Profile and sand analysis of Sand Beach, Mount Desert Island, Maine

Venator, Kurt

'Three transects of Sand Beach, Mount Desert Island, Maine were performed on September 7, 1991, to produce a profile of the beach. Samples of sand were collected along each transect and were examined to determine composition, roundness, and porosity. The sand is composed of quartz, pink feldspar, and calcium carbonate, the percentages of each mineral varying with location along the beach profile. The percentage of quartz, ranging from 24% to 56%, and pink feldspar, ranging from 20% to 35%, increases up the beach. The percentage of calcium carbonate, ranging from 25.0% to 60.1%, decreases up the beach. The sand grains become progressively smaller up the beach. Grains of the wash zone are generally larger and more angular. Porosity increases up the beach. Mytilus edulis, Balanus balanoides, and stronglyocentrotus droebachiensis are the sources of calcium carbonate grains. The high percentages of calcium carbonate reveals the importance of marine organisms in the maintenance of Sand Beach.' GEOLOGY: The profile of sand beach was determined using transects during September, 1991. Sand samples were also collected to determine composition, roundness, and porosity /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /MOUNT DESERT ISLAND/Sand Beach