Ca/Al and Ca/Fe as Indicators of Terrigenous and Marine Origin in East Coast Peninsular Malaysia During Holocene

A coastal area is an area that is very exposed to sea level changes for a long period, especially during the Holocene. Three marine sediment cores (TRC 3 and TER16-GC13C) in the offshore area were analysed for radiocarbon (14C) and some geochemical elements (Na, Al, Ca, Fe, Li, Pb, Zn, and Ba) in response to the terrigenous- and marine-originated sediment changes of in East Coast Peninsula Malaysia (ECPM) during the Holocene epoch. Across three Holocene stages, geochemical elements show a distinct temporal pattern. The average concentrations of the studied metals were in decreasing order as follows: Al > Na > Ca > Fe > Pb > Zn > Li > Ba. Dominant terrigenous/marine origin was captured by the ratio Ca/Al and Ca/Fe in the early Holocene/late Holocene. The present study suggests that sea level transgression is the primary factor controlling the shifting of terrigenous- and marine-originated sediments in the ECPM.