Particulate rare earth elements (REEs) provide a tool to understand sedimentary processes and sources in watersheds. To explore seasonal and inter-estuarine variability, concentrations of trace elements and REEs were measured in suspended sediments (>0.45μm) collected from surface and sub-surface waters of the Narmada and the Tapi estuaries during different seasons of 2016-2017. The overlapping ranges of σREEs in surface and subsurface samples of each estuary negate grain size effects in the water column. Interestingly, non-monsoonal samples of both estuaries show a significant depletion of σHREEs owing to interseasonal mineral sorting as suggested by the La-Th-Zr and Ti-Cr-Ni plots [1]. Similar chondrite-normalized distribution patterns of LREEs>MREEs>HREEs and a mild negative Eu anomaly during different seasons indicate no seasonality in sediment provenance for each estuary. A mixed sediment signature of Deccan Basalt and UCC type materials is indicated by the La-Th-Sc plot. Further, the absence of Ce anomaly confirms that silicate fractions, rather than Fe-Mn (oxy)hydroxide coatings, are major carriers of particulate REEs in these estuaries.References:
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