Surface sediment distribution and determination of depositional environments on Wadi Qandil beach

Abstract

The surface sediments of Wadi Qandil beach, located north of Latakia, were studied, approximately along a 1.8 km shoreline. The study aimed to identify the sedimentation characteristics and the deposition environments of surface sediments and their transportation mode. 59 sediment samples were collected at different depths, starting from the shore and towards the sea, during the summer and autumn periods. The triangular diagrams indicated the presence of four sedimentary types and these are: gravel, sandy gravel, gravelly sand, and slightly gravelly sand. The results of statistical parameters (Mean, Sorting, Skewness, Kurtosis) showed that the sediments of the study area ranged from coarse sand to fine gravel, moderately well sorted to moderately sorted, negatively skewed to very negatively skewed and finally mesokurtic. The results of Linear distinction functions (LDF) analysis performed on the samples indicated beach deposition environments with less impact from shallow marine and fluvial processes. The CM diagram showed that the taken sediments were transported by rolling. All these factors indicated that the wave energy conditions were high enough to transport and distribute the coarse sediments along the shoreline.