GEOCHEMISTRY AND MAGNETIC-SUSCEPTIBILITY OF SURFICIAL SEDIMENTS OF THE NEW MANGALORE PORT

A geochemical study of surficial sediments of the New Mangalore Port has shown that there is no anthropogenic input of base metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn and Fe). In comparison with the adjoining inner shelf sediments, Port sediments seem to have a higher proportion of detrital particles and hence relatively less organic matter. Manganese is found predominantly as adsorbed species. Other base metals are present in the lithogeneous fraction. Organo-metallic association, reported by several workers for sediments, is not found in the Port sediments. Magnetic susceptibility of the sediments (Xm = 16.6 x 10(-6) emu/g) is higher than that for shelf sediments. This is because of deposition of detrital particles of magnetic minerals in the nearshore area. The susceptibility values are not high enough to suggest any particulate pollution due to the Kudremukh iron ore loading operations at the New Mangalore Port.