POLLUTION AND SEDIMENTARY CHANGE ALONG A CORE FROM THE SUBTIDAL OF THE COAST OF SFAX, SOUTHEASTERN TUNISIA
ELHOUCINE ESSEFI *
Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Gabes, Tunisia.
SOUMAYA HAJJI
Water-Energy-Environment Laboratory, Tunisia.
SANA BEDOUI
Laboratory for the Application of Materials to the Environment, Water and Energy (LAMEEE), Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Tunisia and Higher Institute of Water Sciences and Techniques of Gabes, University of Gabes, 6072 Zrig, Gabes, Tunisia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This work aimed to study changes in the near surface sediment of the subtidal of the coast of Sfax along a 154 cm core to set the limit of the Anthropocene. To obtain 77 samples, sampling was done every 2 cm. The magnetic susceptibility measurement along the core recuperated from the subtidal of Sfax coast displays clear upward increase due to high amount of heavy metals. In addition, clay, silt sand percentages argue an increase of the sediment flux recorded in many sedimentary sites during the Anthropocene. The grain size fining allows the concentration of heavy metals. The studies around the world showed that the Anthropocene limit is regionally dependent. This makes the adoption of the Anthropocene as a standalone geological subdivision not defended by geologists.
Keywords: Anthropocene, geochemistry, magnetic susceptibility, grain size distribution, the subtidal of the coast of Sfax