Heavy mineral studies on late quaternary red sediments of Bhimunipatnam,Andhra Pradesh,East coast of India

Thirty one sediment samples from different varieties viz. yellow, reddish brown, brick red and light yellow sands from red sediments of Bhimunipatnam, Andhra Pradesh were studied to understand the heavy mineral assemblage, their fractionwise distribution and concentration. The heavy mineral assemblage in red sediments is ilmenite, magnetite, sillimanite, garnet, zircon, rutile, kyanite, monazite etc. Total heavy minerals (THM) wt. % varies from 16.67 to 23.99% and their concentration is not uniform in all the sedimentary samples. The higher THM wt% in brick red sands (23.99%) followed by reddish brown sands (20.24%), light yellow sands (17.10%) and yellow sands (16.67%). The finer fractions have more concentration of THM wt% than coarse fraction. The vertical distribution of heavy minerals in each sedimentary unit indicates that these units are not formed in single phase of deposition. Less concentration of garnets in yellow and light yellow sedimentary units indicates that the garnets might be chemically altered into iron hydroxide–limonite which gives yellow colour to the sediments under slightly oxidizing environment. Low concentration of garnets in brick red and reddish brown sediments indicates that garnets might have been undergone chemical decomposition under acidic conditions leads to produce iron oxides (Hematite) causes for red colorization of these units. The heavy mineral assemblage in different sand units indicates that they are derived from Eastern Ghat Group of rocks (khondalites and charnockites).     

Depositional features in tourist beaches of Chennai Metropolis,SE coast of India: Inferences from grain size studies

The present study was undertaken to examine the depositional and transportation pattern in the tourist beaches of Chennai in SE coast of India. Twenty four samples were analyzed for textural parameters, Linear discriminate function (LDF), C-M plots and heavy/light minerals from beach, berm and dune regions. Results of textural parameters indicate that they are coarse grained in the three regions. Majority of the samples indicate that they are moderately well sorted, symmetrically skewed and leptokurtic. The LDF analysis allowed in identifying areas that are characterized by: (1) beach, (2) shallow agitated environment and (3) fluvial deposits. C-M plots indicate that the sediments in the beaches were deposited from the near shore environment. Heavy mineral analysis suggests that the heavy and light minerals were in the range of 0.5 to 16.9% and 82.08 to 98.14% and the light/dark layers are controlled by the prevailing tidal conditions in the coastal region. It is observed that sand is accumulating from the shallow agitated environment, while the transportation and deposition of sediments is mainly due to the interaction of tidal activities at the same time. C-M plots suggest that the sediments fall in the graded suspension and the saltation activities in the region also facilitate to understand the hydrodynamics of the region suggesting that they are deposited by high-energy activities.     

Depositional environment in and around Tamiraparani estuary,and off Tuticorin,Tamil Nadu,India: clues from grain size studies

The sediments of the estuaries and offshore Tuticorin along the southern coast of Tamil Nadu were studied for their textural variation. Ninety sediment samples were collected from three sectors (river, estuary, offshore) on the basis of prevailing energy conditions and oceanographic parameters. Frequency curves show unimodal to bimodal in nature. Offshore samples also fall in bimodal with medium and fine sand where sediment is additionally deposited by the Tamiraparani River. The mean values ranging from 1.69 to 2.01 φ with medium to fine sand. The fine sand in the riverine region indicates the depositional nature of the sediments. In pre-monsoon, the standard deviation ranges from 0.29 to 0.81 φ, which falls in the very well sorted to moderately well sorted. Estuary ranges from 0.63 to 1.30 φ, with moderately sorted, whereas in the marine sediments ranges from 0.4 to 1.01 φ, with moderately to moderately well- sorted and some patches of poorly sorted is observed. In both monsoons, the grain size variations are mostly influenced in river and offshore samples compared to the estuaries. The CM pattern indicates the deposition of sediments in graded suspension. In estuary, the sediments are medium sand with moderately to poorly sorted, fine skewed which are indicative of denudation processes taking place there. In marine, the sediments are medium-to-fine, moderately-to-well sorted, and fine skewed to very fine skewed sediments, probably as a result of the influence of palaeo-sediments deposited by rivers from inland as well as by waves and currents from offshore. Further, the marine samples also highlight depositional processes.     

Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds: Distribution, Lithostratigraphy and Paleoenvironments

Cretaceous oceanic red beds (CORBs) represented by red shales and marls, were deposited during the Cretaceous and early Paleocene, predominantly in the Tethyan realm, in lower slope and abyssal basin environments. Detailed studies of CORBs are rare; therefore, we compiled CORBs data from deep sea ocean drilling cores and outcrops of Cretaceous rocks subaerially exposed in southern Europe, northwestern Germany, Asia and New Zealand. In the Tethyan realm, CORBs mainly consist of reddish or pink shales, limestones and marlstones. By contrast, marlstones and chalks are rare in deep-ocean drilling cores. Upper Cretaceous marine sediments in cores from the Atlantic Ocean are predominantly various shades of brown, reddish brown, yellowish brown and pale brown in color. A few red, pink, yellow and orange Cretaceous sediments are also present. The commonest age of CORBs is early Campanian to Maastrichtian, with the onset mostly of oxic deposition often after Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs), during the early Aptian, late Albian-early Turonian and Campanian. This suggests an indicated and previously not recognized relationship between OAEs, black shales deposition and CORBs. CORBs even though globally distributed, are most common in the North Atlantic and Tethyan realms, in low to mid latitudes of the northern hemisphere; in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean in the mid to high latitudes of the southern hemisphere; and are less frequent in the central Pacific Ocean. Their widespread occurrence during the late Cretaceous might have been the result of establishing a connection for deep oceanic current circulation between the Pacific and the evolving connection between South and North Atlantic and changes in oceanic basins ventilation.     

Climate‐controlled aggradation and cyclicity of continental loessic siliciclastic sediments in Asselian–Sakmarian cyclothems,Permian, Hugoton embayment,USA

Siliciclastic intervals in Lower Permian carbonate–siliciclastic cyclothems in western Kansas record climate control on facies progression, deposition and preservation. The 26 000 km² study area comprises seven marine‐continental (carbonate–siliciclastic) cyclothems caused by glacioeustasy. Core data and a three‐dimensional geological model provide a detailed view of the sub‐surface on a gently sloping ramp. Siliciclastic intervals in the cyclothems are fine‐grained red beds with extensive pedogenic features, indicating a continental origin. Bed geometry (sheet‐like deposits that thin to the east), lateral grading, grain size (very fine‐grained sand to silt) and grain angularity (sub‐angular to angular) suggest that the sediment is loess sourced from the west, probably the Ancestral Rocky Mountains. There is a repeated record of glacial‐cycle‐scale, climate‐controlled cyclicity within siliciclastic intervals that has not been recognized previously. Aeolian silt grain size coarsens upward towards the middle, then fines upward in each siliciclastic interval. When sea‐level was high (interglacial) and carbonate production flourished, aeolian sedimentation nearly ceased, suggesting increased vegetation and rainfall at the source. As sea‐level fell, fine‐grained siliciclastic sediments were deposited under relatively dry, but seasonally wet conditions on an exposed ramp. Laterally graded coarser grained siliciclastic sediments with diagnostic fabrics indicate drier conditions with seasonal rainfall during a continued relative fall in sea‐level. The coarsest siliciclastic sediments were deposited during the lowest sea‐level and driest conditions, but still with sufficient seasonal moisture to allow vegetative cover and bioturbation. Subsequent upward fining is correlated with sedimentological indications of wetter conditions during relative sea‐level rise. Unlike common sequence stratigraphic models that relate siliciclastic sediment accumulation to base‐level rise, continental deposits were preserved because plants and pedogenesis stabilized aeolian sediment. The aggradational landscape formed by this process had several metres of positive relief that reduced accommodation for overlying marine carbonate strata. Thus, this mechanism for continental siliciclastic aggradation has a significant effect on sequence stratigraphic architecture.     

