The rivers and the foreshore sediment of Pegasus Bay, South Island, New Zealand

Abstract

The analysis of a series of mid-foreshore sediment samples for particle size and mineral content indicates that the sediment forming the foreshore of the Pegasus Bay coastal plain, east coast South Island, New Zealand, is derived almost entirely from its hinterland river catchments. Of the statistical parameters used the mean grain size of samples increased northwards as shingle replaced sand, though sorting decreased. Skewness is related to the positions of the river mouths. The contribution of sediment to the coast is closely related to the individual rivers despite active littoral processes.