A Compartimentalização Sedimentar de um Estuário do Nordeste Amazônico A Sedimentology Compartmentalization of a northeast Amazon Estu

Abstract

Sedimentological studies are the baseline to understand estuary contamination or pollution since the sedimentary characteristics are responsible for controlling and governing metals and nutrients distribution over the estuary. Hence, our main objective was to evaluate the sedimentary characteristics of the tide-dominated Mocajuba estuary located on the eastern Amazon coast, based on the sediment deposit dynamics (i.e., granulometry; hydrodynamics, and deposition of organic matter content and calcium carbonate). Granulometric, Cluster, and Principal Components Analysis was carried on classifying and identifying groups of sediments across the estuary. Three cluster groups and two environments (marine and estuary) were recognized. Cluster 1 represents the marine environment located at the mouth of the estuary, with a predominance of fine sandy sediments. This type of sediment is supplied