Distribution of heavy minerals and provenance sediments in the beaches around Karwar, west coast of India

Abstract

The spatial and seasonal distribution of heavy minerals in three different fractions has been studied along a 30 km stretch of the coast. The heavy minerals identified are magnetite, ilmenite, hornblende, trernolite, cpidote, pyroxene, tourmaline.garnet, zircon, monazites ruble, sphene and biotite. The rnineral assemblage indicates mixed provenance of metamorphic and igneous rocks. The geology of the Kali River catchment area and the Iithology of the cliffs facing the sea support the view on the provenance of these beach sediments. The heavy minerals are more highly concentrated in the sediments at Polem and Tinnathi beaches than in others, The concentration is considerable in the sediments near the. Kali River mouth. The heavy minerals in different size fractions are relatively more concentrated during the monsoon months. The mineral distribution clearly indicates a general drift of these sediments from northwest to southeast.