Clay Minerals and Provenance Study in Modern Sedimentary Environments

A multi-disciplinary investigation into the role of provenance on clay distribution in Ravenglass estuary in North West England employed a range of techniques including clay mineralogy, process sedimentology, surface water and sediment geochemistry and wash load analysis. The Ravenglass estuary is fed by two different types of rocks which are drained through two rivers. Irt River to the north drains the St. Bees Triassic Sandstones and Esk River to the south drains the Eskdale granite...The results reveal that the hinterland has a specific role in clay mineral distribution across the estuarine systems... Comparison between fluvial and estuarine sediments shows a considerable variation in clay mineral quantification and qualification... Chlorite is fed to the estuary from the hinterland via river waters and in association with eliminated iron from the river. Berthierine is formed within the estuary in a cold temperature shallow-marine environment...Estuaries are sites for not onlyFe-clay creation and accumulation but also for the generation of coated grains.