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Detrital Minerals of Modern Beach Sediments in Southern Brazil: A Provenance


Study Based on the Chemistry of Zircon

Article  in  Journal of Coastal Research · January 2010


DOI: 10.2112/06-0817.1

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Detrital Minerals of Modern Beach Sediments in Southern Brazil: A Provenance
Study Based on the Chemistry of Zircon
Author(s) :Carla Ennes de Barros, Lauro V. S. Nardi, Sergio R. Dillenburg, Ricardo Ayup, Kym Jarvis,
and Ricardo Baitelli
Source: Journal of Coastal Research, Number 261:80-93. 2010.
Published By: Coastal Education and Research Foundation
DOI:
URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.2112/06-0817.1

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Journal of Coastal Research 26 1 80–93 West Palm Beach, Florida January 2010

Detrital Minerals of Modern Beach Sediments in Southern


Brazil: A Provenance Study Based on the Chemistry of
Zircon
Carla Ennes de Barros†, Lauro V.S. Nardi†, Sergio R. Dillenburg†, Ricardo Ayup†, Kym Jarvis‡, and
Ricardo Baitelli†

Instituto de Geociências ‡
School of Earth Sciences and Geography
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Kingston University
Sul Penrhyn Road
Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Agronomia Kingston upon Thames
91509–900, Porto Alegre, Brazil Surrey KT1 2EE
carla.barros@ufrgs.br Kingston, UK

ABSTRACT
BARROS, C.E.; NARDI, L.V.S.; DILLENBURG, S.R.; AYUP, R.; JARVIS, K., and BAITELLI, R., 2010. Detrital min-
erals of modern beach sediments in Southern Brazil: a provenance study based on the chemistry of zircon. Journal of
Coastal Research, 26(1), 80–93. West Palm Beach (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

The trace element content of zircon grains from Holocene beach sands from the Rio Grande do Sul state in southern
Brazil was investigated in order to discuss their probable primary source. Zircon grains from 10 samples were sepa-
rated and analysed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA ICP-MS) for rare earth
elements (REE), niobium (Nb), uranium (U), thorium (Th), yttrium (Y), hafnium (Hf), and tantalum (Ta) and by
microprobe and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for silicon (Si), zirconium (Zr), and phosphorus (P). The results
obtained are similar to those suggested by the zircon classification developed by B ELOUSOVA et al. (2002, Igneous
zircon: trace element composition as an indicator on source rock type. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 143,
602–622), nevertheless, additional information and a more detailed characterisation of zircon sources were yielded.
The probable geotectonic setting and geochemical affinity of zircon igneous sources were predicted mainly based on
thorium/uranium (Th/U), yttrium/holmium (Y/Ho), and niobium/tantalum (Nb/Ta) ratios; lanthanum (La) and niobium
(Nb) contents; and REE patterns of zircons. The statistical groups identified by multivariate analysis were an addi-
tional useful tool for identifying compositional groups of zircons. Zircon grains from the studied sediments are probably
derived from an association of subalkaline to alkaline granitic rocks with their mafic counterparts and metamorphic
rocks of amphibolite to granulite facies. The metamorphic sources were more important in the southern sector of the
studied coastal segment, whilst in the northern sector zircons from A-type granites are more abundant. The so-called
Pelotas Batholith, situated in the eastern part of the Sul-rio-grandense Shield, which is composed mainly of a po-
stcollisional granitic association of Neoproterozoic age and Paleo to Neoproterozoic high-grade metamorphic sequences,
is proposed as the probable source of the studied zircons. The compositional variations of zircons from the southern
to the northern sector are coherent with the hypothesis that the studied sediments came from relatively near conti-
nental source areas, probably transported by several small streams and rivers during phases of sea-level low stands.
The chemical composition of zircons, particularly trace element contents and ratios, can be a powerful tool for deter-
mining the primary sources of detrital zircons.

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS: Coastal sediments, heavy minerals, mineral chemistry, sedimentary sources.

INTRODUCTION achieved at 5.6 thousand years ago (ka) (DILLENBURG et al.,


2000, 2004). The mineralogy of the heavy-minerals fraction
Modern beach sediments of the Rio Grande do Sul (RS)
comprises zircon, tourmaline, rutile, illmenite, magnetite, ep-
coast show small amounts of heavy minerals (average ⬍1%).
idote, sillimanite, kyanite, staurolite, garnet, amphibole, py-
Exceptions are two areas well known for their heavy-mineral
roxene, titanite, and apatite. In the very fine sand fraction
enriched beach deposits: Hermenegildo and Bujuru. The pri-
their concentration ranges from 0.042% to 9.60%.
mary sources of these heavy metals are the inland rocks of
RS, which have been intensively eroded by drainage systems The provenance of these heavy metals was investigated in
during sea-level low stands. The sediment budget of the mod- the past, but only very general conclusions were presented,
ern beach sands of RS was provided by coastal plain deposits, connecting these minerals with metamorphic, igneous, and
which were reworked during the course of the Postglacial Ma- sedimentary rocks occurring at the adjacent highlands (LOSS
rine Transgression, by the littoral drift system, and also by and DEHNHARDT, 1983; SILVA, 1979; VILLWOCK et al., 1979).
the continental shelf after the maximum sea level was Worldwide provenance studies in the last years have focussed
on heavy-minerals chemistry. In some of these studies chem-
DOI: 10.2112/06-0817.1 received 12 January 2007; accepted in revi- ical properties of zircon have been considered as a promising
sion 23 August 2007. tool on provenance studies (e.g., BELOUSOVA et al., 2002;
Detrital Minerals of Beach Sediments 81

