Abstract

Major and trace elements of ninety-two coastal beach sands samples, collected along the San’in region of southwest Japan, were determined by X-ray fluorescence to define their geochemical characteristics. These included Yamaguchi (n=27), Shimane (n=50), and Tottori (n=15) beach sands samples. Data of beach sands from Shimane and Tottori normalised averages show approaching patterns　relative to the upper crust of the Japan arc UCJAN, and upper continental crust UCCN, reflecting the composition of the source rocks that dominate their watersheds. In contrast the normalised patterns for most elements of Yamaguchi beach sands samples are less than 1 except for CaO, Sr, and Th. The primary component of beach sands from Shimane is quartz, or silica (SiO₂), Sands from Tottori are composed essentially of weathered particles of feldspar, and in contrast components of biogenic and quartz-rich sands from Yamaguchi are primarily shell fragments, quartz, and igneous rock.

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