The effect of sediment size on metals bioleaching from bay sediments was investigated by using fine （〈 45 μm）, medium （45-300 μm）, and coarse （300-2000 μm） size fractions of a sediment sample contaminated wi...The effect of sediment size on metals bioleaching from bay sediments was investigated by using fine （〈 45 μm）, medium （45-300 μm）, and coarse （300-2000 μm） size fractions of a sediment sample contaminated with Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn. Chemical speciation of the metals in bulk and size fractions of sediment were studied before and after bioleaching. Microbial activity was provided with mixed cultures of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The bioleaching process was carried out in flask experiments for 48 days, by using 5% （W/V） of solid concentration in suspension. Bioleaching was found to be efficient for the removal of selected heavy metals from every size fraction of sediments, where the experiments with the smaller particles resulted in the highest solubilization ratios. At the end of the experimental period, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were solubilized to the ratios of 68%, 88%, 72%, and 91% from the fine sediment, respectively. Higher removal efficiencies can be explained by the larger surface area provided by the smaller particles. The changes in the chemical forms of metals were determined and most of the metal releases were observed from the reducible and organic fractions independent from grain size. Higher concentrations were monitored in the residual fraction after bioleaching period, suggesting they are trapped in this fraction, and cannot be solubilized under natural conditions.展开更多
Soil erosion is currently a major contributor to the degradation of global soil resources.The characteristics of sediment size distribution affect soil erosion processes.However,few studies have quantitatively explore...Soil erosion is currently a major contributor to the degradation of global soil resources.The characteristics of sediment size distribution affect soil erosion processes.However,few studies have quantitatively explored soil erosion processes and sediment size distributions on natural hillslopes for different land uses,especially in the Chinese Mollisol region.The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of land uses(corn,fallow,buffer strip and bare hillslopes)under 5°and 10°slope gradients on total runoff,runoff rates,soil losses,sediment concentration processes,and sediment size distributions.Natural runoff plots(20 m long and 5 m wide)were subjected to inflow scour experiments(1 L min–1 m–2,lasting 40 min).The results showed that the total runoff varied from 2.62 to 6.40 L m–2 and from 8.36 to 20.39 L m–2 on hillslopes at 5°and 10°,respectively.The changes in runoff rates versus run time exhibited gradual increasing trends at 5°,but exhibited initial rapidly increasing trends and then relatively stable trends at 10°.Fallow hillslopes produced the lowest soil losses,which were 45.34%-45.92%,2.74%-6.72%and 1.68%-3.44%for the corn,buffer strip and bare hillslopes,respectively.Most sediment concentrations were very small and stabilized between 0.5-2.0 g L–1 on the fallow hillslopes and 1.5-3.0 g L–1 on the corn hillslopes at 5°,but the changing trends in sediment concentration versus run time for the four land uses generally decreased at 10°.Furthermore,it was demonstrated that the proportion of sediment<0.25 mm was the largest in comparison with the other sediment size fractions,and<0.25 mm soil particles and aggregates played a dominant role in soil aggregate loss under different land uses.Thus,protecting these precious soil particles and aggregates by applying proper soil conservation measures especially for the relatively gentle hillslopes was particularly important.Additionally,the fallow hillslope with greater soil and water conservation capacities was very suitable for the Mollisol hillslopes.展开更多
Under the background of global climate change, anthropogenic processes have profoundly altered the sources and transport mechanisms of coastal sediments. While previous research has primarily focused on large river de...Under the background of global climate change, anthropogenic processes have profoundly altered the sources and transport mechanisms of coastal sediments. While previous research has primarily focused on large river delta coasts,the responses of the widely distributed small bays dominated by ocean dynamics, has received comparatively less attention. To address this gap, this study examines the Weihai Bay, located in the northeast of Shandong Peninsula,China. By integrating total organic carbon isotope tracers(δ^(13)C and C/N) with sediment transport modeling, we systematically analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of surface sediment grain size inside and outside the bay, along with their responses to natural and human-induced drivers. Our findings reveal that the sedimentary environment of Weihai Bay is governed by the combined effects of tidal currents, ocean currents, wave activity, and sediment supply. Tidal dynamics dominate the hydrodynamic conditions within the bay, while ocean currents predominate offshore. Surface sediments in the bay are primarily composed of silt, originating from sediments carried by the Yellow Sea Warm Current. These sediments enter the bay through the southern bay mouth under tidal forcing, are redistributed counterclockwise by residual tidal currents, and eventually exit via the northern bay mouth. Coarser sediments in specific areas are primarily controlled by strong wave action and terrestrial inputs. Between 1988 and 2023, Weihai Bay sediments have undergone a noticeable coarsening trend, primarily driven by anthropogenic modifications to sediment supply and hydrodynamic regimes. Coastal reclamation, shoreline modification, and infrastructure development have intensified coarse-grained terrestrial sediment input. Concurrently, shoreline advancement has reduced wave dissipation, enhancing nearshore hydrodynamics and accelerating sediment coarsening. This study highlights the sensitivity of small bay sedimentary environments to anthropogenic forcing, advancing our understanding of the coupled human-marine sediment system and providing a scientific basis for coastal sediment evolution under the dual influences of climate change and human activity.展开更多
Sediment transport in estuarine systems has been of increasing interest for scientists during the past few decades. However, the mechanisms for sediment redistribution remain unclear. We characterized in detail sedime...Sediment transport in estuarine systems has been of increasing interest for scientists during the past few decades. However, the mechanisms for sediment redistribution remain unclear. We characterized in detail sediment transport in the Xiaoqing River estuary using the mathematical Weibull function to partition grain-size components of surface sediments in the southwestern Laizhou Bay, Northeast China. Four partitioned components: finer than 4,4.6-12.5, 23.4-63.3, and 67.1-132.6 μm were interpreted in terms of hydrodynamic conditions. During sediment transport, silt grains were suspended and moved seaward from three depositional centers, whereas fine-grained sands moved generally landward. Overall, sediments are transported clockwise in a generally NNE direction near shore and then turn eastward offshore. The mathematical partitioning method showed a great potential for future estuarine environmental studies.展开更多
The forms of phosphorus and silicon in the natural grain sizes surface sediments of the southern Bohai Sea were studied. In sediments, the organic matter bound form of phosphorus was the main form of transferable phos...The forms of phosphorus and silicon in the natural grain sizes surface sediments of the southern Bohai Sea were studied. In sediments, the organic matter bound form of phosphorus was the main form of transferable phosphorus and ranged from 0.37 μmol/g to 1.57 μmol/g, accounting for 10.7% of the total phosphorus, others were the carbonate bound form, iron manganese oxide bound form and ion exchange able form; the transferable form of phosphorus accounted for 19.2% of the total phosphorus. Silicon’s carbonate bound form was predominant over others among its transferable forms, and content ranged from 1.55 μmol/g to 8.94 μmol/g, accounting for 0.05% of the total silicon; the total amount of transferable silicon forms accounted for only 0.12% of the total silicon. Therefore, 19.2% of the total phosphorus and 0.12% of the total silicon contained in the surface sediments of the southern Bohai Sea could participate in the biogeochemical cycling.展开更多
