Organic Geochemistry of Khowr-e-Mussa's Sediments and its Adjacent Marine Areas, Northwest of the Persian Gulf

In order to study of organic geochemistry of bed sediments in Khowr-e-Mussa and its adjacent marine areas, 61 surface sediment samples were collected. Based on granulometric analysis of the sediments, 4 major sedimentary types comprising mud, sandy mud, muddy sand, and slightly gravelly muddy sand were determined. The bed sediments are mainly composed of terrigenous (quartz, feldespar, rock fragments, carbonate lithics and clay minerals) and chemical – biochemical (bivalve, gastropod, foraminifera, ostracod and bryozoa) particles. Based on the organic geochemistry studies, the total organic carbon (TOC) varies 0.11 to 0.70 %wt, which increases in the muddy sediments. The studied kerogens (based on S2/TOC diagram) indicate that the kerogen types III (3) and mixture of III-II (U) are the most abundant. In addition, the hydrogen index versus Tmax diagram, revealed the similar results. The studied kerogens indicated that this part of the Persian Gulf affected by the transportation of terrestrial (fluvial, III type) rather than the marine organic matter (II type).