Mineralogical and grain size characterization of coastal sediments of the Agadir bay: Sediment dynamics and sediment sources [Caractérisation minéralogique et granulométrique des sédiments littoraux de la baie d'Agadir (Maroc atlantique): Dynamique sédimentaire et sources des matériaux]

This study presents a methodology based on two complementary approaches; firstly a mineralogical and granulometric characterization of the sediments and secondly a statistical simulation (gao and collins model) from calculation of granulometric indexes. the grain size characterization of the sediment of agadir beach was performed by analyzing the spatial evolution of the granulometric indexes. to achieve it,a sampling campaign was conducted in january 2014 along 19 profiles perpendicular to the shoreline. the results of the granulometric indexes have shown predominance of medium size sand,well classified and almost symmetrical. however the spatial distribution of sand (longitudinal and transversal) highlights the combined effect of forcing parameters (wave and current) and the nature of the bottom of the shoreface. the simulation of gao and collins model allowed the location of sand deposits and loss zone.