Abstract
AbstractGrain ‘size’ can be specified and measured in several different ways. All methods of grain size determination have blemishes, and the choice of the most appropriate method is governed by the nature of the sample and the use to which the data are placed. Four main methods are currently used for size analysis of sands: (a) sieving; (b) settling tube analysis; (c) electro-optical methods, including Coulter Counter analysis and laser granulometry; and (d) computerized image analysis. The classification of the particle size distribution of Kuwait dust was mapped according to the parameters proposed by Folk And Ward (1957) which were widely used for quantitative comparisons between natural grain size distribution and the lognormal distribution that shows better sorted sediments have lower values of σ1. Maps of the distribution of dust in Kuwait were obtained that included: fine sand (F.S.), Coarse sand (C.S), Medium Sand (M.S), Very Fine Sane (V.F.S), Very Coarse Silt (V.C.Silt), Coarse Silt (C.Silt), Medium Silt (M.Silt), Fine Silt (F.Silt), Very Fine Silt (V.F.Silt), in addition to that, the deposition percentage of Clay, Sand, mud (silt plus clay) and silt were provided.
Highlights
Dust suspended over long distances consists of mud particles that predominantly originate from regional sources such as the Western Desert of Iraq and the Mesopotamian Floodplain, in addition to local dust deposition that produces relatively coarse saltated dust material greater than 63 mm grain-size fractions
The highest percentages were in a corridor that extends from the Retqah toward the Wafra in Kuwait
Very fine sand (V.F.S.) ranges in size between 0.063 and 0.125 mm (4–3 phi). It had a similar trend of distribution to C.S. and M.S., but the percentages were much more than twice the amount
Summary
Dust suspended over long distances consists of mud particles that predominantly originate from regional sources such as the Western Desert of Iraq and the Mesopotamian Floodplain, in addition to local dust deposition that produces relatively coarse saltated dust material greater than 63 mm grain-size fractions. The former type represents 63% of the dust, and the latter, 37%. Bubiyan dust is negatively skewed, trimodal with clay dominancy coarse, and with fine silt size fractions. Liyah dust (i.e. open desert) is negatively skewed and unimodal with the dominance of very coarse sand size fraction.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have