A study on seasonal dynamics of heavy mineral distribution and surface micro-textures of Beach sediment from Govindampalli – Durgarajupatnam Coast, East Coast of India

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to investigate the distribution, concentration, and surface micro-textures of heavy minerals in beach sediments from four micro-environments: dune, backshore, berm, and foreshore. A total of forty-eight samples (twenty-four samples in each season) were collected along the Govindampalli (GP) to Durgarajupatnam (DP) Coast on the east coast of India, covering the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods from June 2016 to December 2016. The study revealed significant heterogeneity in beach sediment properties, heavy mineral distribution, and concentrations. Heavy mineral analysis was conducted on the coarse (+60), medium (+120), and fine (+230) fractions of the beach sediment. The analysis of weight percentage (wt%) demonstrated that a higher proportion of heavy minerals was associated with the fine fraction (+230) compared to the coarse and medium fractions at all stations. Opaque minerals, garnets, zircons, and monazites were found in promising quantities along the coast. The total concentrations of heavy minerals were higher during the pre-monsoon season compared to the post-monsoon season. The surface micro-textures of heavy mineral grains from various stations in the study area were primarily influenced by mechanical and chemical processes occurring on the grain surfaces. These micro-textures indicated significant mechanical influences at the estuary point and moderate to high wave energy in the beach deposits.