Determination of Sedimentary Source in the Port of Hashidate by Using Geochemical Elements

Abstract

To estimate the direction of sand movement and find the sedimentary sources near and in the fishery port of Hashidate, where the breakwater arrangement is very complex, the ratios of geochemical elements to construct sand samples are obtained by an X-ray fluorescent spectroscopy (XRF). The method of ratio matching gives correlation numbers (not correlation coefficient) which are different from the statistical meanings and show the similarity between two sand samples in the ratio of geochemical elements. The geochemical aspect of the sedimentary sand in the port is found to be similar to sand on Hashidate swimming beach. So the sedimentary source in the port is considered to be caused by the littoral drift of sand from Hashidate swimming beach. The result of this study is in good agreement with the comparisons of shoreline changes at Hashidate swimming beach and contour lines near the port using sea-bottom topographies and aerial photographs in different years. The analysis of a satellite image proves the result of this study is correct. These insist that the method of ratio matching and gradients of each element using geochemical elements in sand samples is very reliable for finding the sedimentary source and determining net sediment transport path.