GEHRELS, 2003; HOSKIN and SCHALTEGGER, 2003; RUBAT- A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE USE OF ZIRCON
TO, 2002). Zircon is a zirconium silicate, ZrSiO4, with variable CHEMISTRY IN PROVENANCE STUDIES
amounts of hafnium (Hf), which occupies part of the octahe-
dral sites. It is highly resistant to natural physical and chem- Zircon optical properties and crystalinity have been used
ical processes, preserving their structural and chemical prop- for a long time in studies of sedimentary provenance (TYLER
erties, even when submitted to severe physicochemical et al., 1940; VITANAGE 1957). Their geochemistry, however,
changes. RUBATTO and HERMANN (2003) observed that zir- has only been employed since improvements in analytical
con can be expected as a residual phase even after melting techniques have allowed appropriate data to be measured for
of subducted sediments under mantle conditions. Zircon is provenance studies (HEAMAN, BOWINS, and CROCKET, 1990;
generally present among the detrital fraction even of very MURALI et al., 1983; SHUKLA, 1988). This subject has been
mature sediments and sedimentary rocks, preserving their discussed in several papers, such as those by BELOUSOVA et
al. (2002), RUBATTO and HERMANN (2003), HOSKIN and
original compositional features, and so providing information
SCHALTEGGER (2003), and BARROS, NARDI, and DILLEN-
about their provenance. Granitic and metamorphic rocks can
BURG (2005).
preserve inherited zircons with ages much older than that of
Some criteria based upon zircon geochemistry and element
rock crystallisation (RUBATTO and HERMANN, 2003), and in
contents or elemental ratios, such as thorium/uranium
spite of the problems that this causes for dating, it is a pow-
(Th/U), zirconium/hafnium (Zr/Hf), cerium/([lanthanum ⫹
erful tool for provenance studies. A very useful review of zir-
neodymium]/2) (Ce/[(La ⫹ Nd)/2]), REE, yttrium (Y), niobi-
con’s physical and chemical properties, as well as of its uses
um/tantalum (Nb/Ta), and phosphorus (P), have reached a
for provenance and petrogenetic studies, is that of HOSKIN
reasonable credibility for provenance studies.
and SCHALTEGGER (2003).
Thorium/uranium ratios show different values in meta-
The progress of analytical technologies for microscopic
morphic and igneous zircons. The metamorphic ones, even
grains in the last decades has allowed a significant advance
those formed under granulite facies conditions, show Th/U
in the use of zircon geochemistry for provenance and petro- ratios less than 0.1 (HOSKIN and BLACK, 2000; RUBATTO,
genetic studies of sedimentary and igneous or metamorphic 2002). Zircons crystallised from granitic magmas have Th/U
rocks, respectively. RUBATTO (2002) related the rare earth ratios around 0.5, whilst those from more basic magmas have
element (REE) content of zircons with the metamorphic con- higher values, over 0.8 (HEAMAN, BOWINS, and CROCKET,
ditions under which they were crystallised. HOSKIN and 1990; HOSKIN and SCHALTEGGER, 2003). The abundance of
BLACK (2000) observed that during metamorphic recrystal- U is useful for discriminating zircons from less differentiated
lisation zircon grains lost trace elements. Thorium/uranium mantle-derived magmas, which have low U contents, from
(Th/U) ratios of metamorphic zircons are generally less than those more differentiated or of crustal origin, which are U
0.1, whilst those of magmatic ones are generally greater enriched (BELOUSOVA et al., 2002; DUDDY and KELLY, 1999).
(HOSKIN and BLACK, 2000). BELOUSOVA et al. (2002) sug- According to PUPIN (2000) only zircons from pegmatites
gested a binary fluxogram, based on lutetium (Lu), tantalum have HfO2 contents higher than 2 wt%. Zircons from feldspa-
(Ta), uranium (U), hafnium (Hf), cerium (Ce/Ce* [Ce* ⫽ LaN toid-bearing syenites may have very high Zr/Hf ratios, vary-
+ PrN /2]), and niobium (Nb) contents, for the identification of ing from 73 to 135, and low Hf contents, 6000 to 8000 ppm
primary sources of detrital zircons. Thus the composition of (HEAMAN, BOWINS, and CROCKET, 1990). Data from the post-
zircons is a useful tool in several areas of geologic research. collisional Piquiri Syenite Massif in southern Brazil indicate
However, an important debate is still alive concerning the that zircons from the same magmatic suite show Zr/Hf ratios
use of zircon chemistry for the identification of igneous sourc- varying from 60 in the intermediate rocks to ⬍30 in the com-
es (e.g., BELOUSOVA et al., 2002; HOSKIN and BLACK, 2000; agmatic granites, which is consistent with the values of Zr/
HOSKIN and IRELAND, 2000; HOSKIN and SCHALTEGGER, Hf ratios referred to in BELOUSOVA et al. (2002). Data from
2003; PUPIN, 2000). Dating of detrital zircons is one of the RUBATTO and HERMANN (2003) suggest that Zr/Hf ratios in
most widely used tools for provenance studies (CATALÁN et zircon from basic rocks have a sharp decrease during meta-
al., 2004; GEHRELS, 2003; HOSKIN and SCHALTEGGER, 2003; morphism due to Hf enrichment. Zirconium/hafnium ratios
THOMAS et al., 2004), and most authors discard the use of in zircons are usually high—about 60—in basic to interme-
zircon geochemistry for this purpose. HOSKIN and IRELAND diate rocks and in some anorogenic granites (PUPIN, 2000),
(2000) concluded that the geochemistry of zircons could not mainly due to their low Hf contents. Very low Hf contents,
be used for provenance studies because of the large variation ca 0.15% (HOSKIN and SCHALTEGGER, 2003), and Zr/Hf ra-
of trace element contents in zircons, even in a single grain, tios over 300 were observed in zircons from granodiorites
proposing that a study of zircon inclusions could be a more from magmatic arc settings. Granitic rocks have magmatic
effective tool. Zircon chemistry with heavy-mineral assem- zircons with Hf contents generally over 1 wt%, which conse-
blages and zircon age determinations has been successfully quently show lower Zr/Hf ratios—under 45—even when these
used for provenance studies of sedimentary deposits by MOR- granites are derived from less differentiated magmas derived
TON, WHITHAM, and FANNING (2005) and VEEVERS et al. from mantle sources. Zircons from peraluminous crustally de-
(2005), amongst others. rived granites, such as those associated with migmatites, are
The aim of this paper is to describe a test of zircon chem- Hf enriched and consequently show very low Zr/Hf ratios
istry as an important tool for investigating the provenance of (HEAMAN, BOWINS, and CROCKET, 1990; LINNEN and KEP-
Holocene beach sands in southern Brazil. PLER, 2002).

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2010


82 Barros et al.

According to BAU (1996), Y/Ho chondritic values are close mas where these values are up to 10 times higher. Therefore,
to 28, and most igneous rocks with less than 70 wt% of SiO2 zircons with Nb contents higher than 100 ppm are expected
show values in the range 24–34. Most zircons show chondritic in anorogenic granitoids; orogeny-related granitoids probably
Y/Ho ratios, except for those from highly evolved granites or have zircons with Nb contents roughly between 10 and 100.
those affected by hydrothermal fluids, particularly where the Low Nb contents, under 10 ppm, are expected in zircons from
fluorine (F) activity is high (B AU, 1996; HINTON and UPTON intermediate to basic rocks (BELOUSOVA et al., 2002; RUBAT-
1991). Nonchondritic Y/Ho and Zr/Hf ratios in zircons are un- TO and HERMANN, 2003) or from crustally derived leucocratic
common and are found mostly in zircons crystallised from peraluminous granites. Tantalum follows a similar pattern
high-silica magmas (BAU, 1996). although with lower abundance in most rocks and minerals.
The Hf and Y contents of zircons were used by PUPIN
(2000) for discriminating zircons (1) from tholeiitic granitoids, REGIONAL SETTING
low Hf and high Y contents; (2) from alkaline granitoids, low The RS coast occurs on a continental margin that evolved
Hf and medium to high Y; (3) from calc-alkaline granitoids, as a rifted plate boundary since early Cretaceous times. In
medium Hf and low Y; and (4) from anatetic granitoids, high the vicinity of RS (29⬚S to 34⬚S latitudes), deposition of a
Hf and low Y. huge amount of postrift, mainly clastic, sediments produced
Rare earth element patterns of zircons normalised against a wide, shallow, and gently sloping continental shelf. At the
the chondritic values show strong enrichment of heavy rare upper slope seismic records revealed a sedimentary thickness
earth elements (HREE), reflecting the high mineral/melt par- of at least 10 km (FONTANA, 1990). The coastal plain is wide
tition coefficients, which increase from approximately 1 for (20 to 80 km) and shows a very low relief due to its formation
the light rare earth elements (LREE) to up to 1000 for HREE during the Quaternary by juxtaposition of sedimentary de-
(FUJIMAKI, 1986; MAHOOD and HILDRETH, 1983; NARDI et posits of four barrier/lagoon systems designated I (oldest) to
al., 2005; THOMAS et al., 2002). Positive Ce anomalies are IV by VILLWOCK et al. (1986). Landward the coastal plain is
generally observed in igneous zircon patterns, and they are bordered by alluvial fan deposits and bedrock highlands (Fig-
ascribed to Ce⫹IV relative enrichment (HINTON and UPTON, ure 1). Climate is in general humid temperate, with a rainfall
1991; THOMAS et al., 2002). The REE concentration in zircons ranging from 1000 to 1500 mm evenly distributed throughout
can reflect the abundance in the melts from which they were the year.
crystallised; nevertheless, this is strongly affected by the or- The littoral of RS is characterised by a monotonous and
der of zircon crystallisation in plutonic rocks and by the min- gentle undulating barrier coast, oriented NE–SW and subject
eral phases crystallised previously and concomitantly with it. to dominant swell waves generated in southern latitudes and
A recent study of zircons in comagmatic dioritic, monzonitic, wind-generated waves produced by strong spring–summer
and granitic rocks from the Lavras do Sul Shoshonitic Asso- sea breezes from the northeast. The average significant wave
ciation (NARDI et al., 2005) shows that in spite of these com- height is 1.5 m, measured in 15–20 m water depth (MOTTA,
plexities, the REE patterns of zircons show large variations 1969). Owing to changes in coastline orientation and inner
of concentrations but maintain regular and coherent patterns shelf morphology and gradient, beaches of RS are exposed to
that could be used for provenance studies. different degrees of wave energy (DILLENBURG, ESTEVES,
BELOUSOVA et al. (2002) suggest the intensities of Ce and TOMAZELLI, 2004). The coast is microtidal with semidi-
anomalies (CeN/CeN*) and the Lu contents as useful param- urnal tides that have a mean range of only 0.5 m. Conse-
eters for provenance studies. The REE contents of metamor- quently, sediment transport and deposition along the open
phic zircons were used by RUBATTO (2002) for distinguishing coast is primarily dominated by wave action. A net northward
rocks from eclogite, granulite, or greenschist facies. littoral drift is evident in coastal geomorphic features (TO-
According to LINNEN and KEPPLER (1997) Nb and Ta are MAZELLI and VILLWOCK, 1992) and by field measurements
highly incompatible elements in magmatic systems, where (TOLDO et al., 1993). The present day beaches of RS receive
they generally maintain the chondritic proportions with Nb/ very little sand from inland because most of the bedload car-
Ta ratios around 17.5. Zircons from granites nevertheless ried by the few streams and rivers that drain to the coast is
show lower ratios because Ta is more mobile during the dif- trapped in lagoons and other coastal plain environments (TO-
ferentiation of granites magmas. Thus, zircons from granitic MAZELLI et al., 1998).
rocks are expected to show Nb/Ta ratios lower than 15, basic The postglacial sea-level history of the Rio Grande do Sul
and intermediate rocks preserve the chondritic values, whilst coast extends from about 17.5 thousand years before present
no information is available about metamorphic zircons. The (ka BP) when the sea was positioned at about ⫺120 to ⫺130
contents of Nb and Ta in magmatic rocks related with oro- m. Since that time sea level has risen at an average rate of
genic cycles vary around 15 ⫾ 5 ppm and 1 ⫾ 0.5 ppm, re- 1.2 cm/y until 6.5 ka BP, when the rate of sea-level rise
spectively, whilst the highest values are found among ano- slowed (CORRÊA, 1996). At 5.6 ka the maximum sea level of
rogenic rocks derived from mantle sources not previously the Postglacial Marine Transgression (⫾2 m) was estab-
modified by subduction-related metasomatism. B ELOUSOVA lished, followed by a slow sea-level fall (DILLENBURG, ES-
et al. (2002) observed that Ta is enriched relative to Nb in TEVES, and TOMAZELLI, 2004).
zircons and that is why their Nb/Ta ratios are generally
around 3. Based on partition coefficient data, zircons are ex- SANDS IN THE HOLOCENE BEACH DEPOSITS
pected to show Nb and Ta contents roughly close to those of The sediments of RS modern beaches are sands with more
parental magmatic liquids, except in more evolved acid mag- than 99 wt% of quartz, feldspars, and organic components,

