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Geochemical Characterization of Al-Lith Coastal Sediments, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

This study investigates the geochemistry of Al-Lith coastal sediments using the spatial distributions of grain size and of some environmentally sensitive chemical elements and their geochemical zonation. The results show that the sediments are characterized by a wide range of grain sizes and consist mainly of terrigenous and biogenic carbonate materials. Statistical analyses of the data show three main factors controlling the distribution of elements. They are grain size, mineralogical composition, and organic carbon content. According to the elemental associations and distributions, four geochemical zones are identified. Zones A and C are dominated by carbonate-rich sediments and high concentrations of Ca and Sr and lesser Mg. Zones B and D consist of sandy and muddy sediments with low carbonate contents and significant concentrations of Fe, Al, Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Cr, and Cu. Elements show differences in partitioning trends, indicating varied elemental behaviors with environmental and sedimentological significance.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under Grant No. D-189-150-1440. The authors, therefore, thank DSR for financial support. The authors are very grateful for the reviewers and the editor for their constructive comments and editorial handling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Geology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. 80207, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Rashad A. Bantan & Ali S. Basaham

  2. Department of Petroleum Geology and Sedimentology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. 80206, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Ali A. Khawfany

  3. Department of Marine Geology, Faculty of Marine Sciences and Environment, Hodeidah University, 3114, Hodeidah, Yemen

    Ali A. Khawfany

  4. Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt

    Amin M. Gheith

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  1. Rashad A. Bantan
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Correspondence to Ali A. Khawfany.

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Bantan, R.A., Khawfany, A.A., Basaham, A.S. et al. Geochemical Characterization of Al-Lith Coastal Sediments, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Sci Eng 45, 291–306 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-019-04161-6

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