A Detailed Insight into the Detrital and Diagenetic Mineralogy of Metal(oid)s: Their Origin, Distribution and Associations within Hypersaline Sediments

Hypersaline environments are among the most vulnerable coastal ecosystems and extremely noteworthy for a variety of ecological reasons. Comprehensive assessment metal(oid) contamination in hypersaline sediments from Sečovlje (Northern Adriatic, Slovenia) was addressed by introducing detrital diagenetic mineralogy geochemical properties within solid sediment material. Close associations between Fe/Mn oxides oxyhydroxides with As, Cr, Ni, Pb Zn, organic matter Cu, Zn were confirmed using X-ray powder diffraction, SEM-EDS ICP emission spectrometry analysis. Possible incorporation or adsorption on crystal lattices clay minerals (As, Pb, Sn Zn), halite (As) aragonite/calcite (Cd, Sr Zn) also detected. All presented correlations highlighted various statistical analyses. The enrichment factor (EF) values showed low degree anthropogenic burden Bi, Hg while Cd, originated geological background. These results emphasise that detailed mineralogical characterisation (especially diagenetic) particles is crucial further understanding translocation ecosystems.