Environmental magnetic characterization of the sediments from shallow cores of Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat, India

This study examines the environmental magnetic properties of 80 subsurface sediment samples from the mudflats along the Gulf of Kachchh coast, Gujarat, India. A 1.04-meter shallow core was obtained from ten distinct locations, considering the impact of anthropogenic activities on coastal sediments. Magnetic parameters were employed as proxies for assessing environmental pollution, particularly in identifying anthropogenic particles. The subsurface sediments in the Gulf of Kachchh (GOK) are primarily dominated by ferromagnetic minerals, likely magnetite. The χfd percentage indicates the presence of superparamagnetic/single-domain (SSD) magnetic minerals, while elevated ARM/SIRM values suggest a significant presence of SSD (magnetite) grains. Additionally, the SIRM/χ ratio indicates an absence of multidomain (MD) grains. This study demonstrates the utility of magnetic proxies in detecting regions with higher pollution levels, potentially associated with heavy metal contamination.