Environmental Geochemistry of the Surface Sediments of Sabkhat Daryana, NE Libya

Abstract

The present paper discriminates between nearshore and farshore sabkha sediments at Daryana Coast,
NE Libya, using geochemical viewpoints. The nearshore sediments are mostly sand with low amounts of
mud (Al). High contents of heavy metals found in these sediments can be due to their incorporation in
carbonate phases. The farshore sediments are mostly sandy mud with higher contents of Al and lower
contents of heavy metals, except higher contents of Pb. The heavy metals are mainly of anthropogenic
origin (EF > 1.5). Generally, Igeo values indicate that the study area is unpolluted with most heavy
metals (except with As and Hg).