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2010


Detrital Minerals of Beach Sediments 83

Figure 1. Map of the coast and nearby continental areas.

such as foraminifera tests—sometimes with radial incrusta- tified as zircon, tourmaline, rutile, ilmenite, magnetite, epi-
tions of opaque minerals—and shell fragments. The sand dote, sillimanite, kyanite, staurolite, garnet, amphibole, py-
grains are well rounded and subspheric. Fine sands are pre- roxene, titanite, and apatite. The location site of these two
dominant but the heavy detrital grains are concentrated in samples corresponds to the site of the well-known economic
the very fine sand fraction. heavy-minerals deposit of Bujuru (DILLENBURG, ESTEVES,
The heavy-mineral contents in the sediments are generally and TOMAZELLI, 2004; MUNARO, 1994).
lower than 1 wt% (Table 1) and in the very fine sand fraction Zircon grains in the very fine sand fraction are colourless,
it varies from 0.04 to 9.60 wt%. In this fraction, the heavy- pink, orange, and rarely yellowish green, with subspheric and
mineral contents show the highest concentration in samples prismatic forms. Pinkish zircon occurs only in the southern
3 and 4 and a general decrease northward. They were iden- part of the coast. Their abundance varies from 1 to 16 vol%

Table 1. Light and heavy mineral (wt%) in the barrier IV sediments. Numbers 1 to 11 represent location of samples (see Figure 1).

Composition of studied sands 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Light components 99.96 99.97 99.55 99.23 97.94 99.80 99.53 99.88 99.40 99.63 99.66
Heavy components 0.04 0.03 0.45 0.77 2.06 0.20 0.47 0.12 0.60 0.37 0.34
Weight % of heavy minerals in
the very fine sand fraction 0.042 1.32 9.60 4.56 0.09 2.04 3.18 0.60 1.82 1.20 0.97

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2010


Table 2. Major and trace element determinations (ppm) in zircons. ND, lower than the detection limit. 84

Silicon Zirco- Yt- Nio- Haf- Tan- Tho- Ura- Ba- Lantha- Praseo- Neo- Sama- Euro- Gado- Ter- Dyspro- Hol- Er- Thu- Ytter- Lute-
Samples (wt%) nium trium bium nium talum rium nium rium num Cerium dymium dymium rium pium linium bium sium mium bium lium bium tium

1 — — 1862 88 13,189 7.5 153.1 443 ND ND 212.2 ND 52.4 ND 33.0 63.6 48.3 326.1 64.0 337.6 60.4 609.2 99.9
1 — — 4734 55 10,886 ND 475.7 610 ND ND 915.7 84.8 146.7 548.0 55.0 84.9 80.2 651.3 188.0 920.0 129.0 944.2 214.1
1 — — 30,716 370 16,689 47.6 3794.9 9195 ND 205.2 1023.8 153.7 730.8 914.0 29.8 769.5 507.4 3988.7 1262.0 6251.7 1457.8 16,155.6 2384.7
1 — — 23,297 148 13,641 ND 362.9 2829 ND 313.2 12,728.0 172.2 1509.2 1355.0 645.0 2446.9 460.7 3341.8 852.0 4288.1 449.2 4610.5 866.5
2 15.40 471,559 ND 74 12,934 ND 125.4 208 ND ND 6.7 ND ND ND ND 13.0 3.1 41.6 ND 40.5 8.9 81.0 18.2
2 15.42 498,930 1474 52 7615 ND 65.5 216 ND ND 186.8 ND ND 37.3 ND 68.6 5.1 330.2 76.0 283.5 77.5 332.9 99.5
2 15.39 495,539 463 75 8988 ND 22.2 63 ND ND 11.2 ND 44.4 ND 6.0 21.3 ND 58.2 10.0 76.3 14.6 103.6 27.1
2 15.40 493,924 865 60 10,629 ND 60.0 113 ND ND 23.6 3.4 ND ND ND 20.7 5.6 67.3 27.0 135.2 33.0 333.2 61.1
2 15.35 484,609 1106 111 18,323 ND 72.9 573 ND ND 16.6 ND ND ND ND 73.3 ND 82.7 29.0 185.7 27.5 290.7 100.2
2 15.52 492,513 1623 91 10,937 2.0 320.9 204 ND ND 29.4 ND ND 18.9 ND 51.3 14.8 183.3 59.0 221.4 48.7 405.4 83.5
2 15.41 499,792 849 67 9848 1.5 108.9 169 ND 6.0 23.8 2.9 15.3 ND ND 34.0 8.3 76.0 30.0 132.2 24.4 275.1 48.3
2 15.52 492,302 995 83 9630 ND 32.4 87 ND ND 27.3 ND 13.8 ND ND 76.4 6.8 87.3 29.0 202.0 29.2 195.6 32.2
2 12.84 418,902 1141 58 15,490 ND 123.4 189 ND ND ND ND 210.9 ND ND 369.3 11.2 116.5 31.0 134.2 39.5 1078.1 142.4
2 15.18 493,459 742 54 10,478 1.9 98.3 114 ND ND 27.1 ND ND ND ND 22.0 5.3 51.3 18.0 80.1 20.7 192.6 30.0
2 15.14 465,690 2268 136 23,007 111.4 85.0 922 ND 30.8 1642.7 65.2 204.1 110.0 67.9 121.5 33.1 286.1 90.0 254.9 65.0 698.8 125.2
2 15.42 488,863 3896 92 11,877 3.7 350.0 843 ND 68.2 893.7 23.6 163.3 72.0 43.9 43.0 20.5 321.4 124.0 426.0 91.2 857.0 132.6
2 14.96 463,381 2285 60 9588 4.5 644.3 403 ND 35.8 270.3 22.5 139.5 109.8 18.4 68.7 20.1 138.1 78.0 313.2 59.5 619.5 102.0
2 — — 3524 141 10,563 ND 325.6 378 ND 36.4 523.9 24.5 217.6 87.0 42.7 351.4 43.9 438.2 110.0 476.0 210.0 1231.6 136.7
2 — — 4597 121 12,555 5.8 184.1 638 ND ND 81.0 9.4 30.5 187.3 ND 209.5 14.2 240.2 139.0 596.2 128.1 1261.6 220.3
2 — — 2446 71 12,408 ND 112.3 1338 ND 60.8 107.1 ND 127.1 159.0 47.1 198.7 30.9 397.3 67.0 388.6 60.1 766.3 89.5
2 — — 1005 72 9706 ND 71.9 59 ND ND 40.4 ND 37.5 ND ND ND 10.5 85.4 39.0 153.5 30.6 226.5 38.8
2 — — 618 133 10,723 ND 73.8 106 ND ND 27.6 ND ND ND ND 130.0 4.4 43.5 20.0 86.5 13.7 154.0 40.6
2 — — 5073 139 11,648 4.3 534.6 783 ND 124.3 793.4 23.5 202.2 134.0 35.0 319.5 47.0 465.3 189.0 454.5 92.7 838.5 155.5
2 — — 9160 128 15,879 9.2 641.3 1755 ND 298.4 2440.7 115.0 693.1 537.0 258.2 620.9 219.2 1294.7 276.0 1407.4 271.7 2443.5 234.2
2 — — 3195 98 12,257 5.0 108.5 879 ND ND 2244.9 31.7 174.2 108.8 52.7 84.2 55.3 408.3 94.0 667.7 95.5 1249.4 217.6
2 — — 2898 77 17,916 7.1 323.6 647 ND ND 3658.3 44.1 409.6 203.0 27.9 201.9 85.7 441.8 153.0 695.8 162.7 1850.4 279.6
Barros et al.

