The distribution of iron sand on surface substrate of Leungah fluvial system, Aceh Besar, Indonesia

Abstract

Iron sand content is obviously observed at Leungah River which downstream into the beach. The study examines the distribution of iron sand at the surface around the coast and river sediment of Leungah. Data sampling was done on February 2017, a total of 20 stations with each of 10 sampling locations are stationed in the river and coastal areas. Sediment samples were collected by applying a coring method using a PVC tube with a diameter of 2.5 inches and a thickness of 15 cm from the surface. The sorting of the sediment samples by its grain size was done by using a wet sieving method consist of: 2 mm; 1 mm; 0.5 mm; 0.25 mm; 0.125 mm; 0.063 mm; 0.038 mm. The magnetite content is sorted from the bulk sediment from each sieve level using a neodymium n35 strong magnet and then weighed. The results showed that magnetite concentrations in surface sediment were found to be higher in the coastal areas than in the river area. Meanwhile, the coarsest magnetite grains were found in the upper reaches of the river. These conditions provide an early indication of the relationship between Leungah River watershed and the distribution of iron sand down to the Leungah coast.