Heavy mineral content of beach sands located between Akcakoca-Kefken, in the western Black Sea coast (NW Turkey)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate heavy minerals content of beach and dune sands, located between Akcakoca and Kefken (northern Turkey) and, hydrodynamic and lithological factors that control their concentrations. The Sakarya River, one of the major river of Turkey, meets the Black Sea in the study area and forms a delta. Sands and dunes cover an area of 25 km long and 1-3 km wide. Heavy mineral contents and ratios of beach sands differ from dune sediments and beach sediments look more promising. Therefore, an area of 5 square km in scale in the delta was chosen and systematic samples were taken and several laboratory techniques were applied. In order to locate possible provenance of heavy mineral contents, dune, beach and the Sakarya River sands were compared and results were interpreted in view of mineralogical and sedimentological findings.