A closed or semi\|closed plateau lake, whose sediment records can provide us with plenty of fine and high resolution information, is a sensitive indicator of climatic and environmental changes. During the reconstructi...A closed or semi\|closed plateau lake, whose sediment records can provide us with plenty of fine and high resolution information, is a sensitive indicator of climatic and environmental changes. During the reconstruction of various short\|time\|scale climatic and environmental changes, the geochemical records in plateau\|lake sediments are superior to other natural files. Based on fine dissection of the vertical profile of sediment particle sizes, this paper reveals the quasi\|periodical changes of sediment particle sizes, which indicates the quasi\|periodical fluctuations of the regional climate. A synthetic analysis of multiple indexes shows that sediment particle size is a more sensitive and more effective index of climatic and environmental changes than other geochemical indexes. High content of >20 μm sediment particles and low content of 2-10 μm sediment particles indicate a warm\|dry climate and conversely a cold\|humid climate, and their ratio can be used as an effective index of climatic changes. The basic climate succession in the region of Lake Erhai is characterized as being alternatively warm\|dry and cold\|humid and it has been developing into a warm\|dry climate as a whole. There exist at least 2 time\|scale quasi\|periodical fluctuations of the regional climate in Lake Erhai. At present, the region of Lake Erhai is at the end of the warm\|dry period and at the beginning of a cold\|humid period, so the temperature will go down and the water level will rise.展开更多
Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, heavy metals in road-deposited sediments（RDSs） of parks are emitted into the terrestrial, atmospheric, and water environment, and have a severe impact on residents＇ ...Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, heavy metals in road-deposited sediments（RDSs） of parks are emitted into the terrestrial, atmospheric, and water environment, and have a severe impact on residents＇ and tourists＇ health. To identify the distribution and characteristic of heavy metals in RDS and to assess the road environmental quality in Chinese parks, samples were collected from Beijing Olympic Park in the present study. The results indicated that particles with small grain size（〈150 μm） were the dominant fraction. The length of dry period was one of the main factors affecting the particle size distribution, as indicated by the variation of size fraction with the increase of dry days. The amount of heavy metal（i.e., Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd） content was the largest in particles with small size（〈150 μm） among all samples. Specifically, the percentage of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in these particles was 74.7%, 55.5%, 56.6% and 71.3%, respectively.Heavy metals adsorbed in sediments may mainly be contributed by road traffic emissions. The contamination levels of Pb and Cd were higher than Cu and Zn on the basis of the mean heavy metal contents. Specifically, the geoaccumulation index（I geo） decreased in the order：Cd〉Pb〉Cu〉Zn. This study analyzed the mobility of heavy metals in sediments using partial sequential extraction with the Tessier procedure. The results revealed that the apparent mobility and potential metal bioavailability of heavy metals in the sediments, based on the exchangeable and carbonate fractions, decreased in the order： Cd〉Zn≈Pb〉Cu.展开更多
To reveal the sediment transporting mechanism between the abandoned Huanghe River （Yellow River） Delta and radial sand ridges, “End Member” Model and grain size trend analysis have been employed to separate the “...To reveal the sediment transporting mechanism between the abandoned Huanghe River （Yellow River） Delta and radial sand ridges, “End Member” Model and grain size trend analysis have been employed to separate the “dynamic populations” in the surficial sediment particle spectra and to determine the possible sediment transporting pathway. The results reveal four “dynamic subpopulations”（EM1 to EM4） and two reverse sediment transporting directions： a northward transport tend from the radial sand ridges to mud patch, and a southward transport trend in deep water area outside the mud patch. Combined with the published hydrodynamic information, the transporting mechanism of dynamic populations has been discussed, and the main conclusion is that the transporting of finer subpopulations EM1 and EM2 is controlled by the “anticlockwise residual current circulation” forming during tidal cycle, which favor a northward transporting trend and the forming of mud patch on the north of radial sand ridges, while the transporting of coarser EM3 is mainly controlled by wind driven drift in winter, which favors a southward transporting direction.展开更多
Sediment grain size in the deltaic environment of the Luanhe River(LR),Liaoning,China,contains sediment transport pathway information useful in elucidating the shoreline change and fluvialmarine interaction.In this st...Sediment grain size in the deltaic environment of the Luanhe River(LR),Liaoning,China,contains sediment transport pathway information useful in elucidating the shoreline change and fluvialmarine interaction.In this study,we utilized numerical partitioning of the sedimentary components and geostatistical grain size trend analysis(GSTA)to define the sediment transport pattern in the Luanhe River delta(LRD)and interpolated the sediment transport pattern using content changes of end numbers(EM).EM1(the mean grain size 7.12Ф,fine silt),EM2(2.37Ф,fine sand),and EM3(1.27Ф,medium sand)components were identified by the numerical partitioning by GSTA.Kriging interpolation method was used to interpolate the parameters of the grain size for the regular grid,and the interpolation radius was 0.015 decimal degree.We chose 0.09 decimal degree as the characteristic distance for GSTA in the semivariogram model using the geostatistical method.The FB(-)case(finer,better sorted and more negatively skewed)was adopted in GSTA for its satisfaction in the Global Moran’s I test.The result of the GSTA shows that the sediments in the south barriers(SBs)were transported to the southwest of the study area.The sediments in the north,in the SE direction of sediment transport trend from the river mouth,indicated that the sediments in the north of the study area were transported from the LR to the northern beaches,and to the south and east of the study area.The sediment transport trend that simplified by GSTA as the FB(-)case was approved by the content changes of sedimentary components(i.e.EM1,EM2,and EM3).In addition,the turbulent jet diffusion pattern indicated that the coarse sediments(EM3)were delivered by LR during the flood season,and the EM2 and EM1 were from wave and tide,respectively.展开更多
