Identifying and Quantifying the Terrestrial Sediment Source Contributions to Coastal Dunes for Targeting Wind Erosion Mitigation in Jagin watershed, Hormozgan Province, Iran

A sediment fingerprinting method was applied to identify and quantify terrestrial sediment source contributions to coastal sand dunes at the outlet of the Jagin watershed, east of Jask, the Province of Hormozgan. Sampling comprised of 20 sediment samples from coastal sands and 62 samples from potential upstream terrestrial sources. Concentration of 49 geochemical elements in the sediment and source samples were measured using the ICP-OES technique. A three-stage statistical procedure was used to identify final composite fingerprints for source discrimination, and this comprised of a range test for tracer conservation, the Kruskal-Wallis H-test for confirming the discriminatory efficacy of the individual properties and the stepwise discriminant function analysis (DFA) for selecting a tracer shortlist (i.e., composite signature). The final composite fingerprint selected by the stepwise DFA comprised of Cu, Th, Be, Al, La, Mg and Fe. Using this signature, the overall average mean relative contributions from the Quaternary, Oligocene-Miocene, Miocene and Paleocene geological units were estimated at 5%, 5%, 10% and 80%, respectively. The Paleocene geological unit was identified as the dominant spatial source for 16 of the 20 sediment samples.  Therefore, wind erosion control for the benefit of coastal deserts, and especially the Makran region, needs to target upstream watersheds with the Paleocene outcrops. Overall, Paleocene age deposits (including multi-ophiolite sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, and minor conglomerate) was recognized as the main source for 16 sediment samples. Therefore, for controling water erosion in upstream and mitigating effects of wind erosion in downstream, management activities must focus on this source.