Estive, Scotland. Mar Chem 21:229–248
Sarin MM, Krishnaswami S, Dilli K, Somayajulu BLK, Moore WS (1989) Major ion chemistry of the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system: weathering processes and fluxes to the Bay of Bengal. Geochim Cosmochim Ac 53:997–1009
Sarin MM, Krishnaswami S, Trivedi JR, Sharma KK (1992) Major ion chemistry of the Ganga source waters. Proc Indian Acad Sci (Earth and Planet Sci) 101:89–98
Singh AK, Mondal GC, Singh PK, Singh S, Singh TB, Tewary BK (2005) Hydrochemistry of reservoirs of Damodar river basin, India: weathering processes and water quality assessment. Environ Geol 48:1014–1028
Singh SK, France-Lanord C (2002) Tracing the distribution of erosion in the Brahmaputra watershed from isotopic compositions of stream sediments. Earth Planet Sci Lett 202:645–662
Singh SK, Reisberg L, France-Lanord C (2003) Re-Os isotope systematics of sediments of the Brahmaputra river system. Geochim Cosmochim Ac 67:4101–4111
Singh SK, Trivedi JR, Pande K, Ramesh R, Krishnaswami S (1998) Chemical and Sr, O, C, isotopic compositions of carbonates from the lesser Himalaya: implications to the Sr isotope composition of the source waters of the Ganga, Ghaghara and the Indus rivers. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 62:743–755
Tessier A, Campbell PGC, Bisson M (1982) Particulate trace metal speciation in stream sediments and relationship with grain size: implication for geochemical exploration. J Geochem Explor 6:77–104
Vaithiyanathan P, Ramanathan AL, Subramanian V (1993) Transport and distribution of heavy metals in Cauvery river. Water Air Soil Pollut 71:13–28
Whitney PR (1975) Relationship of manganese-iron oxides and associated heavy metals to grain size in stream sediments. J Geochem Explor 4:251–263
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to Vice chancellor Tezpur University for providing the start-up grant for this experiment and HoD, Environmental Sciences for providing the required lab facilities including ICP-AES facility.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Handique, S., Senapati, N. (2013). Textural and Geochemical Characteristics of Sediments of the Brahmaputra River and Its Tributaries, NE India. In: Ramkumar, M. (eds) On a Sustainable Future of the Earth's Natural Resources. Springer Earth System Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32917-3_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32917-3_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-32916-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-32917-3
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)