The particle size of sediment is one of the main factors that influence the phosphorus physical adsorption on sediment. In order to eliminate the effect of other components of sediment on the phosphorus physical adsor...The particle size of sediment is one of the main factors that influence the phosphorus physical adsorption on sediment. In order to eliminate the effect of other components of sediment on the phosphorus physical adsorption, the sediment mineral matrices were obtained by removing inorganic matter, metal oxides, and organic matter from natural sediments, which were collected from the Nantong reach of the Yangtze River. The results show that an exponential relationship exists between the median particle size （Ds0） and specific surface area （Sg） of the sediment mineral matrices, and the fine sediment mineral matrix sample has a larger specific surface area and pore volume than the coarse sediment particles. The kinetic equations were used to describe the phosphorus adsorption process of the sediment mineral matrices, including the Elovich equation, quasi-first-order adsorption kinetic equation, and quasi-second-order adsorption kinetic equation. The results show that the quasi-second-order adsorption kinetic equation has the best fitting effect. Using the mass conservation and Langmuir adsorption kinetic equations, a formula was deduced to calculate the equilibrium adsorption capacity of the sediment mineral matrices. The results of this study show that the phosphorus adsorption capacity decreases with the increase of Ds0, indicating that the specific surface area and pore volume are the main factors in determining the phosphorus adsorption capacity of the sediment mineral matrices. This study will help understand the important role of sediment in the transformation of phosphorus in aquatic environments.展开更多
In debris flow modelling,the viscosity and yield stress of fine-grained sediments should be determined in order to better characterize sediment flow.In particular,it is important to understand the effect of grain size...In debris flow modelling,the viscosity and yield stress of fine-grained sediments should be determined in order to better characterize sediment flow.In particular,it is important to understand the effect of grain size on the rheology of fine-grained sediments associated with yielding.When looking at the relationship between shear stress and shear rate before yielding,a high-viscosity zone(called pseudoNewtonian viscosity) towards the apparent yield stress exists.After yielding,plastic viscosity(called Bingham viscosity) governs the flow.To examine the effect of grain size on the rheological characteristics of fine-grained sediments,clay-rich materials(from the Adriatic Sea,Italy; Cambridge Fjord,Canada; and the Mediterranean Sea,Spain),silt-rich debris flow materials(from La Valette,France) and silt-rich materials(iron tailings from Canada) were compared.Rheological characteristics were examined using a modified Bingham model.The materials examined,including the Canadian inorganic and sensitive clays,exhibit typical shear thinning behavior and strong thixotropy.In the relationships between the liquidity index and rheological values(viscosity and apparent yield stress),the effect of grain size on viscosity and yield stress is significant at a given liquidity index.The viscosity and yield stress of debris flow materials are higher than those of low-activity clays at the same liquid state.However the viscosity and yield stress of the tailings,which are mainly composed of silt-sized particles,are slightly lower than those of low-activity clays.展开更多
Patterns of grain-size distributions of suspended sediment in relation to resuspension, settling, and tidal processes are investigated, based on in situ measurements over the Dafeng intertidal flat, on the Jiangsu coa...Patterns of grain-size distributions of suspended sediment in relation to resuspension, settling, and tidal processes are investigated, based on in situ measurements over the Dafeng intertidal flat, on the Jiangsu coast, in the summer of 2002 and 2003. The suspended sediment here is dominated by fine and very fine silt, with a mean grain-size of 7 - 13 μm. The patterns of the grainsize distributions of suspended sediment during a tidal cycle are characterized by two types： one stable type representing insignificant spatial and temperal variations; and the other bimedal type with significant variations. The main factors influencing the grainsize distributions include resnspension, settling, suspended sediment imported into intertidal flats during the flood phase, and the grain-size distribution of seabed sediment. Resuspension increases the coarse particle content, enhances the mean grain-size of suspended sediment, and results in grain-size distributions for the suspended sediment similar to those of seabed sediment; the settling process has opposite effects on the suspended sediment. When resuspension occurs, the gain-size distributions of suspended sediment in the lower part of water column respond significantly to the current velocity. Where the influence of resuspension and settling processes is weak, the grain-size distributions of suspended sediment appear to be stable and almost identical for the various parts of intertidal flats during different measurement periods. Such distributions are referred to the background grain-size distribution, for which the mean grain-size over the Dafeng intertidal flat is around 7 μm.展开更多
Distributions of the parameters of sedimentary grain sizes and their correlations were studied to trace the sources of silts and their movement trends in the Zhujiang River Estuary based on the analyses of grain sizes...Distributions of the parameters of sedimentary grain sizes and their correlations were studied to trace the sources of silts and their movement trends in the Zhujiang River Estuary based on the analyses of grain sizes from more than 1080 sedimentary samples. The distributions of the median diameter, public value, quartile deviation, and skewness of sediments were complex in the Zhuiiang River Estuary mainly because of the impact of the matter source regions, distances from the source regions, and hydrodynamic conditions, such as waves, tidal currents, and coastal currents. Analyses of the parameters of the grain sizes for the various types of sediments showed that the distributions of the surface sediments in the Zhujiang River Estuary were controlled by many factors. Their matter sources were mainly the sediments discharged from the runoffs and ebb tidal currents, and from the open sea. The sediments mainly moved by suspension movement. The silts formed a large area of sediments with suspended fine silts in the Zhujiang River Estuary by internal adjustment transportation in the area, and moved toward the western coast of the Zhujiang River Estuary under the effect of Coriolis forces and coastal currents.展开更多
The clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area,China,represent a pioneering windbreak and sand fixation project with a venerable history of 60 a.However,studies on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of clay–sand b...The clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area,China,represent a pioneering windbreak and sand fixation project with a venerable history of 60 a.However,studies on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of clay–sand barriers against aeolian erosion,particularly from the perspective of surface sediment grain size,are limited and thus insufficient to ascertain the protective impact of these barriers on regional aeolian activities.This study focused on the surface sediments(topsoil of 0–3 cm depth)of clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area to explain their erosion resistance from the perspective of surface sediment grain size.In March 2023,six clay–sand barrier sampling plots with clay–sand barriers of different deployment durations(1,5,10,20,40,and 60 a)were selected as experimental plots,and one control sampling plot was set in an adjacent mobile sandy area without sand barriers.Surface sediment samples were collected from the topsoil of each sampling plot in the study area in April 2023 and sediment grain size characteristics were analyzed.Results indicated a predominance of fine and medium sands in the surface sediments of the study area.The deployment of clay–sand barriers cultivated a fine quality in grain size composition of the regional surface sediments,increasing the average contents of very fine sand,silt,and clay by 30.82%,417.38%,and 381.52%,respectively.This trend became markedly pronounced a decade after the deployment of clay–sand barriers.The effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in erosion resistance was manifested through reduced wind velocity,the interception of sand flow,and the promotion of fine surface sediment particles.Coarser particles such as medium,coarse,and very coarse sands predominantly accumulated on the external side of the barriers,while finer particles such as fine and very fine sands concentrated in the upwind(northwest)region of the barriers.By contrast,the contents of finest particles such as silt and clay were higher in the downwind(southeast)region of the sampling plots.For the study area,the deployment of clay–sand barriers remains one of the most cost-effective engineering solutions for aeolian erosion control,with sediment grain size parameters serving as quantitative indicators for the assessment of these barriers in combating desertification.The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the construction of windbreak and sand fixation systems and the optimization of artificial sand control projects in arid desert areas.展开更多