青藏高原北部可可西里库赛湖年纹层微区分析及形成机理

湖泊年纹层是进行高分辨率古气候环境研究的重要载体之一,其形成机理的研究能够为高分辨率古气候环境信息的提取提供重要的依据。本文以青藏高原北部可可西里库赛湖沉积的年纹层为研究对象,通过纹层薄片显微镜观察,以及纹层的扫描电镜、X衍射和同步辐射X射线荧光等微区分析,对库赛湖沉积年纹层的形态、沉积和成分特征进行了研究,以探讨库赛湖年纹层形成过程和机理。结果表明:年纹层层偶由深浅相间的微层组成,深色层主要由灰褐色—黑褐色的粗颗粒物质组成,磨圆中等、分选性差,矿物以石英、长石、白云母、黏土矿物等为主,其中石英含量占73%左右,且具有明显的风力搬运特征;浅色层呈灰白色,矿物颗粒较细,除石英、长石、白云母、黏土外,还有自生的文石,同时浅色层中含有大量的枝角类碎片和半月形介形类生物壳体。研究认为,库赛湖冬季温度低、风力强劲,风的机械搬运作用使大量的陆源物质在冰面堆积,等到春季湖泊开封,冰面上粗颗粒物质沉积到湖底形成库赛湖年纹层的深色层(粗颗粒层);夏季温度升高,冰雪融化,降水增加,河流搬运的陆源粗颗粒物质由于重力作用先在湖泊边缘沉积,而黏土矿物等细颗粒物质则在湖泊中心沉积,同时夏季湖水温度升高,蒸发作用加强,生物活动增强,湖泊自身的生物、化学作用加强,从而形成以细碎屑矿物、生物残体、自生碳酸盐沉积为主的浅色层(细颗粒层)。因此,库赛湖的年纹层层偶是由冬季冰面风成物质形成的粗颗粒深色层(冰融化后,风成物质沉降至湖底堆积)和夏季沉积的细颗粒浅色层两者交替而形成的。     

Regressions and transgressions of the Baltic basin reflected by a new high-resolution deglacial and postglacial lithostratigraphy for Arkona Basin sediments (western Baltic Sea)

Seismoacoustic profiles from the Arkona Basin show a late Pleistocene and Holocene succession of several distinct reflectors. The physical, sedimentological, mineralogical and geochemical properties of more than 30 sediment cores were analysed in order to assign these reflectors to specific sedimentary discontinuity layers. Additionally, AMS ¹⁴C data and biostratigraphic information were gathered. Based on this multi‐proxy approach, seven lithostratigraphic units (AI, AII, B to F) were distinguished. These consist of fine‐grained clay, silt and mud, and are separated from each other by thin basin‐wide traceable sandy layers (S_ab‐S_ef). The most sensitive parameter to mark the lithostratigraphic boundaries is the weight percentage of the grain‐size fraction >63μm. In addition, some of the quartz‐grain‐dominated sandy layers cause the strong reflection lines recorded in seismoacoustic profiles. The sandy layers are interpreted to reflect enhanced hydrodynamic energy induced by episodes of basin‐wide water‐level low‐stand conditions. These low stands resulted from water‐level drops that occurred frequently during the Baltic Sea's history and presumably affected the entire Baltic basin. The thick fine‐grained units AI, AII to F, in which coarser material is absent, represent water‐level high‐stands. We conclude that the units AI and AII are Baltic Ice Lake sediments deposited before and after the Billingen‐1 regression, respectively. We assign the most prominent sandy layer S_ab to the final drainage of the Baltic Ice Lake (Billingen‐2), whereas the sandy layers between units B, C., D and E are related to the Yoldia Sea and Ancylus Lake regressions of the Baltic Sea's history. The uppermost fine‐grained unit F with its high organic carbon content contains marine sediments deposited after the Littorina Transgression. The macroscopically well‐visible sediment colour change from reddish/brown‐to‐grey, previously interpreted as a regional stratigraphic boundary, varies from core to core. It has been shown by our new data that this colour change has a diagenetic origin, and thus does not represent a stratigraphic boundary. Previous subdivisions therefore have to be revised.     

Textural and geochemical characteristics of the Ajali Sandstone,Anambra Basin,SE Nigeria: Implication for its provenance

