Title: Heavy metals and clay minerals in surface sediments from the Mazatlan Bay, Mexican subtropical Pacific coast

Authors: C. Green-Ruiz, F. Paez-Osuna, L. De Pablo-Galan

Addresses: Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology, Mazatlan Academic Unit, National Autonomous University of Mexico, P.O. Box 811, Mazatlan 82000, Sinaloa, Mexico. ' Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology, Mazatlan Academic Unit, National Autonomous University of Mexico, P.O. Box 811, Mazatlan 82000, Sinaloa, Mexico. ' Institute of Geology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, DF 04510, Mexico

Abstract: To know the geochemical behaviour of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni and Zn, their sources, distribution patterns and association with sedimentological factors (organic carbon and carbonate contents, grain size and clay mineralogy of the sediments), 29 surface sediment samples were collected from the Mazatlan Bay, Mexico. In addition to the determination of the concentration of these variables by standard methods proposed on the literature, a correlation matrix and two principal component analyses (PCA) were made and a normalisation procedure was performed employing Li and organic C as conservative elements. Three groups of metals were defined according to their geochemical behaviour: Al, Cr, Fe, Li, Mn and Zn; Cd and Cu; Ni.

Keywords: heavy metals; clay minerals; surface sediments; Mazatlan Bay; subtropical pacific; Mexico; geochemical behaviour; distribution patterns; water pollution; principal component analysis; PCA; coastal waters.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2006.009107

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2006 Vol.26 No.1/2/3, pp.201 - 219

Published online: 02 Mar 2006 *

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