Sedimentology and Mineralogy of the Sediments Beneath the Cyanobacteria and Marine Sabkha Area of Khor Al-Zubair, NW the Arabian Gulf

Abstract

Twelve stations were chosen from the Intertidal flat and coastal sabkha of Khor Al-Zubair, northwest of the Arabian Gulf. The sampling was carried out from August to November in 2018, using plastic tubes for coring to a depth of 30 centimeters with 2 inches in diameter. The sediments are dominated by sandy silt texture in the area. Mineralogical analysis of sediments shows the Gypsum as the main constituents of minerals followed by Halite, Quartz, Calcite, and percentage of Clay minerals including Chlorite, Illite, palygorskite, and Kaolinite. As a result of the high evaporation rate in the area, in addition to the high salinity of the seawater which leads to the concentrate of gypsum crystals with the Microbial mats.