Origin of Amphibole-Rich Beach Sands from Tila-Mati, Karwar, Central-West Coast of India

The pocket beach at Tila-Mati, Karwar, central west coast of India, is characterised by the occurrence of amphibole-rich (chiefly tremolite-actinolite) coarse sand in the zone of minimal impact of waves and currents.

In the total sediment, grain size and sphericity are directly proportional while a decrease in sphericity results in an increase of amphiboles (60-80%). This is probably due to the elongated nature of the amphibole grains which are abraded in a low energy environment. The Tila-Mati beach sediment has been derived locally by erosion of amphibole schist exposed in a cliff adjacent to the beach.