Source-to-sink sediment dispersal system of the present-day erosional processes at the Dhadhar river basin, Gujarat, Western India

A source-to-sink investigation of present-day erosional engine is vital not only for provenance characterization but also for longterm coastal and basin wide planning to assess sediment erosion and accretion spots. The present investigation at the Dhadhar River basin is aimed to identify various end-members contributing to erosional cycle at basin wide scale and characterize their geochemical fingerprints. The major element such as Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, and SiO2 and trace elements like Sr were studied in 38 surface stream sediments to elucidate the end-members for sediment generation in the Dhadhar River basin. Basin has three well-defined end members contributing to: (i) Deccan provenance (Pavagadh igneous complex), (ii) Aravallis (Champaner Group), and (iii) longshore-derived estuarine sediments. The spatial distribution of concentration of the elements suggests that during the transit the variations are mostly governed by changes in source lithology. The study contradicts the previously held belief ~ that the Deccan Trap source produces a significant amount of sediment, which overshadows other sources during its transport along rivers. The important factor governing it is the lithology, terrain, and sub-humid climate which seems to influence the ultimate generation (source) and transport of sediments in the final depositional environment (sink). The results suggest that this successfully aided in fingerprinting the provenance terrain of the characteristically different end-members.