Author/Authors :
ziad, n. university of ibn tofail - ecole nationale des sciences appliquées, Kenitra, Morocco , mas, j. l. university of seville - departamento física aplicada i, Seville, Spain , naouli, j. centre national de l’energie, des sciences et des techniques nucléaires, Rabat, Morocco , villa, m. university of seville - departamento física aplicada i, Seville, Spain , hurtado, s. university of seville - departamento física aplicada i, Seville, Spain , ghazi, m. centre national de l’energie, des sciences et des techniques nucléaires, Rabat, Morocco , laissaoui, a. centre national de l’energie, des sciences et des techniques nucléaires, Rabat, Morocco
Abstract :
Inductively coupled plasma – quadruple mass spectrometry was used for determination of uranium and thorium concentrations and lead isotope compositions in surface deposits and a sediment core for the intertidal zone of the Sebou Estuary located in the northwestern Morocco. The results showed that U and Th concentrations were respectively in the ranges of 0.79 to 1.14 ug.g⁻¹ and 3.75 to 5.14 ug.g⁻¹, while the vertical distribution presented important fluctuations throughout the core. Lead isotope ratios (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb) did not show any significant spatial variability along the covered area within the estuary, and the values found were characteristic of Pb generated mainly from natural sources. The data produced in this study were the first such data for sediment from the Sebou Estuary, and the results could be considered as baseline values for future environmental impact assessments.
Keywords :
Sebou Estuary , Uranium and thorium , ICP , QMS , Pb , isotopic ratios
