Morphological, drainage and eolian controls on the microtidal Patara Beach sediments (eastern Mediterranean): Textural, geochemical and mineralogical investigations

The effects of dominant hydrodynamic, morphological, fluvial and hinterland geological source conditions on the texture and composition of the microtidal and dissipative Patara Beach (Mediterranean coast of SW Turkey) sediments were investigated at 47 locations. Patara Beach sediments are composed entirely of sand. Fine sand (5–94%) was more abundant in the northwestern section, while medium sand contents (2–94%) increased in the central and southeastern sections. Moderately-to well sorted (mostly 0.3–0.7 Ø) sediments tend to show overall better sorting towards the southeast, in the net longshore current direction. Terrigenous carbonate grains derived from the hinterland constituted 6–50% (as CaCO3) with varying tendencies to increase or decrease within sections alongshore. Total heavy mineral concentrations in bulk sediments (1–17%, mostly <5%) were highest in localities of offshore sandy spit formation and with intense aeolian processes. The heavy mineral concentration comprises magnetite, hematite, amphiboles, pyroxene, epidote, garnet, and chromite, a mineral assemblage reflecting mafic/ultramafic/ophiolitic and metamorphic sources and mineral deposits. The concentrations of major elements (Si, Al, Ca, K, Na, P, Fe, Ti) and others (Co, Ba) are comparable with the average composition of Earth's crust rocks, and variations can be related to the varying texture and lithologies of the sediments. Higher abundances of Mg (3.3–7.7%), Cr (0.2–6.7%) and Ni (195–588 ppm) must be contributed by particular ophiolite sources. Mn (3385–4585 ppm) indicates presently-mined mineral deposits on the coast. Wind, wave, current and fluvial drainage regimes and corresponding morphological changes together with distribution of geological source rocks have great influences on the texture and composition of Patara Beach sediments.