Regional distribution of Heavy-mineral concentrations along the Curonian Spit coast of Lithuania

Coastal sands along the Curonian Spit, a 98-km-long barrier island in the southeastern Baltic Sea, exhibit cyclic patterns of heavy-mineral concentrations (HMCs) with a wavelength of approximately 10 km. These variations, linked to wave runup during major storms and secondary aeolian reworking, serve as indicators of long-term hydrodynamic energy distribution along drift-aligned sandy coasts. The study found that higher HMC values correlate with dominant coastal erosion (e.g., Pervalka-Nida), while lower values correspond to regions of sand accumulation (e.g., Kopgalis-Pervalka). Researchers analyzed 303 surface sand samples using a Bartington MS3 field scanning sensor to measure low-field volume magnetic susceptibility (MS), distinguishing between background quartz-rich sands (κ < 50 μSI) and HMC-enriched surfaces (κ > 150 μSI). The findings highlight the potential of surficial HMCs in characterizing regional sedimentological and hydrometeorological conditions.

Pupienis, D., Buynevich, I. V., Jarmalavičius, D., Žilinskas, G., & Fedorovič, J. (2013). Regional distribution of Heavy-mineral concentrations along the Curonian Spit coast of Lithuania. Journal of Coastal Research, 165, 1844–1849. https://doi.org/10.2112/si65-312.1