TRACE-ELEMENT GEOCHEMISTRY OF CLAY FRACTION AND BULK SEDIMENTS FROM VAMSADHARA RIVER BASIN, EAST-COAST OF INDIA

The geochemical investigations of the clay fractions of the Vamsadhara river channel, estuary and bulk sediments of the estuary are carried out to understand the distribution, source and processes by which vari ous trace elements are incorporated into the sediments. Texturally the river sediments are sandy silt and are coarse grained whereas in the estuary the sediments are clayey silts and are fine grained. In the es tuarine environment the higher concentrations of elements are associat ed with the clay fraction of the sediments than the bulk sediments. Th e results indicate that the trace elements are largely dependent on th e distribution of clay minerals from the source region.