Distribution of Phosphate in Sediments of Gulf of Kutch

Total phosphate in the sediments ranges from 0.15 to 0.29% in the bulk samples and from 0.09 to 0.23% in the acid soluble fractions of the samples. There was no appreciable variation in the phosphate within the Gulf and no significant relation was observed between phosphate content and texture of the sediments. Invariably higher concentrations of phosphate were associated with the acid soluble fractions as compared to the acid insoluble fractions. The contributions made by the acid insoluble fractions to the phosphate concentration in the bulk samples was probably through the detrital minerals with which it might be associated, while the contributions made by the acid soluble fraction was probably in the form of adsorbed phosphate than in association with the carbonate phase.