Textural and mineralogical characteristics of the surficial sediments of sharm obhur, Red Sea Coast of Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

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The textural characteristics, carbonate and organic carbon contents, and heavy and light fraction components of the Recent bottom sediments of Sharm Obhur have been investigated.

Texturally the sediments are sands and muddy sands.

Most of the Sharm area is covered with sandy deposits; muddy sand deposits were restricted to the central parts and the head of the Sharm.

The grain size displays inverse relation with depth.

The sediments have a high carbonate content (average, 50%) that generally decreases towards the head of the Sharm.

Organic carbon content is relatively high (average, 1.2%) attaining maximum values at the entrance and the middle part of the Sharm.

The heavy mineral content of the sediments is generally low (0.2%), comprising mainly amphiboles and epidotes.

They have the same mineralogy as that of the Recent sediments of the Saudi Arabian coastal plain, their ultimate sources being the igneous-metamorphic rocks of the Arabian shield.

The light fraction largely consists of carbonate grains.

The petrology of these sediments suggests that little material has been transported into the Sharm from the mainland and the bulk is locally derived.

Sharm Obhur represents a low energy depositional environment.