Unveiling coastal dynamics: Investigating beach sediment distribution patterns along the Lithuanian Baltic Sea coast through heavy mineral analysis

Abstract

Effective coastal management requires an understanding of sediment dynamics. This study examines the distribution of heavy minerals (HMs) in two distinct coastal regions: the mainland and spit, each with unique sediment deposition patterns. The spit accumulates sediment through alongshore sediment transport (AST), while the mainland experiences erosive processes and significant human impacts. The hydrodynamic behaviour and weathering resistance of HMs enables source identification. This has helped to reveal differences between the two regions, with apatite being characteristic of spit sediments and garnet of mainland beaches. Coastal processes, such as erosion, sediment transport, and accumulation, significantly shape the distribution of the HMs, with garnets dominating erosive shores and amphiboles dominating accumulative shores. Furthermore, the study found that human-made coastal infrastructure also affects the composition of HMs and the sediment distribution through AST. This research has implications beyond the local level, providing global insights into the complexities of coastal dynamics. The study emphasises the importance of using HM analysis in conjunction with grain size analysis to understand the distribution of beach sediment composition. It also highlights the significant role of coastal processes, including anthropogenic impacts such as jetty construction or deepening port entrance canals on AST.