BATHYMETRY, TEXTURE AND COMPOSITION OF BOTTOM SEDIMENTS OF SHANAAB BAY, RED SEA, SUDAN

BATHYMETRY, TEXTURE AND COMPOSITION OF BOTTOM SEDIMENTS

OF SHANAAB BAY, RED SEA, SUDAN

OSMAN M. FARAH
Red Sea Fisheries Research section P.O. Box 730

Port Sudan, Sudan.

ABSTRACT
39 stations were selected for bathymetric, textural and
compositional study in 1984. Depth ranges to 40.0 • with en average
of 10.7 • Shanaab Bay is narrow central basin surrounded by
shallow benks. THE basin ~pens towards the ~th of the bay.
Only two envlronnents Were identified: the central basin end the
shallow banks surrounding it. sedil8eMts from the basin have smell
means and are negatively skewed while those from the banks have
large means end are positively skewed factors controlling
distribution of texture are: (1) abundance, type and size of
organisms Iiving in bay, (2) wind, (3) seasonal freshwater
discharge, (4) transport from adjacent shores and shelf, (5) depth,
and (6) hydrography.
Sediments are conp>sed of mollusks, corals. echinoderMS.
foraminifera. pelecopeds. bryozoans, pellets, rock frav-ents.
quartz, feldspars end unidentified particles. FActors controlling
composition are: (1) organis.. living In the bay and their skeletal
fragments, (2) erosion of bay shores, (3) input of terrigenous
material. and (4) transport fraa adjacent shores and shelf by
selective wlnowing.