2 — — 566 5880 11,238 37.0 7.0 664 ND ND 384.1 38.4 344.7 116.0 39.7 331.2 26.3 83.5 19.0 121.8 24.5 122.3 ND
2 — — 2847 305 12,349 6.7 192.7 639 ND ND 412.6 ND 144.2 223.0 80.9 378.4 35.7 400.8 126.0 624.5 105.0 920.8 139.8
2 — — 3436 294 12,103 8.6 248.8 723 ND ND 878.4 ND 197.2 78.0 34.2 ND 29.8 395.2 175.0 736.4 210.1 1876.0 166.1
2 — — 929 6568 9708 72.5 35.9 618 ND 73.4 404.9 50.9 214.7 95.0 54.9 269.3 29.7 129.9 39.0 227.9 21.7 314.6 36.7
2 — — 2879 189 11,177 ND 299.3 895 ND ND 231.7 26.6 260.1 185.0 54.7 160.8 39.6 231.2 139.0 463.7 61.5 1087.2 166.0
3 15.91 460,438 3252 123 9439 3.0 210.0 160 ND ND ND ND ND ND 12.0 ND 7.9 92.0 55.0 1193.0 46.0 405.0 ND

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2010


3 15.54 471,203 2976 170 8848 2.5 59.2 152 308 9.7 16.6 6.9 23.1 ND ND 37.3 4.9 69.0 21.5 59.7 32.5 162.8 36.8
3 15.59 470,762 3304 276 10,410 10.4 48.1 65 ND ND 13.4 ND ND 76.9 ND ND 6.3 162.8 35.1 125.7 44.3 279.0 57.9
3 15.39 458,486 7802 167 10,615 14.9 1195.9 757 ND ND 161.8 4.5 ND 50.9 19.0 50.0 18.2 469.7 135.1 640.0 119.1 1164.0 186.0
3 16.02 462,006 4785 218 8570 ND 321.0 178 ND ND 93.0 6.0 ND 70.0 ND ND 36.6 186.6 73.9 169.0 63.5 487.0 132.9
3 15.79 473,324 3861 181 10,054 ND 100.0 26 ND ND 17.3 ND ND ND ND ND 2.5 52.6 28.8 80.8 15.4 223.7 39.1
3 15.88 465,141 3034 196 9511 ND 89.9 176 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 4.6 116.4 ND 105.2 42.1 133.8 60.6
3 15.76 468,098 4435 81 1057 ND 7.0 ND ND 10.0 ND ND ND ND 9.0 ND 2.0 ND ND ND ND ND ND
3 16.01 459,856 4741 116 ND ND ND ND 237 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND
3 15.79 469,457 2654 164 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND
3 15.71 473,655 3158 123 10,788 6.0 173.0 345 ND ND 14.0 9.0 ND ND ND ND 5.0 35.0 27.0 91.0 22.0 291.0 65.0
3 15.69 471,319 4250 69 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND
3 15.42 469,592 9981 180 171 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 4.0 ND ND ND ND ND ND
3 15.97 473,402 4983 149 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND
3 15.63 463,295 7304 140 ND ND ND ND ND 20.0 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND
3 15.61 460,847 4717 183 ND ND ND ND 125 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 13.0 ND
3 15.58 468,836 3646 175 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 35.0 8.0
4 15.19 482,603 910 45 10,238 8.3 134.3 350 ND ND 17.6 ND 93.8 42.5 ND 53.1 11.4 107.1 21.7 130.7 23.6 257.0 43.5
4 15.20 486,042 1529 60 11,969 ND 261.2 637 ND ND 104.5 13.9 125.2 94.0 24.9 127.7 22.5 189.7 60.3 202.4 53.5 361.0 88.5
4 15.54 477,395 530 25 11,222 ND 49.1 546 ND ND 13.5 ND ND 22.3 9.4 ND 11.1 44.2 10.0 65.7 14.1 269.1 35.4
4 — — 349 19 11,486 ND 91.5 301 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 18.8 41.0 15.7 59.9 10.8 57.3 24.9
Table 2. Continued.

Silicon Zirco- Yt- Nio- Haf- Tan- Tho- Ura- Ba- Lantha- Praseo- Neo- Sama- Euro- Gado- Ter- Dyspro- Hol- Er- Thu- Ytter- Lute-
Samples (wt%) nium trium bium nium talum rium nium rium num Cerium dymium dymium rium pium linium bium sium mium bium lium bium tium

4 15.18 482,142 1667 61 12,553 ND 149.3 300 ND ND 14.2 ND ND ND ND ND 17.9 66.8 45.8 235.6 31.2 594.1 64.9
4 15.16 480,453 1173 35 11,842 ND 134.7 473 ND ND 30.7 ND 101.0 90.6 ND 64.9 19.2 127.3 49.7 131.4 16.9 228.6 25.9
4 15.16 479,530 678 29 10,346 ND 13.6 116 ND ND 19.5 ND ND ND ND 58.7 ND 83.7 24.9 77.3 12.2 223.3 35.9
4 15.76 473,113 953 29 10,012 ND 230.4 321 ND ND 23.2 ND ND ND ND 92.4 15.5 68.5 32.5 157.2 20.1 311.0 47.5
4 15.41 476,462 1232 64 10,710 8.1 168.5 381 1107 316.9 192.0 32.4 407.9 109.1 ND ND 23.5 89.1 34.4 189.2 59.8 475.1 111.8
4 15.51 491,185 130 31 11,963 ND ND 68 ND ND ND 10.4 ND 45.9 ND ND ND ND 5.7 30.5 5.0 42.0 ND
4 15.68 482,250 878 35 10,263 ND 143.3 191 ND ND 32.1 ND 93.0 38.7 ND ND ND 77.6 17.9 134.5 22.5 182.1 33.9
4 15.68 485,339 525 28 9185 ND 142.5 133 ND ND 32.8 ND ND 49.8 ND ND ND 62.1 18.8 78.3 11.4 181.9 20.1
4 15.95 477,064 1559 33 8496 ND 169.5 319 ND ND 33.3 ND 80.5 38.4 ND ND 8.8 93.1 45.7 255.6 36.9 328.2 87.3
4 15.61 485,093 1369 38 10,668 8.9 105.8 303 ND ND 23.2 ND ND 49.8 ND 93.3 15.6 135.1 57.7 173.8 56.2 479.1 63.8
4 16.33 470,601 2776 51 9310 ND 74.3 215 ND ND 16.6 ND ND 54.0 35.6 105.3 14.0 349.2 76.8 458.9 72.3 645.9 110.4
4 15.81 484,319 854 36 8891 ND 53.4 74 ND ND ND ND ND 54.5 ND ND ND 63.7 33.7 131.8 16.4 352.7 51.5
4 15.54 483,802 2461 40 9997 ND 125.5 164 ND ND 36.1 ND ND ND ND 81.9 23.2 176.7 63.1 353.5 52.4 690.6 120.8
4 15.60 484,340 1015 34 9159 ND 154.5 238 ND ND 28.5 ND ND 55.9 ND ND 19.0 131.9 29.9 194.7 33.4 257.7 72.5
5 15.05 480,672 610 54 9118 11.8 55.4 244 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 57.0 17.6 77.9 29.6 190.1 28.6
5 15.14 472,439 634 45 10,861 ND 156.0 260 287 211.1 234.9 17.3 109.8 53.5 23.7 65.5 15.0 62.9 24.2 148.4 18.3 215.4 44.2
5 15.44 483,717 222 42 8775 ND 54.8 77 ND ND 31.2 ND ND ND 24.2 74.3 ND ND 10.6 ND ND 103.0 12.5
5 15.23 479,259 439 22 10,378 ND 155.8 320 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 56.6 ND 131.5 13.5 34.7 21.5
5 15.01 482,436 998 ND 9590 ND 10.0 38 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 152.0 19.6 113.0 21.3 189.4 6.2 346.9 56.6
5 15.06 475,873 432 44 11,849 ND 73.9 1031 ND ND ND ND ND 58.7 ND ND ND 54.5 14.2 60.5 ND 175.6 42.9
5 15.11 481,407 648 36 11,886 ND 480.4 2641 ND ND 44.2 ND ND 51.7 ND ND ND 45.6 18.0 92.7 20.5 178.9 62.7
5 15.12 475,103 2204 39 9919 237.9 723.9 989 ND 83.8 352.3 30.8 144.4 150.5 31.9 116.7 29.6 264.0 51.3 247.7 74.1 540.0 78.3
5 15.16 481,313 1468 52 11,067 ND 137.6 113 ND ND 44.1 ND ND ND ND 86.6 15.3 173.6 55.2 231.0 35.6 450.3 68.8
5 15.35 468,952 2237 26 9240 ND 162.1 104 ND ND 34.5 ND ND 149.3 ND 124.1 20.2 280.1 54.1 238.7 55.2 422.7 68.2
5 15.17 479,975 2165 28 10,337 ND 113.8 135 295 1089.0 184.7 48.6 301.9 93.8 40.8 98.6 40.7 205.9 76.8 248.5 23.2 407.7 44.9
5 15.23 489,879 759 30 8442 ND 54.1 62 ND ND 40.7 ND 106.1 52.9 ND 63.3 15.4 71.9 34.2 91.4 24.2 298.2 50.5
5 15.27 478,378 427 38 9305 ND 67.6 231 ND ND 37.8 ND ND 59.4 ND ND 44.4 86.1 10.8 62.8 6.6 231.1 13.8
5 15.44 478,210 842 37 7273 ND 191.6 174 ND ND 39.2 ND ND 70.8 30.0 110.4 ND 134.3 26.4 143.5 37.1 179.8 48.3
5 15.26 474,876 603 38 9376 ND 33.3 26 ND ND 40.7 ND 121.5 ND ND 92.1 ND 84.1 14.3 93.2 20.0 227.8 29.5
5 15.13 480,470 1311 30 10,856 12.7 89.7 461 ND ND 146.7 ND 128.1 62.3 ND 70.2 13.6 171.7 37.6 143.8 24.8 347.9 55.0
Detrital Minerals of Beach Sediments

