Abstract

Previous studies have documented a weathering-limited regime in the upper reaches of the Ganges River Basin. Chemical weathering and element mobility at six sites in the lower reaches of the Ganges in the tidal floodplain of Southwest Bangladesh were investigated by comparing compositions of rice paddy soils, precursor tidal channel sediments, surface waters, and extract solutions, which represent the soluble fraction of solids. Little spatial variation in water and solid compositions is observed in each season, indicating similar processes are acting to transport elements across this region. Roughly one to several decades after deposition, rice paddy soils are not significantly different in mineralogy or composition from precursor tidal channel sediments, and both are similar to the composition of average upper continental crust. There is no detectable change in composition of tidal channel water between upstream and downstream sites. Rice paddy and tidal channel waters are saturated in the dominant minerals present in the silt-sized soils and sediments, including quartz and clay minerals. Together, these observations indicate the dominance of weathered material and weak chemical weathering in the tidal floodplain, consistent with a transport-limited regime. Multiple lines of evidence indicate a lack of exchange equilibrium between surface waters and coexisting solids, which may be a common feature in tidal river deltas where transport-limited regimes likely dominate.