The mound-making behavior of plateau zokors is one of the most important factors in remodeling meadow microtopography and causing soil erosion in the Yellow River source area of western China,but little is known about...The mound-making behavior of plateau zokors is one of the most important factors in remodeling meadow microtopography and causing soil erosion in the Yellow River source area of western China,but little is known about the effects of microtopography on particle size characteristics(PSC)of eroded sediments from the bare slopes of zokor mounds during different rainfall events.In this study,we analyzed the relationship of microtopographic features derived from laser point cloud data and PSC of eroded sediments at six simulated rainfall intensities(all lasting 60 min).The effects of microtopography on PSC of eroded sediments were studied via partial least squares regression(PLSR)and structural equation modeling(SEM).The results showed that:(1)15-20 minutes from the beginning of rainfall was the sensitive period of soil loss from the slopes,and the function relationship between the rate of sediment and runoff and rainfall intensity can better predict the development trend of soil erosion;(2)Intense erosion occurred mainly in the upper half of the zokor mound,while deposition was mainly limited to its lower half.It is suggested that diminished plateau zokor activity intensity can effectively prevent and control soil erosion;(3)The PSC of eroded sediment is dominated by silt,followed by sand,with clay being the least abundant,and the eroded sediments with a particle size of 10-20μm were sensitive and highly susceptible to rainfall erosion.This finding facilitates the understanding of the formation process of surface geomorphology and the mechanism of soil erosion;(4)The PLSR model indicates that microtopography has an extensive influence on eroded sediments during hydraulic erosion,and the SEM analysis results further confirm that the fractal dimension was the best parameter to represent the PSC of eroded sediments,whereas surface cutting degree was the dominant factor controlling the PSC of eroded sediments.These findings are crucial for predicting soil erosion in the Yellow River source area and provide a new perspective for understanding soil erosion mechanisms in alpine meadow ecosystems.展开更多
The freeze-thaw （FT） processes affect an area of 46.3% in China. It is essential for soil and water conservation and ecological construction to elucidate the mechanisms of the FF processes and its associated soil er...The freeze-thaw （FT） processes affect an area of 46.3% in China. It is essential for soil and water conservation and ecological construction to elucidate the mechanisms of the FF processes and its associated soil erosion processes. In this research, we designed the control simulation experiments to promote the understanding of FT-water combined erosion processes. The results showed that the runoff of freeze-thaw slope （FTS） decreased by 8% compared to the control slope （CS）, and the total sediment yield of the FTS was 1.10 times that of the CS. The sediment yield rate from the FTS was significantly greater than that from the CS after 9 min of runoff （P〈0.01）. Both in FTS and CS treatments, the relationships between cumulative runoff and sediment yield can be fitted well with power functions （R2〉0.98, P〈0.01）. Significant differences in the mean weight diameter （MWD） values of particles were between the CS and the FTS treatments in the erosion were smaller than those under FTS for both washed and observed for washed particles and splashed particles process （P〈0.05）. The mean MWD values under CS splashed particles. The ratio of the absolute value of a regression coefficient between the CS and the FTS was 1.15, being roughly correspondent with the ratio of K between the two treatments. Therefore, the parameter a of the power function between cumulative runoff and sediment yield could be an acceptable indicator for expressing the soil erodibility. In conclusion, the FTS exhibited an increase in soil erosion compared to the CS.展开更多
This study is conducted to investigate the occurrence of various geological features, and to study the geology and soil characteristics of the study area. To achieve the objective of this research collection</span&...This study is conducted to investigate the occurrence of various geological features, and to study the geology and soil characteristics of the study area. To achieve the objective of this research collection</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> different samples from different locations in study area were collected, analyzed in</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:"color:red;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">laboratory, and the results are compared with each other. The main rock types found in the study area were metamorphic rock (Gneiss) and igneous rock (Granite), and the main soil types found were Loam, sandy and silty soils with different soil structures (e.g. crumbling, platy, single grain, granular and prismatic). Calcium carbonate, Iron oxides and different sizes of sediments were also seen in the soil profile, where the size of sediments w</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ere</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> changing as it was course size sediments and gravels near the mountain range and as going far from the mountain it was changed to fine size sediments like sand, silt and clay. The river terraces present in the area co</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ver</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> different geological structures such as angular and erosional unconformities, thinning out of strata and potholes. The mountain range surrounded the study area contains different observable tectonic structures such as anticline, syncline, vines (dyke, sill and apophasis). Furthermore, different types of valleys also existed in this area.展开更多
基金supported by the Research Fund of Dokuz Eylul University (No. 03.KB.FEN.018)by the Turkish State Planning Organization (No. DPT.2003K120360)
文摘The effect of sediment size on metals bioleaching from bay sediments was investigated by using fine （〈 45 μm）, medium （45-300 μm）, and coarse （300-2000 μm） size fractions of a sediment sample contaminated with Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn. Chemical speciation of the metals in bulk and size fractions of sediment were studied before and after bioleaching. Microbial activity was provided with mixed cultures of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The bioleaching process was carried out in flask experiments for 48 days, by using 5% （W/V） of solid concentration in suspension. Bioleaching was found to be efficient for the removal of selected heavy metals from every size fraction of sediments, where the experiments with the smaller particles resulted in the highest solubilization ratios. At the end of the experimental period, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were solubilized to the ratios of 68%, 88%, 72%, and 91% from the fine sediment, respectively. Higher removal efficiencies can be explained by the larger surface area provided by the smaller particles. The changes in the chemical forms of metals were determined and most of the metal releases were observed from the reducible and organic fractions independent from grain size. Higher concentrations were monitored in the residual fraction after bioleaching period, suggesting they are trapped in this fraction, and cannot be solubilized under natural conditions.