5 15.14 479,429 2509 236 6511 94.7 57.1 619 ND 31.1 599.4 ND ND 55.8 25.4 87.8 19.0 173.7 64.0 401.6 69.3 621.6 95.6
5 14.79 458,519 1110 36 9204 ND 175.5 164 ND ND 45.5 ND ND ND 24.2 63.2 12.4 99.3 28.5 201.8 45.3 429.1 88.7

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2010


5 15.24 477,717 4883 39 10,602 ND 244.4 786 ND 71.7 2021.7 50.5 396.7 212.7 82.5 547.9 110.5 533.4 172.4 618.8 122.4 792.2 107.0
5 — — 4270 62 13,279 ND 279.3 480 ND 46.8 152.5 30.8 308.6 184.5 32.2 137.3 31.1 272.0 73.1 175.4 48.1 399.5 59.8
5 — — 20,307 71 17,012 3.4 508.1 1328 235 115.2 5173.1 135.4 985.0 384.0 182.0 1074.4 306.0 2370.0 633.9 2317.5 363.2 3436.8 463.4
5 — — 5754 77 10,576 ND 179.6 293 ND ND 31.3 ND ND ND ND 56.2 43.5 468.7 122.6 574.2 106.6 965.0 214.1
5 — — 9282 401 12,678 27.0 435.8 1174 112 267.4 933.7 197.4 1449.0 396.0 36.0 469.9 98.5 726.0 185.2 724.3 98.3 1049.0 169.9
5 — — 3799 66 10,585 ND 94.1 133 399 23.5 87.3 19.8 ND ND ND 89.7 22.2 211.6 52.1 333.0 52.7 562.4 92.5
5 — — 2700 53 10,481 ND 94.3 117 ND 50.4 60.9 7.1 ND ND ND 70.8 5.6 81.6 32.7 108.2 23.9 282.0 31.5
5 — — 3206 77 10,270 8.5 327.7 288 ND ND 84.0 8.9 ND ND 12.9 50.7 24.5 110.5 54.9 281.8 71.0 779.3 152.2
5 — — 3609 180 16,584 25.2 233.4 546 ND ND 241.8 18.5 156.5 ND ND ND 55.4 319.9 90.6 403.3 57.2 906.0 157.1
5 — — 3968 134 13,318 14.2 150.4 403 158 23.5 235.3 14.8 88.0 43.0 13.1 51.6 22.7 362.3 96.7 409.7 70.2 597.1 96.5
5 — — 2669 78 12,381 7.9 293.2 534 ND 81.3 277.3 30.6 248.9 69.0 45.0 95.9 21.3 177.4 44.8 199.8 32.6 457.3 85.2
5 — — 2440 116 12,045 ND 76.8 217 ND ND 35.1 4.9 ND ND 11.0 33.7 8.8 96.2 40.1 150.4 26.3 280.0 43.2
5 — — 2971 196 12,229 18.3 294.0 453 ND 16.9 102.9 4.8 56.0 ND ND 35.1 23.0 128.3 49.4 213.9 53.6 390.0 95.7
5 — — 14,768 76 14,235 8.2 969.0 1005 65 83.6 7720.0 95.0 588.0 248.0 109.0 537.7 182.7 1480.2 462.9 2010.9 368.7 3385.2 545.9
5 — — 2618 117 9569 ND 198.1 140 ND ND 60.2 ND ND ND 15.0 77.1 3.2 74.8 19.0 142.9 27.0 228.0 60.9
6 14.86 476,499 3002 ND 8930 ND 828.0 707 ND ND 338.4 61.7 353.4 ND 91.1 384.1 55.6 314.5 128.6 573.9 124.7 594.1 175.8
6 15.10 484,569 662 ND 9567 ND 169.8 165 ND ND 157.5 ND ND ND 79.2 ND 55.7 312.5 ND 197.7 64.3 441.8 ND
6 14.92 491,263 717 ND 7153 ND 149.7 134 ND ND 84.8 ND ND ND 119.8 ND 32.9 153.0 ND 377.7 70.9 262.0 82.5
6 14.98 483,152 491 ND 9999 ND 126.6 226 ND ND 133.7 ND ND ND ND ND 17.7 110.0 44.0 126.5 ND 312.1 44.6
85
86
Table 2. Continued.

Silicon Zirco- Yt- Nio- Haf- Tan- Tho- Ura- Ba- Lantha- Praseo- Neo- Sama- Euro- Gado- Ter- Dyspro- Hol- Er- Thu- Ytter- Lute-
Samples (wt%) nium trium bium nium talum rium nium rium num Cerium dymium dymium rium pium linium bium sium mium bium lium bium tium

6 14.97 487,652 951 165 10,341 ND 250.7 206 ND 108.3 98.9 ND ND ND 63.9 ND 16.3 104.2 ND 121.2 40.7 493.8 90.9
6 15.09 492,815 1668 ND 7438 ND 357.4 411 ND ND 89.9 52.6 ND ND 77.2 ND 26.7 227.0 76.5 233.4 75.7 771.0 217.7
6 15.12 485,688 275 ND 9425 ND 141.7 295 400 ND ND ND ND ND 101.2 ND 23.2 ND ND ND ND ND ND
7 14.74 480,542 1269 ND 9004 ND 191.6 319 ND ND 132.0 ND 362.9 ND ND ND ND 230.5 ND 354.2 ND 368.4 118.7
7 14.78 470,254 1516 ND 9583 ND 119.4 263 531 ND 109.1 ND 242.3 ND ND ND 14.6 198.7 56.9 294.6 74.4 397.2 78.6
7 15.00 477,050 772 ND 13,091 ND 217.6 552 ND ND 146.1 58.8 333.1 ND 85.0 ND 20.6 140.5 88.5 210.7 ND 348.3 ND
7 15.06 474,751 904 ND 10,939 ND 180.6 122 ND ND ND 66.6 597.0 ND ND ND 22.7 251.1 ND 332.5 81.0 408.3 108.8
7 15.01 486,262 603 ND 10,232 ND 119.3 352 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 27.6 ND ND 368.5 74.7 291.1 63.1
7 15.04 480,963 1270 ND 7832 ND 370.7 166 ND ND 94.2 ND ND ND 149.0 ND 22.7 142.8 56.9 402.5 82.1 336.7 81.7
7 14.79 489,962 789 ND 8204 ND 81.5 229 ND ND 114.8 ND ND ND 84.2 ND ND ND 56.5 126.2 ND 345.6 84.5
7 14.79 489,962 818 ND 7311 ND 81.0 97 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 19.8 94.7 ND 437.7 43.9 338.9 69.4
7 14.79 489,962 1211 ND 10,864 ND 130.5 805 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 209.0 64.5 327.5 62.2 634.1 116.8
7 14.79 489,962 1156 95 11,460 ND 111.8 587 ND ND 425.0 67.8 286.9 ND ND ND 14.6 102.7 64.6 270.4 105.0 518.0 73.5
7 14.79 489,962 1051 ND 8060 ND 254.4 283 ND ND 82.0 ND ND ND ND ND 28.4 125.8 80.6 221.2 78.9 364.3 71.9
7 13.38 443,729 1759 169 9431 ND 197.9 195 ND 111.9 97.3 ND 296.2 ND ND ND 31.1 150.9 137.0 260.7 86.6 908.5 270.7
7 15.07 488,195 743 234 7520 ND ND 159 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 202.4 63.5 150.7 ND ND ND 450.3 61.1
7 15.25 490,493 1702 175 8734 ND 201.1 477 ND 111.9 ND ND ND 286.9 73.7 ND 28.7 221.1 124.1 226.9 66.2 431.7 65.7
7 15.28 498,655 903 318 8938 ND 201.6 137 ND ND 68.8 ND ND 322.5 119.0 340.2 33.0 414.7 10.0 166.5 95.5 384.1 93.5
7 15.17 490,124 1600 211 13,797 208.3 204.5 1321 404 ND 54.7 ND ND 316.3 ND 322.9 78.8 375.1 133.8 388.0 79.7 717.3 174.4
7 15.17 492,571 2331 144 9192 ND 183.9 356 ND 56.5 106.2 ND 367.9 ND ND ND 65.2 499.3 137.0 331.1 61.4 674.9 150.1
7 15.19 496,960 5599 ND 9805 ND 909.3 1857 ND 322.6 1914.4 ND 510.6 463.5 179.0 656.7 127.6 1698.8 294.9 901.0 100.4 1608.7 194.0
7 15.25 487,958 11,566 375 12,939 53.5 1609.1 921 ND 204.9 471.1 ND 167.9 233.9 143.0 250.1 159.9 1391.9 438.8 1317.0 308.6 2229.7 376.6
8 15.06 485,393 3290 118 7864 40.0 1036.5 330 151 ND 165.1 49.5 266.1 211.3 36.3 194.6 35.3 201.4 95.0 453.2 101.9 929.9 204.7
8 15.36 489,916 1641 415 11,477 33.0 58.8 93 277 41.9 61.1 28.8 219.7 495.6 65.6 212.8 29.0 184.0 102.1 413.0 34.1 383.6 72.2
8 — — 395 113 10,308 36.3 49.4 305 ND 46.0 ND ND 137.2 202.3 ND ND ND 165.0 47.1 314.0 ND ND 44.3
Barros et al.

