Ali S. Basaham

Trace elements in sediments of the Western Gulf

Abstract The concentration and distribution of Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, V, Zn, Mn, and Fe have been determined in sediments of the Western Gulf. The samples investigated are texturally classified into two main sediment classes: sand and mud. Mud sediments were found in Kuwait area, whereas at sites extending south from Kuwait sediments grade to sand-size materials. The differences in trace element concentrations reflect the variation in the overall composition of their host. The elements analysed were high in the mud samples from the Kuwait area and decrease to the south with an increasing sand fraction to attain their lowest concentration in the deposits of Qatar. The increase of trace element contents in the sand sediments of Saudi Arabia could be due to the presence of detrital sandsize particles rich in trace elements. A comparison with unpolluted sediments throughout the Gulf and worldwide, reveals that the effect of anthropogenic enrichment upon the absolute concentration of the elements is minimal.

Effect of municipal wastewaters on bottom sediment geochemistry and benthic foraminifera of two Red Sea coastal inlets, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Al-Arbaeen and Al-Shabab inlets are two Red Sea coastal inlets lying on the mid-coast of Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia. Forty-four surface sediment samples were collected from these inlets and surrounding areas during June 2010. Water depths and the overlying environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen) of these samples were measured. Sediment samples were analyzed for variables, such as loss on ignition (LOI, organic matter), CaCO3, heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr and Pb) and benthic foraminifera to assess any changes in the environment of the inlets and surrounding areas. Variables distribution patterns indicated that mud sediments dominated the inlets and enriched by LOI, heavy metals and Ammonia tepida–Quinqueloculina seminula assemblage, whereas coarse (sand–gravel) sediments dominated the substrates of surrounding areas and enriched by CaCO3 and Coscinospira hemprichii–Peneroplis planatus–Varidentella neostriatula assemblage with low values of LOI and heavy metals. Highest concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr and Pb were recorded inside the inlets, especially near the discharge points, and they were positively correlated with the LOI and mud fraction indicating their affinity to anthropogenic materials. However, highest concentrations of Fe and Mn were typically recorded in the whole study area. These metals were positively correlated with the LOI values of the surrounding area, but in the inlets they were negatively correlated with the LOI, indicating an existence of reducing conditions caused by limited dissolved oxygen conditions at bottom waters of the inlets. Changing the environment within the inlets, according to higher concentrations of heavy metals and LOI, is probably responsible for the existence of the low density and diversity of benthic foraminifera and the absence of (reefal) symbiont-bearing species.

Distribution and Geochemistry of Trace Elements in Central Red Sea Coastal Sediments

Fifty-one surficial sediment samples were collected from 21 stations situated in the nearshore area of the central Red Sea. Sediments were analysed for the major elements Ca, Mg, Al and Fe and the trace elements Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Co, Cd and Pb. The major grain-size classes gravel, sand and mud as well as organic carbon and carbonates were determined. Some samples were subjected to X-ray mineralogy. Sediments were generally coarse-grained but the fine fraction increased in the sheltered areas. The major mineralogical constituents of the sediments were carbonate minerals (calcite and aragonite) and detrital silicates (quartz and feldspars). Organic carbon was low (0.38%) in the northern part of the area but greatly increased in areas receiving direct sewage discharge (1-9.5%). Concentrations of trace elements were highly variable and appeared to be related to the grain size and the mineralogical composition. Generally, trace element concentrations were positively correlated with the mud and Al and Fe contents. In the polluted sites these regular associations were perturbed and trace elements were associated with organic matter. Element/Al ratios were used to group the sampling sites according to their degree of enrichment. The resulting order was different from that based on the absolute concentrations. The use of a combination of the element/Al ratio and the absolute concentration resulted in the distinction of highly and moderately contaminated and uncontaminated sites.