Assessment of Mineralogical Composition and Heavy Metal Pollution in the Surface Sediment of North West Persian Gulf

Abstract

In this study, the mineralogical composition and concentration of heavy metals in surface<br />sediment of North West Persian Gulf (Musa estuary and Hendijan coastline) were investigated. Fifteen<br />sampling sites were selected and the sediment samples were collected using Peterson grab sampler in August<br />2013. XRD analyses demonstrated that the sediments of study area are principally composed of calcite,<br />quartz and dolomite. The high concentration of calcium carbonate can be derived from limestone and frequency<br />remains of benthic organisms. The metal concentrations compared with values of these metals in the average<br />shale, indicated that all the sampling sites are contaminated with Pb and Ni. The results of enrichment factor<br />and geoaccumulation index demonstrated that at sites 3, 4, 5, 6 (near Emam port and petrochemical plant site),<br />14 and 15 (adjacent Bahregan port) have high metal concentrations due to anthropogenic activities such as<br />discharge of industrial, agricultural and residential wastewaters and shipping. Based on the average shale<br />contents, the result of EF are more reliable than the Igeo index.