Assessment of depositional environmental factors in quaternary sediments: a case study of Thamirabarani River basin, Srivaikundam region of southern India

Abstract This study uses a thorough grain size analysis approach to the depositional environment in the Thamirabarani River basin, specifically in the Srivaikundam district of Tamil Nadu, India. There is a significant lack of research on the depositional settings and sediment features unique to the Thamirabarani River basin, even though there have been numerous sediments studies conducted in other river basins. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to investigate the depositional habitats and sediment characteristics of this area. The majority of the 18 sediment samples were determined to be medium- to fine-grained and poorly sort-able after extensive analysis using granulometric research and sieve methods. The low-energy formation process took place in a largely fine-grained or very fine-grained sandy soil, as indicated by the sediments platykurtic and mesokurtic morphologies. The depositional habitats within the region can be better understood by classifying the soil based on ternary plots of clay, silt, and sand, such as particle distribution curve. Furthermore, comparison with a unified soil classification chart aids in further categorizing the soil types. Soils can be classified and the depositional settings of different landscapes, such as rivers, estuaries, beaches, and aeolian terrains, can be better understood with the use of this comprehensive grain size study. Another interesting aspect of the Thamirabarani River basin sediment movement and deposition is the slow breakdown of rocks, especially feldspar and quartz, as they move through rivers and streams.