Geochemistry distribution of metals in sediment cores from Sulu-Sulawesi Sea of Sabah

Abstract

A study was carried out on the distribution of Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu in sediment cores at two station in the Sulu-Sulawesi Sea off Sabah. Justification of the study is to monitor metal concentration in marine environment of Sulu-Sulawesi Sea because Sulu-Sulawesi is situated in the Coral Triangle Initiative area which has rich and unique biodiversity. Information regarding heavy metals from sediment cores in SuluSulawesi Sea off Sabah is very scarce. Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Pb, Zn, Cd & Cu are measured by ICPMS (Perkins - Elmer Elan 9000). The concentration range, mean value from each sediment layer and length of sediment were determined. Same pattern of depth core distribution of Al, Mg and Ca at Station 9 were observed. This is due to Al, Mg and ca are all abundant in the earth crust and this showed that these three metals have the same depth core distribution pattern. There is a significant decrease in the depth of 70-80cm rot Al, Mg and Ca at Station 9. Al is chosen as the reference element due to the abundance in fine sediment. The normalization will be done by plotting the concentration of selected heavy metals against Al concentration. For station 9, normalization graph Al versus Fe, Mg, Ca, Pb and Cu showed that most of it ate within 95% confidence curve. This showed that Fe, Mg, Ca, Pb and Cu should be originated from the environment. In conclusion, Sulu-Sulawesi off Saban site is unpolluted based this research and more research need to f>e done for baseline study.