基金funded by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant Nos.2016YFE0202900,2016YFC0501201)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41701325,41601281)。
文摘Soil erosion is currently a major contributor to the degradation of global soil resources.The characteristics of sediment size distribution affect soil erosion processes.However,few studies have quantitatively explored soil erosion processes and sediment size distributions on natural hillslopes for different land uses,especially in the Chinese Mollisol region.The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of land uses(corn,fallow,buffer strip and bare hillslopes)under 5°and 10°slope gradients on total runoff,runoff rates,soil losses,sediment concentration processes,and sediment size distributions.Natural runoff plots(20 m long and 5 m wide)were subjected to inflow scour experiments(1 L min–1 m–2,lasting 40 min).The results showed that the total runoff varied from 2.62 to 6.40 L m–2 and from 8.36 to 20.39 L m–2 on hillslopes at 5°and 10°,respectively.The changes in runoff rates versus run time exhibited gradual increasing trends at 5°,but exhibited initial rapidly increasing trends and then relatively stable trends at 10°.Fallow hillslopes produced the lowest soil losses,which were 45.34%-45.92%,2.74%-6.72%and 1.68%-3.44%for the corn,buffer strip and bare hillslopes,respectively.Most sediment concentrations were very small and stabilized between 0.5-2.0 g L–1 on the fallow hillslopes and 1.5-3.0 g L–1 on the corn hillslopes at 5°,but the changing trends in sediment concentration versus run time for the four land uses generally decreased at 10°.Furthermore,it was demonstrated that the proportion of sediment<0.25 mm was the largest in comparison with the other sediment size fractions,and<0.25 mm soil particles and aggregates played a dominant role in soil aggregate loss under different land uses.Thus,protecting these precious soil particles and aggregates by applying proper soil conservation measures especially for the relatively gentle hillslopes was particularly important.Additionally,the fallow hillslope with greater soil and water conservation capacities was very suitable for the Mollisol hillslopes.
基金The Fund of National Archaeological Talent Promotion Program of China under contract No.2024-269“2024 Shandong Weihai Underwater Archaeological Survey” program by National Center for Archaeology under contract No. 20243160A0965+2 种基金Fujian Provincial Science and Technology Planning Projects under contract No. 2022L3001Provincial Natural Science Foundation of Fujian under contract No. 2023J01020MEL Internal Program of Xiamen University under contract No. MELRI2303。
文摘Under the background of global climate change, anthropogenic processes have profoundly altered the sources and transport mechanisms of coastal sediments. While previous research has primarily focused on large river delta coasts,the responses of the widely distributed small bays dominated by ocean dynamics, has received comparatively less attention. To address this gap, this study examines the Weihai Bay, located in the northeast of Shandong Peninsula,China. By integrating total organic carbon isotope tracers(δ^(13)C and C/N) with sediment transport modeling, we systematically analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of surface sediment grain size inside and outside the bay, along with their responses to natural and human-induced drivers. Our findings reveal that the sedimentary environment of Weihai Bay is governed by the combined effects of tidal currents, ocean currents, wave activity, and sediment supply. Tidal dynamics dominate the hydrodynamic conditions within the bay, while ocean currents predominate offshore. Surface sediments in the bay are primarily composed of silt, originating from sediments carried by the Yellow Sea Warm Current. These sediments enter the bay through the southern bay mouth under tidal forcing, are redistributed counterclockwise by residual tidal currents, and eventually exit via the northern bay mouth. Coarser sediments in specific areas are primarily controlled by strong wave action and terrestrial inputs. Between 1988 and 2023, Weihai Bay sediments have undergone a noticeable coarsening trend, primarily driven by anthropogenic modifications to sediment supply and hydrodynamic regimes. Coastal reclamation, shoreline modification, and infrastructure development have intensified coarse-grained terrestrial sediment input. Concurrently, shoreline advancement has reduced wave dissipation, enhancing nearshore hydrodynamics and accelerating sediment coarsening. This study highlights the sensitivity of small bay sedimentary environments to anthropogenic forcing, advancing our understanding of the coupled human-marine sediment system and providing a scientific basis for coastal sediment evolution under the dual influences of climate change and human activity.
基金Supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No.2012M520369)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.40906047,41076031,40925012)+1 种基金the State Oceanic Research Project for Public Benefit of China (No.201105020)the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (Nos.2010CB951201,2012CB821900)
文摘Sediment transport in estuarine systems has been of increasing interest for scientists during the past few decades. However, the mechanisms for sediment redistribution remain unclear. We characterized in detail sediment transport in the Xiaoqing River estuary using the mathematical Weibull function to partition grain-size components of surface sediments in the southwestern Laizhou Bay, Northeast China. Four partitioned components: finer than 4,4.6-12.5, 23.4-63.3, and 67.1-132.6 μm were interpreted in terms of hydrodynamic conditions. During sediment transport, silt grains were suspended and moved seaward from three depositional centers, whereas fine-grained sands moved generally landward. Overall, sediments are transported clockwise in a generally NNE direction near shore and then turn eastward offshore. The mathematical partitioning method showed a great potential for future estuarine environmental studies.
