Distribution of surficial sediments in the Southern Evoikos and Petalioi Gulfs, Greece

Abstract

A series of 123 surficial sediment samples from the Southern Evoikos and Petalioi Gulfs was studied for grain-size properties, carbonate content and mineralogical composition. Distribution of the sediments revealed two sedimentary provinces. The first concerns the Southern Evoikos Gulf, characterised by silty sediments with relatively low carbonate content. Quartz, feldspars, micas, clay and carbonate minerals are the major mineralogical components of the sediments. These sediments are the result of the Asopos River supply during Holocene and they contribute to the formation of smooth bottom morphology. The second province concerns the Petalioi Gulf (Northern and Southern), where the surficial sediments are mainly sandy and characterised by very high carbonate content. Their mineralogical composition reflects the lithology of the drainage basin. Since the modern terrigenous solid supply is limited, these sediments are not considered as products of recent sedimentation, but older deposits (relict sands). Their presence at such depths is justified by sea-level fluctuations and their preservation is due to the low sedimentation rate in the Petalioi Gulf, in combination with the strong hydrodynamic status of the area.

Grain size distribution, clay mineralogy and chemistry of bottom sediments from the outer Thermaikos Gulf, Aegean Sea, Greece

“…Such sands in the Thermaikos Gulf have been detected previously by CHRONIS (1986), LYKOUSIS & CHRONIS (1989) and KARAGEORGIS & ANAGNOSTOU (2001). In addition, relict sands exist in the Strymonikos Gulf (PEHLIVANOGLOU & SOURI-KOUROUMBALI, 1987) and the Evoikos Gulf (KARAGEORGIS et al, 2000).…”

Spatial Characterization of the marine sediments in the Bay of Jounieh (North of Beirut) Environmental status of the Bay of Jounieh through the evaluation of its marine sediments’ characteristics

“…The fine fraction that is dominating the line of 60 m is strongly correlated with calcium carbonate (r=0.94, p<0.001, k=16) and total phosphate (r=0.90, p<0.001, k=16). The increase in calcium carbonates concentrations may be attributed to the decomposition and the sinking of the shells and some aquatic organism such as Coccolithophores, foraminifers, gastropods and bivalves (Karageorgis et al, 2004) while the accumulation of total phosphate may be related to the discharge of domestic, agricultural and industrial waste water. But it is necessary to mention high concentrations of phosphate don't lead always to eutrophication (Correll, 1998) but they, till certain limits, may influence positively the living organisms by providing a fertilizing agent for their proliferation (Fakhri et al, 2013).…”

Geomorphic Evolution of the Lilas River Fan Delta (Central Evia Island, Greece)

“…It has a visible length of 5 km, whereas tectonic striations on the fault surface indicate a recent fault reactivation [45]. Water depths over the South Evoikos Gulf range from 20 to 68 m and the seafloor relief is characterized by low gradients (1:1000) [50]. According to the output of a wave model (POSEIDON reasearch program), which has been calibrated with the use of offshore field measurements, the wave climate of the fan delta coastline is dominated by offshore significant wave heights ≤0.1 m [51].…”