Effect of minerals and heavy metals in sand samples of Ponnai river, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

River sand samples have been collected from Ponnai river, Tamil Nadu, India for characterization of minerals and heavy metals by different spectroscopic techniques. Initially, the samples were subjected by Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FT-IR) spectroscopic technique and infra-red absorption bands values are observed in the range of 515–520, 695–700, 775–780 cm−1 which shows the presence of quartz in all the samples. Similarly, infra-red peaks were absorbed for feldspar, kaolinite, calcite, gibbsite and organic carbon and confirmed by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Additionally, zircon, aragonite, magnetite and kyanite minerals were identified in the samples using only the XRD method. The concentration of heavy metals such as Pb, Cr, Zn, Ni, Hg, As, Mn, Cu has been determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). An average metal concentration measured in mg kg−1 were: Pb 0.12, As 0.15, Hg 0.13, Cu 2.80, Zn 10.15 Cr 12.70, Ni 2.86 and Mn 104.94 and hence found in the order of Mn > Cr > Zn > Ni > Cu > As > Hg > Pb. These average values do not exceed the world average value and hence potentially do not affect the quality of sand in the river. In addition to that, presences of heavy metals are confirmed by scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS) analysis. In order to understand the possible natural and anthropogenic sources of heavy metals, multivariate statistical techniques such as Pearson correlation, principal component and cluster analysis were performed. Results obtained from the statistical techniques were good agreement with each other.

Indicator Minerals, Pathfinder Elements, and Portable Analytical Instruments in Mineral Exploration Studies

“…FTIR spectroscopy was utilized for the identification of different minerals in the river sand samples collected from Ponnai river, Tamil Nadu, India. IR peaks observed for quartz, feldspar, kaolinite, calcite, gibbsite, and organic carbon were confirmed by XRD technique, as well as energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS) analysis [54].…”

Mineralogical, physicochemical and thermal investigations of Taibet and Tendla sands material from the Northern Algerian Sahara

“…The major peaks were seen in both sand samples at 876 cm -1 , 1083 cm -1 , and 1879cm -1 corroborate the Si-O-Si symmetric bending and stretching vibration, respectively. However, the absorption band appears in T1 and T2 samples at 461cm -1 indicating Si-O-Si asymmetrical bending vibration (Chandrasekaran et al, 2021). The common absorption band at 694, 777, and 793 cm -1 present Si-O symmetrical bending and Fig.…”

Identification of soil erosion‑susceptible areas using fuzzy logic and sediment transport index aided by mineralogical-granulometric analysis in Subansiri basin, Assam, India

“…Fundamental to all soils, soil mineralogy is determined by the combined influence of soil-forming components and soil conditions in the environment, and is largely unaffected by immediate care or modifications in land use (Wang et al 2017). When confirmed with other techniques such as Fourier Transform-Infra Red, it is seen that XRD analysis gives an accurate result in mineral identification as both primary and secondary minerals can be known (Chandrasekaran et al 2021). By analysing the mineral composition of sediments using the XRD technology, sources of sediments have been revealed in order to comprehend the processes and triggers of sedimentation (Maity and Maiti 2016).…”