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Discrimination of accreted and eroded coasts using heavy mineral compositions of the Nile Delta beach sands, Egypt
Author(s) -
FRIHY OMRAN E.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
sedimentology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.494
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1365-3091
pISSN - 0037-0746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3091.1994.tb01431.x
Subject(s) - geology , heavy mineral , zircon , geochemistry , augite , sorting , graded bedding , hornblende , nile delta , mineral , plagioclase , delta , monazite , erosion , mineralogy , clastic rock , geomorphology , quartz , provenance , sedimentary rock , paleontology , materials science , history , aerospace engineering , ancient history , computer science , biotite , engineering , metallurgy , programming language
Coastal erosion has occurred on the beaches of the three major promontories of the Nile Delta of Egypt. The eroded sand is generally carried alongshore to the east, or locally to the west, from these promontories and is deposited in areas of beach accretion between promontories. In this study the heavy minerals of 150 samples have been investigated with the aim of differentiating between eroded and accreted beaches. Discrimination was achieved by using bivariate plots of the raw weight percentage data and Q‐mode factor analysis. Factor analysis yielded two ‘mineral assemblages’: Factor 1 is dominated by augite, hornblende and epidote, while Factor 2 consists of opaque minerals, garnet, zircon, rutile and monazite. These two mineral factors are produced by the selective sorting of heavy minerals by natural processes of waves and currents. Minerals of Factor 2 are associated with high density opaques which tend to concentrate as a lag in areas of erosion. Conversely, the lower density minerals of Factor 1 are preferentially transported away from areas of erosion and carried to the accreted shorelines.