8 — — 994 98 6826 33.7 377.5 323 ND ND 56.3 65.5 ND 103.2 ND ND 45.7 58.6 52.1 312.5 45.9 241.5 69.2
8 — — 448 108 7137 31.4 63.1 178 ND 47.0 51.2 ND 95.5 241.0 61.3 144.4 53.8 230.6 54.5 ND 44.2 243.9 32.0
8 — — 2486 150 8585 44.3 1683.6 740 462 69.4 391.7 121.5 377.5 295.3 122.5 197.5 39.2 403.6 127.1 531.7 98.0 538.1 122.0
8 — — 2689 123 6885 ND 740.8 914 ND ND 121.2 ND 129.3 277.5 93.6 ND 49.4 208.1 135.7 530.4 85.0 1126.4 152.8
8 — — 2118 152 8620 25.2 265.7 589 528 74.7 ND ND 140.5 258.4 ND ND ND 198.1 94.3 583.1 66.2 966.6 134.8
9 — — 10,861 101 11,428 11.4 1048.5 1588 336 566.0 2638.3 378.3 1681.6 528.0 212.0 750.6 183.4 1344.8 317.1 1648.8 162.3 1690.9 399.4

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2010


9 — — 17,385 124 10,727 29.2 602.1 2758 ND 125.0 8930.9 264.2 1616.4 660.4 314.0 800.4 256.1 2051.2 791.9 2865.8 498.1 4383.6 642.2
9 — — 496 154 7111 24.6 49.0 115 ND ND ND ND 138.3 149.7 143.5 ND 42.2 125.2 48.0 ND ND 344.0 54.8
9 — — 1731 147 6829 18.8 262.6 301 734 57.5 23.4 ND 105.2 189.5 63.3 ND ND 191.3 118.8 436.1 49.5 265.3 109.6
9 — — 427 195 7692 ND 73.9 385 ND ND 56.5 121.2 ND ND ND ND ND 182.5 ND 372.3 70.2 ND 39.3
11 14.9623 481,727 935 105 9803 ND 137.1 144 ND 44.2 102.4 30.3 284.4 261.4 37.2 ND ND 62.3 46.5 73.1 ND 322.6 40.8
11 15.2864 479,858 482 10 10,278 ND 86.0 193 ND ND 40.3 27.3 249.5 177.5 ND ND 33.1 222.3 36.6 41.7 52.5 278.0 45.4
11 — — 3748 160 17,062 60.8 10,678.4 7097 ND ND 138.9 75.0 387.5 ND 53.7 ND 31.9 178.6 161.7 355.9 113.7 1970.0 307.0
11 15.2092 478,042 492 173 12,929 ND 73.8 188 ND ND 53.3 ND 240.0 323.7 ND 122.5 21.1 73.1 57.9 52.8 74.1 306.4 47.9
11 15.2536 481,401 391 156 7827 32.3 65.0 ND ND 60.2 ND ND 200.0 294.0 44.8 114.0 ND 67.4 22.2 ND ND 329.7 32.2
11 15.1801 491,788 726 80 10,808 ND 158.1 134 447 45.3 ND 44.3 265.7 329.0 ND 130.5 26.5 79.1 20.6 129.5 ND 248.0 73.1
11 15.1801 491,788 886 266 12,648 ND 235.9 926 ND ND 124.2 ND ND 350.0 41.9 139.7 19.9 109.4 53.3 54.9 53.0 472.8 22.8
11 15.1912 476,419 1371 98 8820 ND 189.5 470 ND 40.1 40.3 49.5 320.4 270.9 47.1 177.4 33.9 73.1 82.7 309.1 68.7 792.0 168.1
11 14.9611 472,931 1643 114 10,476 ND 10.0 370 ND ND 51.0 ND 301.7 190.6 60.2 113.6 ND 155.3 60.3 262.3 41.8 615.0 127.0
11 15.1195 486,566 5362 131 11,355 ND 2789.1 1169 ND ND 101.6 ND 355.5 425.2 49.0 125.5 59.7 324.6 135.7 794.1 191.1 1739.0 259.4
11 14.9987 478,515 547 179 10,994 ND ND 222 ND ND ND ND ND 191.3 54.4 ND ND 127.7 27.9 168.9 ND 406.0 38.8
11 14.9987 478,515 511 132 12,138 ND 62.9 146 ND ND 44.4 54.0 220.0 261.2 46.5 203.6 23.6 123.4 30.8 87.0 ND 320.0 43.6
11 15.2503 484,725 1196 142 13,035 ND 123.2 303 ND 66.4 115.8 33.6 ND 356.0 ND 114.1 49.8 96.3 75.4 173.2 112.3 591.0 71.6
11 15.0803 485,992 1287 214 11,325 43.2 86.9 245 ND ND ND 41.9 267.0 271.5 ND 141.8 25.5 275.2 57.8 223.1 ND 565.0 72.7
11 15.228 484,415 2530 130 10,324 ND 192.3 362 ND 1373.7 2127.1 321.8 1740.9 191.2 53.1 377.7 55.9 231.2 139.5 237.9 52.1 682.0 49.0
11 14.8329 484,071 1912 122 10,579 ND 141.1 ND ND 66.0 97.2 ND ND 248.9 55.3 222.1 43.1 227.1 128.7 324.7 181.6 608.6 58.7
Detrital Minerals of Beach Sediments 87

in the very fine sand fraction and the highest concentrations


were observed in sample 5. They show variable roundness
and crystalline forms and can be compositionally homoge-
neous or show complex zonings. Metamict grains are rela-
tively rare.

ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES AND DATA


PROCESSING
Eleven samples were collected in April 2002 along 130 km
of the northern RS coast, approximately at each 40 km. About
1 kg of sand was collected at each site at 25 cm depth. Sam-
ples were washed and dried and about 80 g was taken from
each one for granulometric analyses. The heavy fraction (d ⬎
2.89) was weighted at granulometric intervals of ½␾. From
the very fine sand fraction of each sample the heavy minerals
were taken and separated according to their magnetic sus-
ceptibility. Zircons were taken mostly from the least mag-
netic fractions where they were concentrated.
Zircon grains were separated from the very fine sand frac-
tion of 10 samples. About 50 grains from each concentrate
were studied under microscope and analysed for SiO2, HfO2,
and ZrO2 through a Cameca SX50 electronic microprobe from
Figure 2. Yttrium (a) and Nb (b) content range in zircon grains from the
the Centre of Petrological and Geochemical Research (CPGQ)
sampled locations. Symbols: grains with higher (crosses) and lower (dia-
in the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). monds) magnetic susceptibility; number of analysed grains marked.
Analytical conditions were 15 Kv, 25 nA, beam diameter of 1
␮m. Several grains were analysed for phosphorus by electron
microscopy in laboratories of the Centre of Electronic Micros-
copy, UFRGS. Trace elements were determined in about 200 with most determination in the range from 15 to 15.5 wt%.
grains by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass Samples 3 and 4 show most of the zircon grains with high Si
spectrometer (LA ICP-MS) in the laboratories of Kingston contents. Zircon contents vary from 46 to 50 wt%. Zircon con-
University, Kingston, UK, under the supervision of Drs. Kym tents lower than 44 wt% were observed in grains from sam-
Jarvis and Kathryn Lange. The resin mounted samples used ples 2 and 7. The phosphorous contents determined in the
for electron microprobe analysis were also analysed by LA zircon grains by electron microscopy (EDS) are lower than
ICP-MS. The laser used was a CETAC LSX100 Nd:YAG op- the limit of detection except for a few grains with higher mag-
erating at 266 nm. The laser power was optimised so that a netic susceptibility where it reaches up to 1.47 wt%.
clean, ablation pit was created during each ablation. Single Hafnium contents are in the range 0.1 to 2.3 wt%. Samples
spot analyses were performed with three replicate measure- 1, 2, 4, and 11 show zircons with higher Hf contents, gener-
ments being made during the 6 seconds of analysis time. 90Zr ally over 1 wt%. Grains with maximum Hf contents—with
was used as an internal standard, and external calibration more than 2.0 wt%—are only in sample 2, and Hf-depleted
was carried out using NIST 610 glass. Results were blank zircons—with less than 0.1 wt%—are observed only in sam-
corrected using ‘‘gas’’ blanks collected at the start of each run. ple 3. Hafnium-depleted zircons show low contents of REE,
Data were processed manually using MS Excel. Ta, Th, and U. Zircon grains with lower magnetic suscepti-
Geochemical data were processed through conventional bility show lower concentrations of Y and Nb (Figure 2).
techniques—graphics and basic statistics—and by multivar- Interpretations of graphic correlation show that zircons
iate analysis through principal components analysis (PCA) with lower Si contents can have higher LREE contents (Fig-
and cluster analysis. The PCA multivariate data analysis was ure 3a). Thorium shows moderate to strong positive correla-
performed in order to identify compositional parameters use- tion with U, REE, and Y (Figure 4a, 4b, 4c). Rare earth ele-
ful for discriminate groups of zircons from different sources, ments show moderate positive correlation among themselves
and the cluster analysis was applied to investigate the spatial (Figure 3b). Hence REE, Th, and U are enriched generally in
and geographic distribution of these groups. those zircons with lower SiO2 contents.

