ORGANIC-MATTER AND CARBONATE IN THE SOUTHWEST CONTINENTAL-SHELF OF INDIA

Twenty five sediment samples, from seven traverses, were collected fro m the southwestern continental shelf of India. A variation in the orga nic matter from zero to 11.26% and carbonate from 7 to 96% is noticed. The stations located off the river mouth areas show high amount of or ganic matter and low amount of carbonate content, whereas outershelf s ediments display high amount of organic matter and carbonate contents. However, in between these two zones, at the depth of 35 to 65 m, the concentration of organic matter and carbonate is found to have a consi derable decrease in amount. It is inferred that this zone might be a p aleo beach environment admixtured with present day marine environment.