In this study, we combine the use of Metal/Metal ratios of 134 sediment samples with multivariate analysis to provide the first geochemical mapping of a large subtropical estuary influenced by one of the largest grain-shipping terminals of South America. Together with grain-size data, the results allowed us to efficiently map the different sectors of the estuarine complex, defining its geochemical faciology. Also, potassium-related ratios appeared to be reliable proxies for the identification of point sources of terrigenous sediments. Since there was no evidence of widespread trace metal contamination, the results here presented can be used as a baseline for the area.

在这项研究中，我们将134个沉积物样品的金属/金属比值的使用与多变量分析相结合，以提供受南美洲最大的谷物运输码头之一影响的大型亚热带河口的第一个地球化学图。结合粒度数据，结果使我们能够有效地绘制河口综合体的不同区域，从而确定其地球化学学。同样，钾相关比率似乎是鉴定陆源沉积物点源的可靠代表。由于没有证据表明存在痕量金属污染，因此此处给出的结果可用作该区域的基准。