Geochemistry of Some Heavy Metals as Recorded in the Sediment of the Kuala Kemaman Mangrove Forests, Terengganu, Malaysia

B. Y. Kamaruzzaman, H. Mohd. Lokman, N. A. M. Shazili, and I. Sulong

Mangrove Research Unit (Maru), Institute of Oceanography, University College of Science nad Technology, Malaysia, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu (Malaysia)

ABSTRACT:

A 150 cm core sediment from the mangrove forests of Pulau Sekeping, Kuala Kemaman, Terengganu were analysed for Al, Ti, Ba, U, Cd and Mn using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS). A significant high concentrations in the surface layer is not necessarily an indication for anthropogenic input but are more likely to the processes of the early diagenetic. Their high variations in the surface layer might be caused by the climatically-induced changes in the sedimentation rates. However, the relative low concentrations of some elements in the vertical profiles might be due to the low productivity during that period and/or probably due to the dilution of the biogenic matter with very high amounts of terrigenous material transported by the river nearby. In this Study, only Ti and Ba shows a strong correlation with Al and the close correlation to trends for the average shale of Al, suggests a solely aluminosilicates source for these elements. Meanwhile the other elements show no correlation with Al suggesting that they might have a anthropogenic source to the study areas.

KEYWORDS:

Anthropogenic input; core sediment; ICPMS; Mangrove forests

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Copy the following to cite this article: Kamaruzzaman B. Y, Lokman H. M, Shazili N. A. M, Sulong I. Geochemistry of Some Heavy Metals as Recorded in the Sediment of the Kuala Kemaman Mangrove Forests, Terengganu, Malaysia. Orient J Chem 2002;18(1).

Copy the following to cite this URL: Kamaruzzaman B. Y, Lokman H. M, Shazili N. A. M, Sulong I. Geochemistry of Some Heavy Metals as Recorded in the Sediment of the Kuala Kemaman Mangrove Forests, Terengganu, Malaysia. Orient J Chem 2002;18(1). Available from: http://www.orientjchem.org/?p=16962