CHEMISTRY OF ZIRCON GRAINS Trace Element Contents


About 500 zircon grains were studied from 11 samples col- The trace element contents of igneous zircon, in spite of
lected along the coast (Figure 1), and trace element deter- their very large range, can indicate the approximate contents
minations (Table 2) in 155 grains from 10 samples were com- in the magmas from which they are derived. That is esti-
puted and considered in the following discussions. mated based on the mineral/melt partition coefficient, such
Microprobe determinations of zircon major components as those referred by FUJIMAKI (1986) and MAHOOD and HIL-
show silicon (Si) contents varying from 12.84 to 16.33 wt%, DRETH (1983).

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2010


88 Barros et al.

Chondrite-normalised REE patterns showed by the zircon


grains show variable Ce anomalies and enrichment of HREE
elements—LaN/LuN ratios are mostly ca. 0.01—as expected
from partition coefficient data for zircons from magmas with
LaN/LuN ratios around 10. Zircon grains from samples 2, 5,
and 7 with different magnetic susceptibility were compared
for REE concentrations. Those with higher magnetic suscep-
tibility generally show higher REE concentrations and more
prominent positive Ce anomalies, as illustrated in Figure 5.
Light rare earth elements—represented here by La—in the
studied zircons show contents generally lower than 20 ppm
(Figure 6a). Samples 3, 4, and 11 show only zircons with low
La contents, ⬍20 ppm, whilst moderate and high values are
found sporadically in the other samples. Zircon grains with
La ⬍ 20 ppm are predominant and found in all samples.
Sample 3 shows zircons with very low HREE contents, here
represented by Ytterbium (Yb) (Figure 6b). Most zircon
grains, present in all samples, show concentrations of Yb in
the range from 200 to 800 ppm. Ytterbium-enriched zircons
with contents over 4000 ppm are more frequent in samples 1
and 9. Samples 1, 7, and 11 show only zircons with Yb con-
tents over 250 ppm.
Zircon grains with yttrium contents under 2000 ppm are
predominant in all samples except 1 and 3, where grains with
more than 1800 ppm are the most abundant (Figure 2a). Ac-
cording to PUPIN (2000) zircons with Y ⬍ 2000 ppm would Figure 3. LREE (Ce) content variation in relation to Si (a) and HREE
come from granitoids of calc-alkaline to alkaline affinity, like (Yb) contents (b).
those generated in collisional settings (HARRIS, PEARCE, and
TINDLE, 1986).
Niobium contents of most of the studied zircons vary from 20.71 ppm and variable Hf, so they could be derived from
50 to 400 ppm, which is consistent with magmatic zircons syenites, kimberlites, and carbonatites (Figure 8). Those with
from rocks with Nb contents in the range of 10 to 80 ppm, as the lowest Hf content, probably coming from syenites, are in
reported in most metaluminous granitoids from within-plate sample 3. Lutetium contents over 601 ppm were found in
or mature arc settings (HARRIS, PEARCE, and TINDLE, 1986). three grains that could be derived from silica-undersaturated
Samples 4, 5, 6, and 7 show several grains with very low Nb syenites (nepheline syenites and pegmatitic syenites). Of zir-
contents, lower than 60 ppm (Figure 2b). Other samples show con grains with Lu between 20.71 and 601 ppm, 10.32% show
most zircons with Nb contents varying from 50 to 400 ppm. Hf lower than 8000 ppm and can be derived from basalts.
In the northern coast samples (8 to 11) most zircon grains They were found in samples from 5 to 9.
show more than 80 ppm of Nb. Of zircon grains, 9.67% show Y content over 4433 ppm and
Most samples contain zircons with variable U content, gen- variable U contents, so they can be derived from highly dif-
erally from 25 to 1000 ppm. Samples 1, 5, 9, and 11 show ferentiated granitoids or from syenites and monzonites (Fig-
some grains with high U contents, higher than 2600 ppm ure 8). The major part of zircon grains in the studied samples
(Figure 7a). Sample 1 shows only grains with U contents show Y contents under 4433 ppm and Hf and Yb values var-
higher than 450 ppm. Uranium shows sympathetic correla- iable in the ranges predicted by BELOUSOVA et al. (2002) for
tion with Th in the studied zircons (Figure 4b). Samples 1 dolerite and granitoids with less than 75 wt% of SiO2 in gen-
and 6 show only zircons with Th contents higher than 140 eral. Sample 5 shows most grains with Yb under 501, which
ppm, whilst in other samples the contents are generally un- suggests they are derived from granitoids with SiO2 under 65
der 400 ppm (Figure 7b). wt%, whilst in sample 2 most grains show Yb contents over
501, which suggest a granitic source with SiO2 varying from
Classification and Regression Tree Zircon 70 to 75 wt%. Samples 6, 7, 8, and 9 have most of the zircons
Classification (after BELOUSOVA et al., 2002) coming from dolerites and basalts, whilst in the others zir-
cons from granitic rocks are predominant.
BELOUSOVA et al. (2002) proposed a classification and re-
gression tree (CART) for classifying zircons from different ig- Thorium/Uranium, Yttrium/Holmium,
neous sources, based upon their contents of Lu, Hf, U, Yb, Niobium/Tantalum, and Zirconium/Hafnium
and Y. Following their proposition, distinct sources are sug- Ratios in Zircon Grains
gested for the studied samples in southern Brazilian coastal Zircon grains from southern (samples 1 to 5) and northern
sediments (Figure 8). coastal segments (samples 6 to 11) show distinct patterns
Of the zircon grains, 12.90% show Lu contents from 8 to when trace element ratios are considered (Figure 9).

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2010


Detrital Minerals of Beach Sediments 89

Figure 5. Chondrite-normalised REE patterns of zircon grains with dif-


ferent magnetic susceptibilities. Symbols: grains with higher (crosses)
and lower (diamonds) magnetic susceptibility.