This study presents the mineralogical, textural and geochemical characteristics of the regional Maastrichtian Ajali Sandstone in Anambra Basin, SE Nigeria. The intent is to highlight possible constraints on the chemical weathering conditions of the source materials on one hand, and to infer the provenance on the other hand. The investigation approach involved field studies and collection of samples from 12 different outcrop locations, followed by laboratory studies involving grain-size analysis (GSA), major and trace elements analyses using the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method as well as thin section petrography. Field studies show that the sandstones are friable at all locations and range in color from white in freshly cut stone, to reddish brown on weathering. In addition, the sandstone units are cross-bedded and show graded bedding exemplified by fining upward sequence. Textural examination indicates that the sandstones range from fine to medium sands, constituting about 76 to 99% sand fraction, with graphic mean grain size of 0.23 to 0.53 mm. Standard deviation (sorting) ranges from 0.56 to 1.24 Ø and implies moderately well sorted sediments. Inferred from the textural indices, the depo-environmental discrimination of the Ajali Sandstone revealed a fluvial/river system-dominated sedimentary process. The sandstones are quartz arenite with quartz greater than 90% and less than 5% K-feldspar which indicate a predominant basement source as also revealed by the heavy mineral assemblages. In addition, major elemental oxides shows SiO₂ content greater than 96% for the fresh Ajali Sandstone samples with extreme depletion of mobile oxides such as Na₂O, CaO and the ferromagnesian minerals through weathering and sedimentary processes. Provenance and tectonic setting discrimination using geochemical data and compositional maturity revealed typical felsic igneous-dominated cratonic environment while inter-elemental ratios (such as Zr/Cr, Y/Ni, Th/Sc, La/Sc and La/Co) and ternary plots (e.g. Th–Sc–Zr; La-Th–Sc and Th-Co-Zr) reflect passive continental margin setting for the Ajali Sandstone. Consequently, the source area is constrained to the Precambrian basement rock units of Adamawa-Oban massif areas to the east of the Anambra Basin and the adjacent Abakaliki Anticlinorium.     

陕西府谷老高川新第三纪“红层”的划分与时代

对陕西府谷老高川新第三纪“红层”岩石地层、磁性地层、生物地层的初步研究结果表明，该区上第三系一般含有中新统上部及上新统下部。上中新统地层的时代相当于Ｔｕｒｏｌｉａｎ的中、晚期，古地磁年龄约为７．４～５．３Ｍａ，其中含有多层哺乳动物化石；下上新统沉积的时代相当于Ｒｕｓｃｉｎｉａｎ的早、中期，古地磁年龄约为５．３～４．３６Ｍａ。二者在岩性、所含动物群的组合及其性质等方面都存在着较大区别。     

Diagenetic crystallization and oxidation of siderite in red bed (Buntsandstein) sediments from the Central Iberian Chain,Spain

Compactional deformation facilitated replacement of dolomite and calcite by siderite and its subsequent oxidation in carbonate cemented red beds of the Triassic Buntsandstein in the Iberian Chain. Locally, the sedimentary clasts were cemented by carbonate that was derived from dissolution of locally exposed dolomite in the basement. Microstructures indicate that during sedimentation of the rocks, oxidizing conditions prevailed in the sediments and the basement was reddened by impregnation of hematite. Reducing conditions prevailed during deformation of the sediments. Ferric iron was reduced to Fe²⁺, that reacted with deformed dolomite and calcite cement to produce fine grained siderite. At a later stage, siderite crystallites were (partly) oxidized to form a secondary phase of brown ferric oxide (goethite). Locally, goethite transformed to fine grained hematite that caused secondary reddening of the sediments. The reactions are associated with a combined volume loss of the solid phases of c. 50% per reaction mol; this was accommodated by the formation of pores. Oxidation of siderite was associated with release of CO₂; localized dissolution took place of feldspar and concurrently growth of kaolinite occurred by acidifying condition during release of CO₂. The relation of redox reactions and deformation is comparable to those in red bed conglomerates in the region. Reductive dissolution occurred at sites of stress concentration, particularly at contact points of pebbles. Late stage precipitation of ferric oxides and pyrolusite took place at oxidizing conditions in association with uplift.     

Grain size analysis and depositional pattern of upper Gondwana sediments (Early Cretaceous) of Salbardi area,districts Amravati,Maharashtra and Betul,Madhya Pradesh

A detailed grain-size analysis of twenty-two sandstone samples from the uppermost Gondwana succession of Salbardi area has been carried out to interpret the depositional pattern. The sandstones are mainly medium to coarse grained, moderately sorted, near-symmetrical to fine-skewed and mesokurtic in nature. Inter-relationship of various parameters shows bimodal nature of sediments having dominance of medium sand. Based on the granulometric analysis, a fluvial environment of deposition is interpreted for the succession.     

Petrology and sedimentation of the middle siwalik clays at dholkhand,saharanpur district,U.P., India

The Middle Siwalik clays at Dholkhand, Saharanpur district, U. P., in India were studied to investigate the nature of Siwalik (middle Miocene to lower Pleistocene) sedimentation in relation to the tectonism associated with the Himalayan orogenesis. The clays are reddish brown to buff in color containing montmorillonite, expandable mixed-layers, degraded chlorite, and illite. The clays were studied byX-ray diffractometry using standard techniques with copper radiation. The clay mineral distribution of the Middle Siwaliks indicates that the material was deposited under continental conditions in stream channels during periods of minimum current activity. The clays were deposited by slow sedimentation and are little affected by diagenesis. Further work in this area and elsewhere are now under progress to establish the relation of Siwalik sedimentation with the uplift of the Himalayas in the Tertiary period.     

