Abstract:
Mineral magnetic, geochemical and statistical
analyses were carried on surface sediments collected from
Vengurla and Aravali beach, along west coast of India,
premonsoon (PreM), monsoon(M) and postmonsoon (PM).
Magnetic concentration parameters (vlf, ARM, SIRM and
HIRM) are strongly correlated within them PreM during M
and PM. Thermomagnetic analysis identifies titanomagnetite,
magnetite, maghemite and hematite as the dominant
magnetic mineralogy of the sediments. Strong correlation
was deciphered between magnetic parameters and heavy
metal (Cu, Cr, Zn and Ni) PreM and PM which obliterated
in M. This shows influx of magnetic minerals and heavy
metals is more in M than PreM and PM. The monsoonal
influx is more haphazard and random in M because of
enhanced weathering resulting in weak correlation between
different mineralogical and geochemical entities. This
finding outlines the efficacy of simple, rapid and non-destructive
magnetic measurement which can be used as an
indicator for heavy metal contamination. It can act as a
proxy for measuring of heavy metal content in the coastal
and beach environment.
