Boron, calcium and magnesium in Kavaratti lagoon water, Lakshadweep Archipelago

Abstract

Analysis of major elements in the water of Kavaratti lagoon show variations in the concentrations of boron from 4.08 to 4.25 mg kg sup(-1) (av. 4.15 mg kg sup(-1)); calcium from 420.4 to 429.3 mg kg sup(-1) (av. 424.79 mg kg sup(-1)); magnesium from 1228.8 to 1319.8 mg kg sup(-1) (av. 1280.19 mg kg sup(-1)) and the salinity varied from 35.01 to 35.10 x 10 sup(-3) (av. 35.04 x 10 sup(-3)). The ratios of boron, calcium and magnesium to chlorinity in the lagoon water showed wide variation and were very much lower than that of the surface seawater outside the lagoon indicating their removal. In the lagoon, the calcium and magnesium removal was attributed to their involvement in the biological precipitation of carbonates whereas the removal of boron was attributed to its co-precipitation with carbonates.