Sedimentological data from the Limpopo River Basin dams, southern Africa, 2018-2021
https://doi.org/10.5285/b8db8239-3bde-454a-aa75-d1cec24c8763
Cite this dataset as:
Franchi, F.; Chirindja, F.J.; Pasqualotto, F.; Hussey, S.; Comte, J. (2023). Sedimentological data from the Limpopo River Basin dams, southern Africa, 2018-2021. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/b8db8239-3bde-454a-aa75-d1cec24c8763
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By accessing or using this dataset, you agree to the terms of the relevant licence agreement(s). You will ensure that this dataset is cited in any publication that describes research in which the data have been used.
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
The data set contains grain size distributions, organic matter (OM) content and trace metal distribution (including Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr and Pb) of 37 shallow cores of sediments sampled from dams across the Limpopo River Basin.
The dams include: Gaborone, Lotsane and Shashe dams in Botswana; Houtrivier, Nwanedi and Mutshedzi dams in South Africa; Ripple Creek and Zhovhe dams in Zimbabwe; and Massingir Dam in Mozambique. Data from two cores sampled from an oxbow lake in Mozambique are also included.
The cores were collected with a gravity corer using PVC pipes of 5 cm diameter by a team from Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) led by Dr. Franchi between July 2018 and April 2021.
The dams include: Gaborone, Lotsane and Shashe dams in Botswana; Houtrivier, Nwanedi and Mutshedzi dams in South Africa; Ripple Creek and Zhovhe dams in Zimbabwe; and Massingir Dam in Mozambique. Data from two cores sampled from an oxbow lake in Mozambique are also included.
The cores were collected with a gravity corer using PVC pipes of 5 cm diameter by a team from Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) led by Dr. Franchi between July 2018 and April 2021.
Publication date: 2023-04-26
View numbers valid from 01 June 2023 Download numbers valid from 20 June 2024 (information prior to this was not collected)
Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
Study area
Spatial representation type
Raster
Spatial reference system
WGS 84
Temporal information
Temporal extent
2018-07-01 to 2021-04-30
Provenance & quality
Grain size analysis was carried on wet samples dispersed in water and analysed with a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction particle size analyser at Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Palapye (Botswana).b A few grams of the samples were dispersed into a glass container with half a spoon of sodium hexametaphosphate to prevent clays from flocculation. The data are reported as 10th percentile (Dx10), median (Dx50) and 90th percentile (Dx90).
The organic matter content was determined using Loss on Ignition (LOI) method whereby the samples were dried at 60 C for 24 hours to remove water content. The dried samples were placed in the funnel furnace at 550 C for 2 hours and then weighed again to determine LOI. Data are reported as percentage of mass loss during the ignition phase as compared with the initial mass of dried sample.
The sediments have been analysed for trace metal distribution using ICP-OES and ICP-MS on samples of sediments partially digested with aqua regia. All data are raw and unprocessed.
The organic matter content was determined using Loss on Ignition (LOI) method whereby the samples were dried at 60 C for 24 hours to remove water content. The dried samples were placed in the funnel furnace at 550 C for 2 hours and then weighed again to determine LOI. Data are reported as percentage of mass loss during the ignition phase as compared with the initial mass of dried sample.
The sediments have been analysed for trace metal distribution using ICP-OES and ICP-MS on samples of sediments partially digested with aqua regia. All data are raw and unprocessed.
Licensing and constraints
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence
Cite this dataset as:
Franchi, F.; Chirindja, F.J.; Pasqualotto, F.; Hussey, S.; Comte, J. (2023). Sedimentological data from the Limpopo River Basin dams, southern Africa, 2018-2021. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/b8db8239-3bde-454a-aa75-d1cec24c8763
Correspondence/contact details
Authors
Franchi, F.
Botswana International University of Science and Technology
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0313-5624
Chirindja, F.J.
Eduardo Mondlane University
Pasqualotto, F.
University of Insubria
Hussey, S.
Dabane Trust
Other contacts
Rights holder
University of Aberdeen
Custodian
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk