Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd.
 Scientific Research, Consultancy and Investigations

              
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Sediment fingerprinting and tracer studies on the Denmark coast
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Geochemical and textural variations in frontal dune sediments along the western coast of Jutland, Denmark, were investigated in order to identify possible sediment 'provinces' and transport pathways. Four coastal sectors were identified on the basis of geochemical composition. One sector is compositionally different from the other three units, having higher concentrations of the trace elements Ni, Cr, V, Sc, Zn, Pb, Ba, Zr and many rare earth elements. Dune sediments on this section of coast also have higher Al₂O₃ to K₂O ratios and lower Al₂O₃ to Fe₂O₃ ratios, reflecting a lower content of feldspar and higher content of heavy minerals. It is inferred that different, or additional, sediment source(s) have supplied sediment to this section of coast. Alongshore trends were also identified in the mean particle size and sorting of the frontal dunes, three coastal units being identified, although there is no direct correspondence with the observed geochemical differences. Frontal dune sediments in the middle section are relatively coarser and less well-sorted than those to the north and south, probably reflecting both the addition of beach nourishment material and greater exposure to strong westerly winds, which are a capable of transporting a wide range of particle sizes.

    
‘Back’ side of an artificially created dune ridge planted     Vegetated frontal dune with accretion aided by 
with marram, Agger Spit, Denmark                                  frontal dune with accretion aided by brushwood,
                                                                                       Lild Strand, Denmark

Map showing the location of sand dune sediment samples
collected along the coast of Denmark.

    
Frequency histograms of SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio and Al₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ ratio for the 63-250 µm size
fractions of sand dune sediment samples collected along the coast of Denmark.

Plots of the first two axes of the principal component analysis, performed using Ward's
method, for Denmark sand dune samples, based on data for 29 elements determined
by XRF.

    
Bivariate plots comparing the chemistry of dunes and cliffs at Rubjerg Knude (DK27) with other frontal dunes
along the west coast of Jutland: (left) Al₂O₃/K₂O versus Al₂O₃/Fe₂O₃; (right) Sr versus Ba.

Alongshore variation in mean particle size. A and B refer to two samples taken at
each site.

The sedimentary 'unit' boundaries based on geochemical composition and
particle size characteristics, compared with patterns of coastal sediment drift
and coastal erosion/accretion trends between 1868 and 1968

Publications

Saye, S.E., Pye, K. and Clemmensen, L.B. (2006) Development of a cliff-top dune indicated by particle size and geochemical characteristics: Rubjerg Knude, Denmark. Sedimentology 53, 1-21.
(click to view the abstract of this paper)

Saye, S.E. and Pye, K. (2006) Variations in chemical composition and particle size of dune sediments along the west coast of Jutland, Denmark. Sedimentary Geology 183, 217-242.
(click to view the abstract of this paper)

Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd. - Environmental Consultants
Page last modified: July 11, 2007