文摘The forms of phosphorus and silicon in the natural grain sizes surface sediments of the southern Bohai Sea were studied. In sediments, the organic matter bound form of phosphorus was the main form of transferable phosphorus and ranged from 0.37 μmol/g to 1.57 μmol/g, accounting for 10.7% of the total phosphorus, others were the carbonate bound form, iron manganese oxide bound form and ion exchange able form; the transferable form of phosphorus accounted for 19.2% of the total phosphorus. Silicon’s carbonate bound form was predominant over others among its transferable forms, and content ranged from 1.55 μmol/g to 8.94 μmol/g, accounting for 0.05% of the total silicon; the total amount of transferable silicon forms accounted for only 0.12% of the total silicon. Therefore, 19.2% of the total phosphorus and 0.12% of the total silicon contained in the surface sediments of the southern Bohai Sea could participate in the biogeochemical cycling.
文摘A closed or semi\|closed plateau lake, whose sediment records can provide us with plenty of fine and high resolution information, is a sensitive indicator of climatic and environmental changes. During the reconstruction of various short\|time\|scale climatic and environmental changes, the geochemical records in plateau\|lake sediments are superior to other natural files. Based on fine dissection of the vertical profile of sediment particle sizes, this paper reveals the quasi\|periodical changes of sediment particle sizes, which indicates the quasi\|periodical fluctuations of the regional climate. A synthetic analysis of multiple indexes shows that sediment particle size is a more sensitive and more effective index of climatic and environmental changes than other geochemical indexes. High content of >20 μm sediment particles and low content of 2-10 μm sediment particles indicate a warm\|dry climate and conversely a cold\|humid climate, and their ratio can be used as an effective index of climatic changes. The basic climate succession in the region of Lake Erhai is characterized as being alternatively warm\|dry and cold\|humid and it has been developing into a warm\|dry climate as a whole. There exist at least 2 time\|scale quasi\|periodical fluctuations of the regional climate in Lake Erhai. At present, the region of Lake Erhai is at the end of the warm\|dry period and at the beginning of a cold\|humid period, so the temperature will go down and the water level will rise.
基金supported by the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation (No. 8142013)the Philosophical and Social Science Planning Program of Beijing (No. 13CSC010)
文摘Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, heavy metals in road-deposited sediments（RDSs） of parks are emitted into the terrestrial, atmospheric, and water environment, and have a severe impact on residents＇ and tourists＇ health. To identify the distribution and characteristic of heavy metals in RDS and to assess the road environmental quality in Chinese parks, samples were collected from Beijing Olympic Park in the present study. The results indicated that particles with small grain size（〈150 μm） were the dominant fraction. The length of dry period was one of the main factors affecting the particle size distribution, as indicated by the variation of size fraction with the increase of dry days. The amount of heavy metal（i.e., Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd） content was the largest in particles with small size（〈150 μm） among all samples. Specifically, the percentage of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in these particles was 74.7%, 55.5%, 56.6% and 71.3%, respectively.Heavy metals adsorbed in sediments may mainly be contributed by road traffic emissions. The contamination levels of Pb and Cd were higher than Cu and Zn on the basis of the mean heavy metal contents. Specifically, the geoaccumulation index（I geo） decreased in the order：Cd〉Pb〉Cu〉Zn. This study analyzed the mobility of heavy metals in sediments using partial sequential extraction with the Tessier procedure. The results revealed that the apparent mobility and potential metal bioavailability of heavy metals in the sediments, based on the exchangeable and carbonate fractions, decreased in the order： Cd〉Zn≈Pb〉Cu.
文摘To reveal the sediment transporting mechanism between the abandoned Huanghe River （Yellow River） Delta and radial sand ridges, “End Member” Model and grain size trend analysis have been employed to separate the “dynamic populations” in the surficial sediment particle spectra and to determine the possible sediment transporting pathway. The results reveal four “dynamic subpopulations”（EM1 to EM4） and two reverse sediment transporting directions： a northward transport tend from the radial sand ridges to mud patch, and a southward transport trend in deep water area outside the mud patch. Combined with the published hydrodynamic information, the transporting mechanism of dynamic populations has been discussed, and the main conclusion is that the transporting of finer subpopulations EM1 and EM2 is controlled by the “anticlockwise residual current circulation” forming during tidal cycle, which favor a northward transporting trend and the forming of mud patch on the north of radial sand ridges, while the transporting of coarser EM3 is mainly controlled by wind driven drift in winter, which favors a southward transporting direction.