Paleoclimatical significance of the paleosol levels occurring in the Miocene-Pleistocene stratigraphy of the Manonga-Wembere Valley inCentral Tanzania

Micromorphological characteristics of four paleosol levels of the Manonga - Wembere deposits in Central Tanzania indicate periods of wetter climate in the Pliocene than at present. The stratigraphy of the studied section shows a series of lacustrine calcareous clay sediments alternating with gravel, sand and silt. The sediments are believed to have been deposited in the Manonga - Wembere paleolake environment. Paleosols intercalate these sediments and were formed when stable landscapes developed on former lake beds during regression periods. Micromorphological features of the paleosols indicate strong clay illuviation of red to yellow typic clay coating and some Fe-Mn hydoxide hypocoatings in voids and channels. The groundmass consists of either an accumulation of bioturbated yellow to red clay coating fragments or an argillic red to yellow groundmass of clay mass. Such an illuviation and its associated groundmass is comparable to intense clay illuviation fronts that are found in present-day calcareous sediments of warm and wet climates. The paleosol levels therefore represent wetter climatic conditions than today in the area during the Lower Pliocene.     

松嫩平原南缘现代沉积物磁化率、粒度、色度特征及古气候环境意义

深入了解松嫩平原第四纪古气候演化过程,对本区黑土退化的气候影响因素研究有重要理论意义。选择松嫩平原南缘大黑山地垒长春—四平段郭家（GJ）、湾沟（WG）、平安屯（PA）、腰分水岭旁（YP）、西地（XD）、胡家甸（H）、肖家（XJ）7个现代沉积剖面进行磁化率、粒度和色度分析。结果显示：各剖面沉积物磁化率多表现为干燥时期较大、湿润时期较小、寒冷阶段较大、温暖适宜阶段较小的特点。颜色对磁化率影响较大,不同颜色砂或砂质黏土的磁化率从大到小依次为红褐色→浅黄色或灰绿色→灰黑色。碳酸盐岩或灰岩物源的存在,使沉积物色度和磁化率之间的关系相对复杂。磁化率会随沉积物粒度增大而增大,冻融风化和降雨增多导致沉积物粒度增大,使磁化率升高;但温暖适宜时期,磁化率受物源供给量的减小而减小。磁化率、粒度和色度三指标综合反映出研究区早更新世寒冷干燥→中更新世冷湿—暖湿—冷湿→晚更新世寒冷较湿润的古气候环境演化过程。     

海南岛东北海岸风沙沉积的光释光年代学意义

选取海南岛东北部JSD2和PQR2两个典型海岸沙质沉积剖面进行研究,共采集10个测年样品和89个指标分析样品,在室内进行了光释光（OSL）测年和粒度分析。结果表明:1）JSD2和PQR2剖面砂样以中细沙为主,粒度众数在225~400 μm之间。风沙沉积后受化学风化作用呈现淡红棕色至红棕色;2）JSD2剖面OSL年龄范围为（2.20±1.09）~（9.89±1.65） ka,属于全新世风沙沉积;PQR2剖面年龄范围为（3.41±0.78）~（22.50±1.07） ka,上部为全新世风沙沉积,下部为末次冰期和晚冰期的老红砂层;3）综合海南岛和华南其他海岸沙丘、海岸风沙年龄数据分析,研究区全新世海岸风沙沉积年代序列可划分为10.5~6.0 ka B.P.和6.0 ka B.P.以来两个阶段,华南热带与亚热带海岸风沙活动趋势基本一致。     

西班牙南部Subbetic中带Río Fardes剖面Turonian-Coniacian大洋红层

Río Fardes剖面位于西班牙南部Granada东北,构造上属于深水环境的Subbetic中带。该剖面主要由白垩纪Fardes组第Ⅱ段和第Ⅲ段(半)远洋沉积构成,并出现浊流沉积和混杂沉积。本次研究在Fardes组浊流层序内首次发现两段红色沉积。钙质超微化石表明红层的时间从Turonian早期(UC7 带)到Coniacian中期—晚期界线(UC10/?UC11带)。红层由mm级红色泥岩夹灰色、杂色、偶尔黑色泥岩和钙质泥岩组成。沉积学研究表明新发现的Turonian Coniacian远洋红色泥岩沉积形成于CCD面之下深水盆地环境,浊流和碎屑流沉积强烈地影响着(半)远洋环境的背景泥岩相,并成为红色沉积结束的原因。     

