The distribution of heavy minerals and their hydraulic equivalents in sediments of the Mediterranean continental shelf of Israel

Abstract

Abstract Hornblende, augite, and mica predominate in the heavy mineral assemblages of continental shelf sediments off the Mediterranean coast of Israel, indicating the Nile as the major source of the sediment. Zircon is abundant in shallow-water samples, probably as a result of mechanical concentration within the sea waters. Three depositional environments are defined on the basis of size relationships between quartz and hornblende, relative to depth--a highly dynamic beach and dune environment, in which quartz grains are significantly larger than hornblende constituents; a sandy belt, of medium turbidity, in which the quartz and hornblende grains are essentially similar in size; and a low-turbidity mud belt, in which hornblende grains are notably larger than the quartz grains.