基金Supported by the National Science Foundation of China and Shandong Provincial Government(No.U1706214)the Basic Scientific Fund for National Public Research Institutes of China(No.2016Q06)
文摘Sediment grain size in the deltaic environment of the Luanhe River(LR),Liaoning,China,contains sediment transport pathway information useful in elucidating the shoreline change and fluvialmarine interaction.In this study,we utilized numerical partitioning of the sedimentary components and geostatistical grain size trend analysis(GSTA)to define the sediment transport pattern in the Luanhe River delta(LRD)and interpolated the sediment transport pattern using content changes of end numbers(EM).EM1(the mean grain size 7.12Ф,fine silt),EM2(2.37Ф,fine sand),and EM3(1.27Ф,medium sand)components were identified by the numerical partitioning by GSTA.Kriging interpolation method was used to interpolate the parameters of the grain size for the regular grid,and the interpolation radius was 0.015 decimal degree.We chose 0.09 decimal degree as the characteristic distance for GSTA in the semivariogram model using the geostatistical method.The FB(-)case(finer,better sorted and more negatively skewed)was adopted in GSTA for its satisfaction in the Global Moran’s I test.The result of the GSTA shows that the sediments in the south barriers(SBs)were transported to the southwest of the study area.The sediments in the north,in the SE direction of sediment transport trend from the river mouth,indicated that the sediments in the north of the study area were transported from the LR to the northern beaches,and to the south and east of the study area.The sediment transport trend that simplified by GSTA as the FB(-)case was approved by the content changes of sedimentary components(i.e.EM1,EM2,and EM3).In addition,the turbulent jet diffusion pattern indicated that the coarse sediments(EM3)were delivered by LR during the flood season,and the EM2 and EM1 were from wave and tide,respectively.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 51179055,51239003, and 51125034)the Special Fund of State Key Laboratory of China (Grant No. 2010585512)
文摘The particle size of sediment is one of the main factors that influence the phosphorus physical adsorption on sediment. In order to eliminate the effect of other components of sediment on the phosphorus physical adsorption, the sediment mineral matrices were obtained by removing inorganic matter, metal oxides, and organic matter from natural sediments, which were collected from the Nantong reach of the Yangtze River. The results show that an exponential relationship exists between the median particle size （Ds0） and specific surface area （Sg） of the sediment mineral matrices, and the fine sediment mineral matrix sample has a larger specific surface area and pore volume than the coarse sediment particles. The kinetic equations were used to describe the phosphorus adsorption process of the sediment mineral matrices, including the Elovich equation, quasi-first-order adsorption kinetic equation, and quasi-second-order adsorption kinetic equation. The results show that the quasi-second-order adsorption kinetic equation has the best fitting effect. Using the mass conservation and Langmuir adsorption kinetic equations, a formula was deduced to calculate the equilibrium adsorption capacity of the sediment mineral matrices. The results of this study show that the phosphorus adsorption capacity decreases with the increase of Ds0, indicating that the specific surface area and pore volume are the main factors in determining the phosphorus adsorption capacity of the sediment mineral matrices. This study will help understand the important role of sediment in the transformation of phosphorus in aquatic environments.
基金funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council,Canada,via the COSTA(Continental Slope Stability)-Canada projectsupported by the Public Welfare & Safety Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)+1 种基金funded by the Ministry of Science,ICT&Future Planning(Grant No.2012M3A2A1050983)the Research Project (11-7622,13-3212)of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources(KIGAM)
文摘In debris flow modelling,the viscosity and yield stress of fine-grained sediments should be determined in order to better characterize sediment flow.In particular,it is important to understand the effect of grain size on the rheology of fine-grained sediments associated with yielding.When looking at the relationship between shear stress and shear rate before yielding,a high-viscosity zone(called pseudoNewtonian viscosity) towards the apparent yield stress exists.After yielding,plastic viscosity(called Bingham viscosity) governs the flow.To examine the effect of grain size on the rheological characteristics of fine-grained sediments,clay-rich materials(from the Adriatic Sea,Italy; Cambridge Fjord,Canada; and the Mediterranean Sea,Spain),silt-rich debris flow materials(from La Valette,France) and silt-rich materials(iron tailings from Canada) were compared.Rheological characteristics were examined using a modified Bingham model.The materials examined,including the Canadian inorganic and sensitive clays,exhibit typical shear thinning behavior and strong thixotropy.In the relationships between the liquidity index and rheological values(viscosity and apparent yield stress),the effect of grain size on viscosity and yield stress is significant at a given liquidity index.The viscosity and yield stress of debris flow materials are higher than those of low-activity clays at the same liquid state.However the viscosity and yield stress of the tailings,which are mainly composed of silt-sized particles,are slightly lower than those of low-activity clays.
基金The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 40231010 and 2002CB412408by the Post-doctoral Research Foundation of Shanghai under contract No.05R214119.
文摘Patterns of grain-size distributions of suspended sediment in relation to resuspension, settling, and tidal processes are investigated, based on in situ measurements over the Dafeng intertidal flat, on the Jiangsu coast, in the summer of 2002 and 2003. The suspended sediment here is dominated by fine and very fine silt, with a mean grain-size of 7 - 13 μm. The patterns of the grainsize distributions of suspended sediment during a tidal cycle are characterized by two types： one stable type representing insignificant spatial and temperal variations; and the other bimedal type with significant variations. The main factors influencing the grainsize distributions include resnspension, settling, suspended sediment imported into intertidal flats during the flood phase, and the grain-size distribution of seabed sediment. Resuspension increases the coarse particle content, enhances the mean grain-size of suspended sediment, and results in grain-size distributions for the suspended sediment similar to those of seabed sediment; the settling process has opposite effects on the suspended sediment. When resuspension occurs, the gain-size distributions of suspended sediment in the lower part of water column respond significantly to the current velocity. Where the influence of resuspension and settling processes is weak, the grain-size distributions of suspended sediment appear to be stable and almost identical for the various parts of intertidal flats during different measurement periods. Such distributions are referred to the background grain-size distribution, for which the mean grain-size over the Dafeng intertidal flat is around 7 μm.
基金The Special Fund of State Oceanic Administration under contract No.908-ZC-II-01the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.41106040+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under contract Nos 14CX02038A and R1201062Athe Qingdao Science and Technology Development Plan Projects under contract No.13-1-4-197-jch
文摘Distributions of the parameters of sedimentary grain sizes and their correlations were studied to trace the sources of silts and their movement trends in the Zhujiang River Estuary based on the analyses of grain sizes from more than 1080 sedimentary samples. The distributions of the median diameter, public value, quartile deviation, and skewness of sediments were complex in the Zhuiiang River Estuary mainly because of the impact of the matter source regions, distances from the source regions, and hydrodynamic conditions, such as waves, tidal currents, and coastal currents. Analyses of the parameters of the grain sizes for the various types of sediments showed that the distributions of the surface sediments in the Zhujiang River Estuary were controlled by many factors. Their matter sources were mainly the sediments discharged from the runoffs and ebb tidal currents, and from the open sea. The sediments mainly moved by suspension movement. The silts formed a large area of sediments with suspended fine silts in the Zhujiang River Estuary by internal adjustment transportation in the area, and moved toward the western coast of the Zhujiang River Estuary under the effect of Coriolis forces and coastal currents.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42230720,32160410,42167069)the Gansu Key Research and Development Program(22YF7FA078,GZTZ20240415)Gansu Province Forestry and Grassland Science and Technology Innovation Project(LCCX202303).
