Surface sediments of southern Khuzestan plain classification based on physical and chemical characteristics and determine the most effective factors and variables in the variability of the sediments

Study of surface sediments of southern Khuzestan plain in Shadegan marshes surroundings was made to understand the nature of the sediments, their classification and determining the most effective physical and chemical characteristics of sediments change. Samples were taken from 27 points inside the work units. The chemical characteristics of sediment samples containing calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, sodium chloride, sodium, magnesium, calcium, electrical conductivity, pH and sodium absorption ratio, was measured. After removal all carbonates and evaporates materials, the portion of carbonates-evaporates and terrigenous parts, was specified. Granulometry for terrigenous part was done for terrigenous materials. The new method of classification was performed for these fine sediments containing solutes, which considers the portion of the chemical and terrigenous parts, was performed.
In order to specify the most effective factors and variables in the sediment variability, factor analysis and cluster analysis were used consequently. Classification results showed that the sediments are marl, with similar components with Iran tertiary marls. Two main factors, the components of the new classification and the chemical characteristics were controlled sediments variability, while the chemical characteristics had more effective roles. According to the results of cluster analysis, Sodium was the most effective variable which its value varies up to more than 20 in different work units. The results of this study show that the use of the new method of classification together with statistical analysis led to extract more details from flat and broad playa and sabkha environments.