Physicochemical Parameters, Grain Size Distribution and Mineralogical Composition of Recent Bottom Sediments and water of Qaroun Lake, Fayoum, Egypt.

Abstract

The present study aimed to study the physical and chemical properties of the recent bottom sediment and water of Qaroun lake. The water depth values of 4.4, 5.1, and 5.7 m were at the eastern, western, and central regions, respectively, as well as water transparency values were 71.9, 73.5, and 92.2 mS/cm at the eastern, western, and middle zones, respectively. The transparency increased with increasing the depth. Water’s (pH) was 8.05,7.85, and 8.13 while salinity values were found to be 177.6, 191.4, and 191.6 mg/l in the east, central, and western regions, respectively. Electrical conductivity increases gradually from the east zone to the zone of west, passing through the central area. The average values of carbonates in the recent bottom sediment of Qaroun lake have fluctuated between 31.08, 37.05, and 34.24% in the eastern, central, and western regions, respectively. In contrast, the average values of organic matter in Qaroun lake have fluctuated between 17.33, 16.78, and 26.68% in the eastern, central, and western regions, respectively.The silt and mud are highly accumulated in the eastern region, clay and gravel are high in the central part, and sand increased in the western area. The XRD showed the distribution of mineralogical composition over the lake was found in the ranges Montmorillonite, 2-15 %, Kaolinite, 2-7 %, Quartz, 30-40%, Halite, 8-55%, Anhydrite, 7-10, Calcite, 20-30%, Albite, 10 %, Anorthite, 5-8 %, and Cosite, 25-40%.