samples are generally in the range of 5 to 15; some grains


with Nb/Ta ratios over 20 were found in samples 2, 3, and 5,
in the southern sector, whilst very low values under 5 are
found mostly in the northern sector (Figure 9c). The domi-
nant low values are common in zircons from orogenic grani-
toids, whilst the highest ones could indicate magmatic ano-
rogenic sources.
Zirconium/hafnium ratios vary from 40 to 70 except for
some grains with lower ratios found in samples 2, 4, 7, and
11, and except for some with ratios over 80 and low Hf con-
tents that were found only in sample 3 (Figure 9d). The lower
Zr/Hf values can indicate granitic sources with high silica
contents, whilst most zircon grains would come from orogenic
granitoids. Very high Zr/Hf ratios, like those of sample 3, are
usually derived from silica-undersaturated rocks.
Figure 4. Variation of Th contents in relation to HREE (Yb) (a), U (b),
and Y (c) contents of zircon grains.
Multivariate Statistical Analysis
Since the trace element contents of zircon grains are highly
Thorium/uranium ratios in zircon grains are mostly in the variable, which represent a serious prejudice for source iden-
range 0.28–1.0 (Figure 9a). Zircon grains with ratios over 1.0 tification, another discriminating parameter was tested
were found in all samples except for samples 1 and 9. Very through a multivariate statistical technique. A principal com-
low values, under 0.12, were observed in the southern seg- ponents analysis identified six principal components (or fac-
ment (samples 1 to 5), whilst values from 0.12 to 0.25 were tors) reflecting most of the variation in trace element con-
only found in the northern sector (samples 6 to 11). Samples tents. Factor I was represented principally by Th and HRE
3 and 6 show only zircons with Th/U ratios over 0.35. elements, and involved 31% of the total minerals analysed.
This indicates that most zircon grains (Th/U ratios in the So those zircon grains that are correlated with this factor
range 0.12–1.0) come from granitoids; those with high Th/U constitute a group of grains where these elements have a
ratios (larger than 1.0) could be derived from mafic plutonic sympathetic behaviour. In this way, it is possible to distin-
rocks, and those with very low ratios, observed in the south- guish zircons, not by their trace element contents, but by the
ern sector, probably come from high-grade metamorphic behaviour of trace element sets, such as Th ⫹ HREE in group
sources, probably granulites or amphibolites. 1. Group 2 is characterised by sample correlation with LREE;
A similar distribution is observed for Y/Ho ratios: lower group 3 by correlation among Si, Hf, and Gd; group 4 by Nb
values, from 8 to 35, are found mainly in the northern seg- and Sm. Two additional groups, 5 and 6, are constituted of a
ment, whilst in the southern one values from 19 to 50 pre- small number of samples. Group 4 includes those grains with
dominate (Figure 9b). Values over 50 were observed only in the lowest Hf (lower than 6000 ppm) and show lower Zr con-
samples 3 and 5. Zircons with low ratios, found mostly in the tents than groups 2, 3, 5, and 6. Zircons with high Zr/Hf and
northern sector, could be derived from highly evolved grani- Y/Ho ratios were found in groups 1 and 4 and with high Th/U
toids, whilst those with very high ratios can be derived from ratios only in group 1. Very low Th/U ratios (under 0.1) typ-
anorogenic sources. ical of metamorphic zircons are found only in groups 1 and
Niobium/tantalum ratios in zircon grains from all sets of 2. Th/U and Y/Ho ratios show a similar behaviour, and Y/Ho

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2010


90 Barros et al.

Figure 6. Variation of La (a) and Yb (b) contents in zircon grains along Figure 7. Variation of U (a) and Th (b) contents in zircon grains along
the coast. Number of analysed grains marked. the coast. Number of analysed grains marked.

reach maximum values in group 4 zircons. Zircons with the


lowest contents of Hf and HREE are found in groups 1 and 4. orogenic granitoids or, more precisely, from granitoids re-
Zircon grains from groups 5 and 6 were observed only in lated to a collisional setting. The moderate Nb content, low
sample 2, and from group 2 only in sample 7. LREE (La), low Y content, and the moderate fractionation
Group 3 zircons were observed in samples 2 and 7, whilst of REE patterns (LaN/LuN close to 10) of most grains is
those of group 4 are present in samples 2, 3, and 5 and are consistent with zircons from granitic rocks of within-plate
predominant in sample 3. postcollisional settings.
Group 1 zircons are present in all samples and are the only ● Zircons from metamorphic rocks, with low Th/U ratios, are
constituents of samples 4, 6, 8, 9, and 11. This is the major present in the southern part of the studied coastal seg-
group and probably is composed of zircons from granitic ment.
rocks. ● Basic to intermediate rocks were an additional source of
zircons, which are identified by their higher Th/U and
SOURCES OF DETRITAL ZIRCON GRAINS Y/Ho ratios, low U and Hf contents, and a stronger corre-
lation with group 4. These grains are more abundant in
Following the criteria of BELOUSOVA et al. (2002), zircons samples 2, 3, and 5 in the southern sector.
from syenites are present only in sample 3. Zircons from car- ● Zircons from sectors north and south of the sampled coast-
bonatites and kimberlites are rare but uniformly distributed al segment have distinct dominant sources: zircons from
in sediments from the southern part of the studied area. Zir-
cons from basalts occur mainly in the northern sector. Zircons
from dolerites and granitoids with less than 65% of SiO2 are
widespread in the sediments but predominate in the central
segment of the coast. Zircons from granites with SiO2 higher
than 65 wt% are observed in all samples. In sample 2 those
zircons from granitoids with SiO2 contents between 70 and
75 wt% predominate. And zircons from undersaturated sye-
nites were detected only in samples 1 and 9. According to
these criteria samples 6 to 9 show most of the zircons as de-
rived from dolerites and basalts; however, their Th/U, Zr/Hf,
and Nb/Ta ratios, as well as their Nb, Hf, and U contents,
are similar to those of zircons from granitoids.
The trace element geochemistry of zircon grains in the
studied samples allows us to conclude the following. Figure 8. Percentage of the different zircon types in the studied sam-
ples, as suggested by Belousova et al. (2002).
● The major part of the studied zircon grains is derived from

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2010


Detrital Minerals of Beach Sediments 91

which suggests they come from a distinct source: presence


of zircon grains with high Zr/Hf ratios (⬎80), high Y/Ho
ratios (⬎60), low HREE contents, high Y contents, and pre-
dominance of zircons from group 4. Zircon grains with Hf
under 1000 ppm, very low U and Th, and extremely high
Zr/Hf ratios, observed only in this sample, can come from
silica-undersaturated basic to intermediate rocks.

REGIONAL GEOLOGY AND POTENTIAL SOURCES


OF THE STUDIED ZIRCONS
Rio Grande do Sul continental areas near the studied sed-
iments are made up of the following major lithological asso-
ciations: (1) anorogenic volcanic and plutonic rocks from the
Parana Basin, (2) sedimentary rocks from the Paraná Basin,
(3) high-grade metamorphic rocks from northeastern and
southwestern parts of the Sul-rio-grandense Shield, (4) low-
and medium-grade metamorphic rocks from central and east-
ern parts of the Sul-rio-grandense Shield, (5) postcollisional
volcanic and plutonic rocks from Neoproterozoic basins, (6)
postcollisional granitic and associated mafic rocks from the
eastern Sul-rio-grandense Shield—Pelotas Batholith, (7) oro-
genic tonalite diorite and associated orthogneisses from west-
ern and central parts of the Sul-rio-grandense Shield, (8)
postcollisional syenitic-quartz monzonitic associations from
northeastern parts of the Sul-rio-grandense Shield, and (9)
anorogenic silica-undersaturated rocks from the southeastern
Sul-rio-grandense Shield.
Zircons from the southern sector of the studied area are
probably derived from the Pelotas Batholith (6) and from
high-grade metamorphic rocks of the northeastern part of the
Sul-rio-grandense Shield (3). Sample 3 shows zircons that can
be derived from anorogenic silica-undersaturated rocks (9).
Zircons in the northern sector samples are probably de-
rived mainly of later granitoids of alkaline affinity, which are
predominant in the northeastern part of the Pelotas Batho-
lith (6). Zircons from basic rocks, more abundant in the south-
ern sector, are probably derived from mafic Neoproterozoic
rocks (6) associated with granitic magmatism.
This zircon distribution suggests that in general modern
beach sediments of Rio Grande do Sul are quite homogeneous
with respect to their source rocks. However, sample 3 from
the southern sector shows zircons derived from alkaline an-
Figure 9. Variation of Th/U (a), Y/Ho (b), Nb/Ta (c), and Zr/Hf (d) ratios orogenic rocks, which occur in the southern part of the Sul-
in zircon grains from the studied samples. Grains with Zr/Hf ratios over rio-grandense Shield. Also the northern sector shows zircons
100 from sample 3 are not shown. Number of analysed grains marked. mainly derived from A-type granites that are predominant in
the northeastern part of the RS Shield. Thus, despite a gen-
eral homogeneity, a discrete and punctual mineralogical
the northern segment are compositionally more homoge- identity exists between beach sands of RS and nearby source
neous (all belong to statistical groups 1, 2, and 3) and show rocks. This mineralogical identity with nearby inland source
higher Nb contents, and metamorphic grains were not ob- rocks allows us to present some important considerations
served. The relatively low values of Th/U and Y/Ho ratios concerning the RS coast: (1) coastal processes (e.g., those re-
of some zircons in the northern sector suggest that highly lated with longshore currents) were not effective enough to
evolved granites were present among the source rocks. In homogenise beach sediments of the study area; (2) this non-
the southern segment there are zircons from statistical homogeneity of the modern beach sediments of RS might be
groups 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6; zircons from metamorphic rocks; a consequence of a relatively recent input of fluvial sediments
and zircons with high Y/Ho and Nb/Ta ratios, which indi- into the continental margin of southern Brazil, which could
cate they are derived from anorogenic igneous rocks. be related to the last major sea-level low stand that ended at
● Zircons from sample 3 show particular characteristics, 17.5 ka; and (3) the Pleistocene age (123 ka—Last Intergla-

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2010


92 Barros et al.

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Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2010

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