Grain size analysis and characterization of sedimentary environment of the surface sediments along the Syrian Coast, Umm al-Tuyour (Latakia)

Abstract

Detailed sedimentary study of a section of the Syrian coast (Umm al-Tuyour, Latakia) was carried out in order to determine the grain size analysis and characterization of sedimentary environment. Twenty-two samples of surface sediments were collected along the coastal area during the summer period of 2022. This research used an integrated methodology of analysis and software to determine the dynamic beach environment in the study area. The observation from this study shows that the sediments are coarse to very coarse grain size, moderately sorted, near symmetrical, and finally mesokurtic. These data confirm that the deposition occurred under high-energy conditions with continuous mixing of sediments by waves and ocean currents, where erosion processes are active. The results of the linear discriminant function analysis performed on the samples indicate beach, shallow marine deposition environment and the influence of fluvial processes. Analysis of sediments using CM diagram suggests that sediment deposition is mainly by rolling under tractive current conditions.