MINERALOGY OF THE SUBSURFACE SEDIMENTS AT ROSETTA AND DAMIETTA PROMONTORIES, EGYPT

MINERALOGY OF THE SUBSURFACE SEDIMENTS AT

ROSETTA AND DAMIETTA PROMONTORIES, EGYPT

M. 1\. EL – ASI(I\RY* I\ND O. E. FR)IIY**
*Ceolcgy Dept., Faculty of Science. Alexandria University.

**Institute of Coastal Protection Studies. Abu Qir. Alexandri~.

ABSTRACT
The mi nera logy of the sandy and muddy units of
the suhsur”face sediments of Rosetta and Damietta
promontories is investigated. Heavy minerals ‘Jf the
sandy units are dominated by opaques. Several nonopaque unstable. metastable and ultrastable minerals
are also recorded. Based on the relative frequencies
of amphiboles. pyroxenes and epidotes. the studied
sediments are bel ieved to have been deposited in
Holocene time. X-ray diffraction analysis 0f the
clay fraction of samples of the mud unit indicates
the presence of montmorillonite and kaolinite with
lesser amount of illite. Their presence in the same
proportions throu’jhout the whole mud unit indicates
the same source and environmental (fluviomarine)
condition for its formation.