Mineralogy and Provenance of Ash Shuqayq Coastal Sediments, Southern Red Sea, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

A detailed mineralogical investigation was carried out on recent sediments from the different geomorphic environments at the Ash Shuqayq coastal area in the southern Red Sea. Ash Shuqayq coast is considered as a low-lying plain where sediment cover is generally thick and the distribution of the littoral sediments on the shoreface provide important information regarding not only the sources of the sediments but also the modes and pathways of transport. Polarizing microscope and XRD analyses were used to study heavy and light mineral fractions, bulk and clay mineral assemblages respectively. Mineral identification and provenance as well as sediment movement are established. Important conclusions concerning the influence of geology and coastal morphology on sediment distribution and transport along Ash Shuqayq shorelines are documented. The distribution pattern of heavy minerals in Ash Shuqayq coastal environments shows their selective deposition with respect to their densities, sorting and winnowing processes prior to being deposited on the beach. On the other hand, the crescentic shape of the coastline and the occurrence of wadis play a considerable role enrichment of the beach by heavy minerals. Mica and carbonate minerals tend to accumulate in the deeper water (non-agitated areas) far from the shore.