Prospects of beach sands of Karnataka Coast

Abstract

Beach sand samples were collected, both pre and post monsoon seasons, from different beaches around Mangalore and characterisation studies were carried out to explore possibilities of recovering valuable heavy minerals. It was found that because of regular erosion / accretion causing instability of beaches, poor grade of valuable heavy minerals and presence of high percentage of pyri-boles, it might not be, in general, of immediate interest as far as commercial exploitation of reserves are conce-rned. This has again compounded considering the avail-ability of huge good quality reserve of beach sands along coasts of other parts of India. Further, placer sands of north Karnataka beaches (karwar etc.) were also found to be of poor grade and may be of interest in future. However, it appears that Someshwara beach sands need further studies towards recovery of ilmenite and garnet.