Modern sands derived from the Vertiskos Unit of the Serbomacedonian Massif (N. Greece): a preliminary study on the weathering of the Unit

Abstract

Modern sand samples were collected from the Vertiskos Unit of the Serbomacedonian Massif, northern Greece, and were examined for their texture and mineralogical composition. They were collected from active channels and torrents. The textural study demonstrated that these modern sands are moderately to very-poorly sorted, often polymodal in grain size distribution, texturally and mineralogically immature to submature, and consist of coarse-grained gravelly sands to slightly-gravelly muddy sands. The dominant composition is quartzofeldspathic. All samples contain detrital minerals of metamorphic origin, mainly amphibole and garnet, in addition to minor amounts of pyroxene and detrital calcite. These sediments were deposited rapidly and close to their source, the metamorphic basement of the Vertiskos Unit. The mineral constituents of the samples indicate that the Vertiskos Unit is undergoing rapid physical weathering due to the temperate and seasonal climate. The results of this study suggest that these modern sands constitute one sedimentary petrologic province comprised of primarily of amphibole-garnet.

Texture and mineralogical composition of Quaternary terrestrial and marine sediments from Macedonia and Thrace, Greece

“…The mineral abundances indicate that the Vertiskos Unit was rapidly weathered in a temperate and seasonable climate primarily through the action of physical weathering factors (Georgiadis et al, 2012).…”

“…They are composed of quartz, feldspars, micas, and accessory minerals (e.g. amphibole and garnet), mainly of metamorphic origin (Georgiadis et al, 2012).…”