The geochemical and grain size analysis were carried out on surface and down core sediments from the present-day alluvial-coastal plain of the Medjerda River, Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia. The aim of this paper is to characterize the geochemical and grain size distribution of sediments and its relationship with the hydrodynamics extreme events occurring during the last century. Using a multi proxy approach, six turbidities layers have been identified in down core sediment (i.e. TL-1, TL-2, TL-3, TL-4, TL-5, TL-6, TL-7 and TL-8) characterized by multimodal grain size distribution. The terrestrial sediment which feeds the northern coastal of the Gulf of Tunis is characterized by very fine-grained sediment (clay and silt). The geochemical signature shows a highly concentration of Rb, Ti, Zn and Pb. The Medjerda River is the mainly source of silts and clay sediment. Besides, the mining pollution (Zn and Pb) is relatively strong in the coastal area, especially during the great floods events of Medjerda watershed recorded in the 1953; 1957; 1969 and 1973. Even during high frequency events, the sediments are devoid of any coarse fraction.
Benmoussa, T., Amrouni, O., Dezileau, L., Mahe, G., Chiarella, D., Abdeljaouad, S. (2019). Recent Geochemical and Grain Size Distribution of Terrestrial Sediment in Coastal Area from the Watershed of Medjerda River, Gulf of Tunis. Zurich : Springer [10.1007/978-3-030-01452-0_83].
Recent Geochemical and Grain Size Distribution of Terrestrial Sediment in Coastal Area from the Watershed of Medjerda River, Gulf of Tunis
Chiarella D.;
2019
Abstract
The geochemical and grain size analysis were carried out on surface and down core sediments from the present-day alluvial-coastal plain of the Medjerda River, Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia. The aim of this paper is to characterize the geochemical and grain size distribution of sediments and its relationship with the hydrodynamics extreme events occurring during the last century. Using a multi proxy approach, six turbidities layers have been identified in down core sediment (i.e. TL-1, TL-2, TL-3, TL-4, TL-5, TL-6, TL-7 and TL-8) characterized by multimodal grain size distribution. The terrestrial sediment which feeds the northern coastal of the Gulf of Tunis is characterized by very fine-grained sediment (clay and silt). The geochemical signature shows a highly concentration of Rb, Ti, Zn and Pb. The Medjerda River is the mainly source of silts and clay sediment. Besides, the mining pollution (Zn and Pb) is relatively strong in the coastal area, especially during the great floods events of Medjerda watershed recorded in the 1953; 1957; 1969 and 1973. Even during high frequency events, the sediments are devoid of any coarse fraction.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