Characterization of the 26 December 2004 tsunami deposits in Andaman Islands (Bay of Bengal, India)

The large tsunami, which was generated by an earthquake on 26 December 2004, affected most of the countries around the Indian Ocean. A total of 48 tsunamigenic surface sediments and nine core samples have been collected from various coastal geomorphological features such as beaches, estuaries/creeks and mangrove areas in the Andaman Islands. These samples were analysed for textural analysis and geochemical studies to evaluate effects of the tsunami on sediment contamination. The studied sediments, deposited by the 26 December 2004 tsunami in Andaman group of islands, belong to poorly sorted, coarse to medium sands. Generally the concentration of heavy metals in the tsunamigenic surface sediments is mainly in the order of Cu > Mn > Fe > Zn > Pb during the post-tsunami (2005) and Cu > Fe > Mn > Zn > Pb during the post-monsoon (2008). The analysed core samples show that tsunami sediments have been preserved at certain depths from the sampling locations and indicate that they were derived from shallow littoral to neritic depths. The approximate width of deposits deposited by the 26 December 2004 Tsunami in Diglipur and Mayabandar areas (North Andaman) is ~10 cm, in Rangat and Baratang (Middle Andaman) the thickness of the deposits is ~15 cm. In Chidiyatapu, Junglighat, Rutland Islands and Havelock Island (South Andaman) the thickness of the deposits is ~30, ~8, ~25 and ~5 cm, respectively, and in Hut Bay (Little Andaman) the thickness of the deposits is about ~15 cm.     

利用高铁砂岩质煤矸石制备瓷质砖的研究

以湖北黄石高铁砂岩质煤矸石为主要原料，进行了制备瓷质砖的实验研究，并对不同配方、不同烧成温度瓷坯的吸水率、断裂模数等进行了测试分析。各项性能指标的综合分析表明，产品的吸水率低于0．3％，断裂模数高于35MPa，符合国家有关质量标准，颜色呈浅红-暗红-紫砂系列，其中煤矸石最高配比可达80％。     

Granulometric analysis of glacial sediments,Schirmacher Oasis,East Antarctica

Granulometric analysis of nineteen sediment samples has been carried out for their statistical and textural parameters. The samples are collected from the northern and southern margins of Schirmacher Oasis extending below the polar ice sheet and grading to coastal area respectively and main rocky land of Schirmacher including lakes. The analysis shows that most of the sediments are of medium grain size and fall in poor to very poor sorted category. An attempt has been made to interpret the depositional set-up by plotting the scatter patterns between various textural parameters, including C-M plot and arithmetic log-probability curves. The influence of physical parameters viz. low to high velocity winds, ice and meltwater on sediment characteristics has been discussed.     

Environmental texture and geochemistry of the sediments of a subtropical mangrove ecosystem and surrounding areas,Red Sea Coast,Egypt

The textural and geochemical aspects of the sediments of subtropical mangrove ecosystem and surrounding areas have been studied and discussed. Forty sediment samples were collected from different areas of mangrove environment and surrounding areas along the Egyptian Red Sea coast. The sediments of each study areas are characterized by the abundance of sand with minor amounts of mud and gravel. The mean size of the sediments ranged from medium grained to fine grained at the study areas. Cluster analysis showed that the distribution of gravel, sand, and mud fractions is related to bottom facies and type of sediment source. Generally, sand fraction is the main category among the three constituents. Carbonate content recorded minor values in the study areas. The CaCo₃ content of the sediments ranged from 4.7 % at Hamata area to 64.9 % at Erier area. Terrigenous and biogenic components are the factor controlling of the carbonate content of studies sediments. The organic carbon content ranged from 1.10 at Hamata area to 3.1 % at Sharm el-Qibli and Erier areas, which is controlled by particle size of the sediments. Phosphorus content in the different studied localities is related to the sources of phosphorus to the area. Our observations provide evidence that there are no significant differences in environmental texture and geochemistry of the sediments of subtropical mangrove ecosystem and surrounding areas of the Egyptian Red Sea coast.