SEDIMENTOLOGICAL STUDIES OFF VASISHTA-VAINATEYAM GODAVARI DELTA SEDIMENTS, CENTRAL EAST-COAST OF INDIA

In sediment samples clayey silt and silty clay occupy a major portion. Mean size values show considerable variation between 10 and 30 m isob ath. Moderately sorted sediments are found close to the present day sh oreline and sediments become poorly sorted towards offshore. Nearshore sediments are near symmetrical and the sediments between 10 and 30 m isobath are positively skewed to very positively skewed. Positively sk ewed sediments occur beyond 30 m isobath. Kurtosis values show decreas ing trend towards offshore. The seaward and southwest decrease in silt /clay ratios reflect a net offshore transport component and southwest transport component. The heavies constitute opaques, pyroxenes, amphib oles, garnet, zircon, rutile, sillimanite and kyanite. Increase in the concentration of heavies towards north suggests a net northerly dispe rsal of heavies.