Abstract

The present dissertation work was carried out to know the sea bed sediment
characteristics and surface sediment distribution off Tamil Nadu coast. The dissertation
work is taken under Bhuvisamvad programme in collaboration with Geological Survey of
India.

The sediment samples collected from the offshore of Tamil Nadu Coast during
cruise of the Research Vessel Samudra Ratnakar. Various sampling methods like vibro
core, gravity core and spade core sampling and grab sampling had been carried out
during the cruise.

The sampling had been carried out with an interval of 5 km X 5 km interval in a

grid pattern. The sediment type varies from pebbly sand to clay. The sediment type falls
under beach sediment to pelagic sediment type from shallow water to deep sea. The
general trend of the isobaths follows the coast and deepens from the seacoast. The depth
of the current area varies from 40 m water depth to 2000 m water depth.

In the present study, a total of 11 nos. of surface sediment samples which includes
09 nos. of grab sediment samples and 02 nos. of spade core sediment samples have been
studied. The sediment type varies from coarse sand to very fine sand and falls under
beach sediment environment.

The sediment samples have not much of heavy mineral concentration. The heavy
minerals occurring in this present study area are pyroxenes, magnetite, sillimanite, garnet,
ilmenite and a few of zircon. The bulk heavy mineral weight percentage varies from this
to this with an average of this.

The total non magnetic heavy mineral weight percentage varies from this to this
with an average of this. The total magnetic heavy mineral weight percentage varies from
this to this with an average of this.