Clay Mineral Distribution on the Kerala Continental Shelf and Slope

Seventy-five sediment samples collected from the Kerala continental shelf and slope during the 17th and 71st Cruises of RV Gaveshani were analysed by X-ray diffraction for clay mineral content. The distribution of total clay < 4μ fraction) indicates low percentages < 10%) on the outer shelf and high percentages on the inner shelf (20 to 50%) and upper continental slope (11 to 47%). The clay minerals are composed of montmorillonite (smectite), kaolinite, illite and gibbsite and the nonclay minerals are quartz and feldspar. Kaolinite and gibbsite have low values on the outer shelf and high values on the inner shelf and slope, while illite increases in the offshore direction. However, montmorillonite behaves differently from others in having high values on the outer shelf and low values on the inner shelf and slope. These variations in the clay mineral distribution have been attributed to differences in the energy of the various environments and due to size segregation of the minerals.