Environmental geochemistry of the beach sands along the coast : between Al Kuwifia and Tolmeita, NE Libya

Abstract EN

The present work aims to characterize the environmental geochemistry of the beach sands along the Mediterranean Coast from Al Kuwifia to Tolmeita, NE Libya.

The prevailing well oxidizing coastal environments are well expresses by the low authigenic uranium and low U/Th, V/Cr and Cu/Zn ratios.

ACe values are not correlated with U and CaO contents, which suggest that the ACe values are not related to the paleo-redox conditions.

Metals analyzed in this study, except Cr and V in some locations, have EF > 2 suggesting that they are mainly of anthropogenic origin and that natural activities exert little influence on their abundances.

The Igeo values suggest that the studied samples are unpolluted with Cu, Zn, V, Cr, Pb and Th, very lightly polluted to lightly polluted with As and lightly polluted with U.