COASTAL PROGRADATION AND VERY EARLY DIAGENESIS OF ULTRAMAFIC SANDS ASA RESULT OF RUBBLE DISCHARGE FROM ASBESTOS EXCAVATIONS (NORTHERN CORSICA, WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN)

The western coast of Cape Corse in northern Corsica is a remarkable ar ea by virtue of its geological, biological and landscape diversity. As bestos extraction between 1948 and 1965 however at Canari Mine, has mo dified the natural rocky escarpments, cutting the mountain into steps and has altered the coastal and marine zones from Punta di Canella to Farinole. Albo harbour was filled with rubble discharging directly to the sea, and the coast prograded 400 m after 4 years between 1954 and 1958. Artificial shores of up to 300 m in width appeared at the bottom of existing steep cliffs over a distance of more than 5 km between 19 48 and 1973. The Posidonia seagrass was buried by the introduction of debris. Since June 1965, the mine is closed and coastal modification r esults from material movement from north to south. As an exception, Ca mpana beach appeared in the northern part of the discharge area in 197 3. The sediment on Nonza beach already displays cemented slabs that at test to very early diagenesis. This particular environment of ultramaf ic sands and pebbles appear to have produced alkaline conditions and p robably enhances carbonate precipitation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B. V.