文摘The clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area,China,represent a pioneering windbreak and sand fixation project with a venerable history of 60 a.However,studies on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of clay–sand barriers against aeolian erosion,particularly from the perspective of surface sediment grain size,are limited and thus insufficient to ascertain the protective impact of these barriers on regional aeolian activities.This study focused on the surface sediments(topsoil of 0–3 cm depth)of clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area to explain their erosion resistance from the perspective of surface sediment grain size.In March 2023,six clay–sand barrier sampling plots with clay–sand barriers of different deployment durations(1,5,10,20,40,and 60 a)were selected as experimental plots,and one control sampling plot was set in an adjacent mobile sandy area without sand barriers.Surface sediment samples were collected from the topsoil of each sampling plot in the study area in April 2023 and sediment grain size characteristics were analyzed.Results indicated a predominance of fine and medium sands in the surface sediments of the study area.The deployment of clay–sand barriers cultivated a fine quality in grain size composition of the regional surface sediments,increasing the average contents of very fine sand,silt,and clay by 30.82%,417.38%,and 381.52%,respectively.This trend became markedly pronounced a decade after the deployment of clay–sand barriers.The effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in erosion resistance was manifested through reduced wind velocity,the interception of sand flow,and the promotion of fine surface sediment particles.Coarser particles such as medium,coarse,and very coarse sands predominantly accumulated on the external side of the barriers,while finer particles such as fine and very fine sands concentrated in the upwind(northwest)region of the barriers.By contrast,the contents of finest particles such as silt and clay were higher in the downwind(southeast)region of the sampling plots.For the study area,the deployment of clay–sand barriers remains one of the most cost-effective engineering solutions for aeolian erosion control,with sediment grain size parameters serving as quantitative indicators for the assessment of these barriers in combating desertification.The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the construction of windbreak and sand fixation systems and the optimization of artificial sand control projects in arid desert areas.
基金financially supported by the Qinghai University Graduate Student Research and Practice Innovation Project(2025-GPKY-12)Basic Research Project of Qinghai Provincial Science and Technology Department(2021-ZJ-701)+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(U23A20159,42161068)the 111 Project of China(D18013)。
文摘The mound-making behavior of plateau zokors is one of the most important factors in remodeling meadow microtopography and causing soil erosion in the Yellow River source area of western China,but little is known about the effects of microtopography on particle size characteristics(PSC)of eroded sediments from the bare slopes of zokor mounds during different rainfall events.In this study,we analyzed the relationship of microtopographic features derived from laser point cloud data and PSC of eroded sediments at six simulated rainfall intensities(all lasting 60 min).The effects of microtopography on PSC of eroded sediments were studied via partial least squares regression(PLSR)and structural equation modeling(SEM).The results showed that:(1)15-20 minutes from the beginning of rainfall was the sensitive period of soil loss from the slopes,and the function relationship between the rate of sediment and runoff and rainfall intensity can better predict the development trend of soil erosion;(2)Intense erosion occurred mainly in the upper half of the zokor mound,while deposition was mainly limited to its lower half.It is suggested that diminished plateau zokor activity intensity can effectively prevent and control soil erosion;(3)The PSC of eroded sediment is dominated by silt,followed by sand,with clay being the least abundant,and the eroded sediments with a particle size of 10-20μm were sensitive and highly susceptible to rainfall erosion.This finding facilitates the understanding of the formation process of surface geomorphology and the mechanism of soil erosion;(4)The PLSR model indicates that microtopography has an extensive influence on eroded sediments during hydraulic erosion,and the SEM analysis results further confirm that the fractal dimension was the best parameter to represent the PSC of eroded sediments,whereas surface cutting degree was the dominant factor controlling the PSC of eroded sediments.These findings are crucial for predicting soil erosion in the Yellow River source area and provide a new perspective for understanding soil erosion mechanisms in alpine meadow ecosystems.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(2016YFC040240X)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41471226,41330858)the Independent Research Foundation of State Key Laboratory Base of Eco-Hydraulic Engineering in Arid Area(2016KFKT-8)
文摘The freeze-thaw （FT） processes affect an area of 46.3% in China. It is essential for soil and water conservation and ecological construction to elucidate the mechanisms of the FF processes and its associated soil erosion processes. In this research, we designed the control simulation experiments to promote the understanding of FT-water combined erosion processes. The results showed that the runoff of freeze-thaw slope （FTS） decreased by 8% compared to the control slope （CS）, and the total sediment yield of the FTS was 1.10 times that of the CS. The sediment yield rate from the FTS was significantly greater than that from the CS after 9 min of runoff （P〈0.01）. Both in FTS and CS treatments, the relationships between cumulative runoff and sediment yield can be fitted well with power functions （R2〉0.98, P〈0.01）. Significant differences in the mean weight diameter （MWD） values of particles were between the CS and the FTS treatments in the erosion were smaller than those under FTS for both washed and observed for washed particles and splashed particles process （P〈0.05）. The mean MWD values under CS splashed particles. The ratio of the absolute value of a regression coefficient between the CS and the FTS was 1.15, being roughly correspondent with the ratio of K between the two treatments. Therefore, the parameter a of the power function between cumulative runoff and sediment yield could be an acceptable indicator for expressing the soil erodibility. In conclusion, the FTS exhibited an increase in soil erosion compared to the CS.
文摘This study is conducted to investigate the occurrence of various geological features, and to study the geology and soil characteristics of the study area. To achieve the objective of this research collection</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> different samples from different locations in study area were collected, analyzed in</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:"color:red;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">laboratory, and the results are compared with each other. The main rock types found in the study area were metamorphic rock (Gneiss) and igneous rock (Granite), and the main soil types found were Loam, sandy and silty soils with different soil structures (e.g. crumbling, platy, single grain, granular and prismatic). Calcium carbonate, Iron oxides and different sizes of sediments were also seen in the soil profile, where the size of sediments w</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ere</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> changing as it was course size sediments and gravels near the mountain range and as going far from the mountain it was changed to fine size sediments like sand, silt and clay. The river terraces present in the area co</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ver</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> different geological structures such as angular and erosional unconformities, thinning out of strata and potholes. The mountain range surrounded the study area contains different observable tectonic structures such as anticline, syncline, vines (dyke, sill and apophasis). Furthermore, different types of valleys also existed in this area.
